Comments on: Heineken Cup Team of the Week: Quarter-Finals

By: Jonny

Jonny — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 14:30:40 +0000

Ashton thrives in a team that is playing well. It’s no coincidence his bad run of international form occurred when England were playing an unvaried, unimaginative game. Every game he has scored in for England, England have won. Yes lots of his tries came against Italy and Romania, but he’s also scored against NZ, Aus and Wales. He doesn’t create chances in the same way as Wade does, but when on form is head and shoulders above any other England winger at reading the game, and finishing chances created by others. He’s also really quick, you rarely see him get closed down once he makes a break.

But, his defence is bad. His positioning is pretty good, he is just really weak in the tackle, and this alone is probably enough to prevent him from playing for England.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 14:03:04 +0000

Totally agree Matt.

DDD, yes you are being alittle petulant as the home team won. But that is what fans are supposed to do.

And I agree with Matt and yourself regarding the salary packets of top 14 clubs. Personally I think it is the biggest threat to world rugby at the moment. I don’t expect the IRB to do much, given their current chairman.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 14:02:12 +0000

Ashton’s first try was a comparable situation to the Nowell break against Wales. Nowell lacked the gas to take his man on and cut inside, Ashton took the man on and scored an excellent try. Ashton also called the move, so although he needed a pass to put him through he spotted the opportunity and called the play. He’s not a something from nothing (Wade) type winger but he offers a lot more than dotting down from 2m when unopposed.

We need to look properly at Wade and Yarde, they only have 1 proper cap between them (Yarde didn’t look anything special in that game either), but we can’t know for sure that these guys will prove to be the answer. If Ashton keeps scoring (and demonstrates progress in defence) he could come back into the mix if Wade/Yarde don’t work out or aren’t fit.

By: DanD

DanD — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 13:29:40 +0000

And yet in an England shirt Nowell beat more men on his debut against France, than Ashton managed in the entirety of 2013.

Ashton finishes chances created by others, but he isn’t very good at creating his own chances, and I’ve not seen much of his tracking skills recently, most his tries seem to be receiving the ball on the wing and taking it over the line, something any winger with international aspirations should be capable of.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 13:12:31 +0000

The home team won (who also happen to be a rich team of all stars). Losing at home to Saints is the result that cost you. A home QF and it may well have been a different story.

Personally I would be in favour of financial fair play rules. Having wallet warriors pumping vast sums into some clubs isn’t good for the sustainability of the game.

By: Ding Dong Denny

Ding Dong Denny — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 12:46:52 +0000

Can we have a new thread for bitter, twisted Leinster fans like me?

I have been trying to be grown up about the loss but I have this overriding feeling that money talked on sunday.

That “Toulon” team would have beaten most international sides (that’s without Habana, Bakkies Botha and Ali Williams). Don’t get me wrong Leinster were crap/weren’t allowed to play..yada yada yada.. Next year, with even more money at their disposal, what will the french clubs be like? My french friends are bemoaning the damage to their national team. Is this going to become a world club rugby tournament through default? Should we have limits? Just thinking out loud here…..

Can a neutral tell me whether I’m just being petulant? Am I losing my marbles as well as my toys or am I making some sense?

DDD

P.S. I did notice Steffon Armitage through my desperation – impressive

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 12:07:34 +0000

I do agree, but as I said, the ball was down.

I don’t think you can seriously suggest Ashton moves out the way of tackles. The Fofana one annoys me, it gets blamed on him but it was Lawes fault. Defending Ashton trusted his inside man (Lawes), as he would have been trained to do. I guess his error was flailing at Fofana once Lawes had slipped off him, then maybe he wouldn’t be blamed.

Ashton’s tackling issues are technical. He gets flat footed, and his feet are too close together. So when a player gets tight to him he is easy to step. He needs to go away and work on that.

By the way, should say I wouldn’t pick him before Wade or Yarde. Or even Nowell. But for me, he is next in line after that.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 11:41:43 +0000

Like him or not when he’s on form he scores a lot of tries. Even with a couple of years of poor form playing in a team that for a season and a half didn’t know a try existed as a scoring possibility he’s still got a 57% premiership strike rate. 9 tries in this year’s HC alone (more than Nowell has scored in his entire first team career).

I’m not suggesting a recall or anything (we need to look at Wade). The mistake was to keep on picking him when he was so badly out of form (rather than looking at Wade), but if he keeps scoring I can see him being back in contention for the RWC.

By: Conor

Conor — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 10:41:56 +0000

@Jacob: you say that getting the ball down is what matters, but in the game against Ulster, for his first try he had enough room to go round under the posts and give Farrell an easier conversion but he was too fixated on showboating. Farrell missed the conversion which could have proved to be vital. You also say that bravery is a strange trait to pick international players on, and I do agree that technique is more important. What I meant about Wade is he is willing to hurl himself at anyone regardless of size- I once saw him take down the 20 stone giant No. 8 Onua singlehandedly! Ashton on the other hand is prone to moving out of the way of incoming players as though they have a deadly contagious disease. See Wesley Fofana 2013 Six nations. Simply put, he is not the long term solution to England’s wing problem. Long term it ought to be Yarde and Wade.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 07:43:10 +0000

I don’t think Ashtons attitude off the pitch is as bad as it appears on it. I personally have absolutely no issue with the swallow dive, as long as he gets the ball down I could not care less!

SL had set up an environment fully of togetherness long before Ashton was dropped, and there was never rumours that he disrupted that, so I can not see that as a reason for his exclusion.

He was dropped because he is about as useful in defence as a turnstile.

Whilst Wade is small, it isn’t his bravery that stands him out (strange trait to pick international players on). Wade can actually defend. People look at him and assume because he is small that he can not defend. Whilst he is not going to be smashing people back in defence, he can tackle.

By: Jonny

Jonny — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 07:28:26 +0000

I believe that’s 3 tries in 2 games against Ulster, all of which were scored without a single hand being laid on him. I would imagine that would be pretty frustrating for someone who’s not a fan of his.

By: Conor

Conor — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 21:36:20 +0000

Ashton probably deserved his spot on the basis of his two tries (but what else did he do?) but I just cannot stand the man and his despicable, ridiculous swallow dive. If Stuart Lancaster wants an environment of selflessness and humility, he should never pick him again regardless of any ability he might have. In addition, I still have real doubts over his tackling ability and temperament; he’s a loose cannon. When all are fit and in form I would always pick Wade over him. He may lack tackling technique and size but at least he is brave, unlike Ashton. Same with Nowell who I also prefer. I would love to see Sivivatu rampaging over him in the semis. And yes, I am an ulster fan!