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The reason why Chris Ashton is backing England for World Cup glory
Former international Chris Ashton has shared his thoughts on how England will do at the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France. Having recently retired from playing with his last-ever match ending in a subsequently rescinded red-carded appearance for Leicester, the 36-year-old is hoping to over at the finals working as a broadcast pundit.
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He didn’t make the cut for England selection at the last World Cup in Japan after signing for Sale following a try-heavy 2017/18 campaign in the Top 14 colours of Toulon, but the 44-cap Ashton is very optimistic about his country’s chances now that Steve Borthwick, his ex-Leicester boss, is now at the helm following the sacking of Eddie Jones.
Appearing on the live pod section at Thursday’s World Rugby EventsCo gathering at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, Ashton, a veteran of the 2011 finals in New Zealand, explained why he feels England can achieve in France despite the current lack of expectation following yet another Guinness Six Nations campaign in which they won just two of their five matches.
“I’m relatively confident, quietly, just because the last season England managed to steal the whole Leicester Tigers coaching team,” he said, referencing how Kevin Sinfield, Richard Wigglesworth, Aled Walters and Tom Harrison are now all on Borthwick’s staff with World Cup preparations underway since last Monday’s first camp.
“I know them well personally. Steve used the Six Nations as not a practice run but he gave lads an opportunity that he is not going to be able to give an opportunity in the World Cup. He tested players out to see if they are going to be capable of playing at a World Cup.
“We know more where we are at and what kind of players we are going to be seeing. I do think he is going to go back to type a little bit that got us to the final in the last tournament. Steve is a great coach, and he has got a full team of coaches that he wanted in there now. We are not waiting for anything else – we are good to go.
“What they wanted to do was get in, just get this camp going under the radar. The World Cup, we have got a lot of teams that could win it and if we get to a semi-final, I can’t see why we can’t go and win it. I don’t think anyone expects us to but if we get to a semi-final, we have got a chance.”
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It was Jones who encouraged Ashton to return to the Premiership in the summer of 2018 with a view to the winger competing for a place in the England World Cup squad. He managed five caps before opting out of the contest and while Jones went on to guide the English to the 2019 decider, he is coming to the 2023 tournament as the new Australia coach.
“They have got the right man for the job,” reckoned Ashton. “Eddie is an unbelievable coach. Not a great man-manager but he is a great coach and he really moved us forward in England in the coaching style. A lot of the coaching style we see now in England is what Eddie did.
“If he wasn’t working with England, Eddie used to spend time coming into clubs. He’d come into Leicester and would take the academy players for a session just to keep up to date and in touch with the players and practice his sessions with them.
“There is not that many I have seen that are that dedicated to coaching as Eddie is, so they have definitely got the right man for the job. It’s just if the players they have got get up to speed quickly enough and are of the standard they need to be for the World Cup.”
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Ashton finished his career as the record all-time Premiership try-scorer, but he didn’t get his desired Twickenham farewell. Interim Leicester boss Wigglesworth had promised him he would be selected for the final if the Tigers got there, but they exited with a semi-final loss to Sale. Now permanently on the sidelines, he is relishing the prospect of heading to France as a World Cup spectator.
“I wouldn’t like to be involved, there is too much pressure and I can’t cope with the anxiety,” he admitted about the different dynamic that surrounds a World Cup compared to Six Nations and other Test rugby. “There is definitely a big shift in players as it’s a knockout tournament with the pressure on them and everyone wants their country to do well.
“That knockout element adds so much pressure to the players and as you get further and further down the line, you get further and further desperate (to win). But the perfect place to play rugby is France. The whole country is loving their rugby.
“I only played a year there – it was too hot for me, I got sunburnt and had to come back – but every stadium I went to on away trips was full and rocking. They love their club rugby. When you went for European rugby it wasn’t as bouncing or intense.
“They are all about their (Top 14) club rugby and that will definitely go into following their country. They have got some amazing stadiums; they are set up for this and I can’t wait to be out there for a bit of it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
44 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
123 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
6 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
123 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
44 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
6 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
123 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
44 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to comments