World Cup envy spurs Chris Ashton's desire for England recall
Sale winger Chris Ashton watched on with envy and a hint of regret as England went all the way to the final of the World Cup in Japan and reveals he would love a recall to Eddie Jones’ team.
The former Saracens and Northampton man scored 20 tries in 44 appearances for England in two spells from 2010-19 but withdrew from Jones’ World Cup squad for family reasons.
Now he says he would welcome the chance to make another comeback for the 2020 Six Nations after admitting he still feels unfulfilled at international level.
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“When I first got in, I planned to be there for a while,” Ashton said. “I’ve got 44 caps and I hoped for a lot more.”
Ashton had effectively called time on his international career in 2016 by moving to Toulon but, after ticking that box, he returned from France two years later and earned an England recall after scoring a hat-trick of tries against them for the Barbarians.
Lifting the lid on his dramatic decision to snub the World Cup, Ashton says he was not prepared to act as back-up to wing regulars Jonny May and Jack Nowell.
“I did struggle being away from my family at the time but I didn’t mind because I wanted to play for England again,” he said.
Jonny May remains the only one of Leicester's England World Cup contingent yet to feature for the Tigers since returning from Japanhttps://t.co/l2LE1nTYv8
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 22, 2019
“The day before we were due to meet up. I couldn’t make my mind up. Then my wife got pregnant so that was it. She was due around the time of the World Cup final.
“But if I had been Jonny May, it would have been a very different scenario. My phone call with Eddie was, ‘Jack (Nowell) is injured, you’re in.’. If I’d been Jonny, I’d have to have gone.
“The warm-up games were fine obviously but when the tournament kicked off, I thought I probably should have gone, although that’s easy in hindsight.
“Sitting at home on the sofa, with the family watching it on TV, it’s easy to think like that.
“If Eddie rang I would definitely love to play again. But I’ll be 33 in March so we will see.”
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Ashton claims he is still the fastest man at Sale and he is hoping to add to his Heineken Champions Cup record haul of 39 tries when the Sharks host La Rochelle on Sunday.
Beaten in their opening fixture at Glasgow, they are boosted by the return of World Cup finalists Faf De Klerk and Tom Curry and Ashton says that has already given the team a lift.
“Faf is so critical to any team that he is in, especially here because a lot of what is happening at Sale and how we are starting to roll along has been driven by him,” he said.
“So for him to come back – and Tom developing the way he is – you could notice the complete difference in training the last couple of days.
“There is so much energy from the pair of them and now a lot of experience in them both.
“Teams I watched last weekend were lifted by their players coming back from the World Cup and I expect them to do the same this weekend.”
– Press Association
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Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments