Ash back to add dash of devilment

REPORTS ENGLAND have turned to bad-boy wing Chris Ashton to supply the tryscoring devil they will need to keep pace with the All Blacks tomorrow.

Ashton, 31, will start his first Test in four years after swapping places with Jack Nowell, who drops to the bench for the eagerly awaited clash at Twickenham.

England failed to score a try in the 12-11 win over South Africa last Saturday and Eddie Jones wants added firepower against a side who average more than five every Test.

“Chris can sniff a try from anywhere and to beat New Zealand you have got to score tries. He has an opportunity to play a big game on Saturday,” said Jones.

“He’s a good player and has been for a long time. He has played 30-odd Tests for England. If he hadn’t got into so much trouble, he’d have played a few more. He’s always up to no good. Wherever there’s trouble, there’s Ashton. How many times couldn’t we pick him because he has been suspended?

“He’s a try-getter. It’s nothing coached. Guys like that, the only thing you can do is stuff them up by coaching them. You just give them a free rein, give them a framework to operate in, make them feel good about themselves, make sure they’ve got a smile on their face and away they go.”

Ashton missed the first seven weeks of the season through suspension – the third lengthy ban of his career. While his recall increases England’s strike capacity and

HOW THEY LINE UP

ENGLAND:

Daly; Ashton, Slade, Te’o, May; Farrell, Youngs; Moon, Hartley, Sinckler, Itoje, Kruis, Shields, Underhill, Wilson. Replacements: George, Hepburn, Williams, Ewels, Lawes, Care, Ford, Nowell.

NEW ZEALAND:

McKenzie; B Smith, Goodhue, Williams, Ioane; B Barrett, A Smith; Tu’inukuafe, Taylor, Franks, Whitelock, Retallick, Squire, Savea, Read. Replacements: Coles, Tu’ungafasi, Laulala, S Barrett, Todd, Perenara, Mo’unga, Crotty.

provides a warming link back to England’s record win over the All Blacks in 2012 – though Manu Tuilagi is not risked because of a tight groin – it is a calculated risk with Rieko Ioane capable of exposing his less-heralded defence.

“I’ve had some good results against New Zealand and some bad. It can easily go both ways,” said Ashton.

“If you are not on your game for the world champions they will catch you out in a second. You can’t slip up at any time.

“Everything has to be bang on, like last weekend. We didn’t get bored doing the things that might not be easy on the eye but were effective and ended up getting us into a winning position. We have to be the same in the detail this week but we’d obviously like to fire a few more shots.”

England’s tryscoring average since the last World Cup is a modest 2.63 – sixth out of the nine leading rugby nations and miles adrift of New Zealand’s 5.06.

Analysis by Gracenote Sports shows New Zealand’s attack is so potent they have almost rendered the kick at goal redundant, averaging 1.17 successful penalty kicks per match, the least in the study, compared to England’s 3.04, which is the most.

That is not because Beauden Barrett could not hit sand if he fell off a camel – although New Zealand’s genius playmaker does miss more frequently than Owen Farrell – it is because the All Blacks very rarely bother going for goal. The numbercrunching shows why. Their attack is so efficient it makes it illogical to kick for three points. They average 3.5 points every time they visit the 22, making it more productive for them to kick into the corner in search of a try.

Barrett said: “We are encouraged from a young age to express ourselves. It’s great growing up knowing that the coaches back you because ultimately you are out here doing it for fun and that’s where you get the biggest rewards.

“England play a different game and are very good at it. It doesn’t mean they don’t have the potential to pass the ball and use their pace. You’ve got to encourage that.”

Jones has shown his intent in picking Ashton.

WORLD Rugby have issued a reminder to referees “of their obligations in sanctioning illegal no-arms tackles” after Owen Farrell escaped punishment for his challenge on Andre Esterhuizen against South Africa.