'You said Chris Ashton would only end up playing at Doncaster'
The Rugby Pod have this week celebrated the remarkable feat of Chris Ashton in setting a new all-time try-scoring record in the Gallagher Premiership following his hat-trick of tries last Saturday for Leicester. The 35-year-old ex-England player was level on 92 tries with the long time record holder Tom Varndell after scoring twice in late March at Exeter.
Ashton then needed just four minutes against Bristol at the weekend to set a new mark and he went on to push it even higher by following up with two more first-half tries to take the record to 95 tries with two more Premiership games left in the regular season with Leicester before the end-of-season playoffs.
Breaking the record represents a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of Ashton who was said to be contemplating retirement in December when he prematurely exited Worcester following an unhappy time there.
A conversation in February with Steve Borthwick, his old Saracens teammate, offered a career lifeline and Ashton was soon snapped up by Leicester to bolster their challenge for both Premiership and European titles, a crusade that will continue this Saturday when they host Leinster in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals.
In the meantime, The Rugby Pod have celebrated Ashton’s record-breaking try-scoring feat with Andy Goode having a light-hearted dig at co-host Jim Hamilton, who used to be a teammate of Ashton at Saracens.
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“You claim to be the oracle,” said Goode, opening up the segment on Ashton at Leicester by poking fun at the predictions that Hamilton made for the 2021/22 season. “You talked about Bristol not making the top four, Exeter not making the top four and some things you are right but in other things, you said Chris Ashton would only end up playing at Doncaster or somewhere like that on the podcast and he has gone to Leicester and fair play to him, he breaks the record, a hat-trick of tries.
“What a player! As much as he is the loveable rogue and people don’t like him, people love him. I messaged him on Saturday morning because I just had a feeling it was going to be done and dusted and then he goes and scores three. Yeah, it all started with ripping your blazer, Jim.”
Hamilton replied: “It did. I am very happy for him. He did the interview after and I can’t take him seriously because he is speaking like he has been taking sleeping pills because he is trying to be all posh. Bloody loved it. I am happy for him.
“I know we have joked about it on here, he should be at Doncaster. No, he shouldn’t. He is at the top club in England at the minute, maybe even in Europe, who knows. I’ll be honest, hand on heart, I was very, very happy with him at the weekend. So Ashy, loveable rogue, you’re welcome big fella.”
Goode, though, wasn’t completely satisfied with the Ashton hat-trick for Leicester. “The only issue I had with it is I did not see the Ash Splash at all. He had two opportunities.”
Hamilton explained: “He’s embarrassed by it. He told me. It basically came down to he brought a book out called Splashdown or something like that and I think it sold three books and it was all to do around that splash so not only was he embarrassed about that he was embarrassed about doing it and that becomes his legacy. I like it but yeah, he doesn’t like it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 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.
37 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.
2 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
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 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
37 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.
37 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.
37 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.
37 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 commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments