Horror defeats in rugby and cricket
Forgotten man Ashton returned to haunt Jones as the Baa-Baas ended their pub crawl to inflict the heaviest defeat on England for TWENTY years
CHRIS ASHTON came back to haunt Eddie Jones as sorry England crashed to their biggest defeat for 20 years.
Never before had the world’s biggest and richest rugby-playing nation conceded so many points at Twickenham.
To do so against a scratch team which prepared for the game with a ’70s-themed pub crawl was, George Ford, agreed, embarrassing.
England co-captain Ford admitted: “We weren’t good enough by a long way.
“You can’t concede 63 points like that. You can’t be performing like that.”
Former Red Rose star Ashton led the way with a 22-minute hat-trick – the second quickest ever at Twickenham – as the BaaBaas went 21-0 ahead before England knew what day it was.
“Defence is an attitude thing,” said Ford. “You can have all the systems and structures in the world but if you’re not quite there from a mental point of view, you’re going to get hurt.
“No matter what game you’re playing in, when you put the England shirt on you expect to be better than that defensively.”
England’s fourth straight defeat came at the hands of a side only put together on Tuesday and which, according to Ashton, enjoyed the benefit of just two training sessions.
“Actually it was three,” corrected coach Pat Lam.
“But some of you probably don’t remember one as you were half-cut!”
Seventies’ night saw Ashton dress as a hippie, flyhalf Finn Russell as Austin Powers and Justin Tipuric as the Cookie Monster.
In contrast, England were in camp soberly completing a fortnight’s preparation.
Jones put a brave face on the most points England have conceded since the All Blacks stuck 64 points on Clive Woodward’s makeshift side during the infamous 1998 Tour of Hell.
Jones said: “Obviously, we are disappointed with the result. But as an experience for some young players it was outstanding.”
Ford tried his best, so too fullback Elliot Daly and young openside Tom Curry.
But with 12 days until the first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg, England must improve fast.
“We will be a new squad when the 15 players from the Premiership final join up,” promised Jones. They will need to be.
ENGLAND – Tries: Daly, Francis 2, Mercer, Launchbury, May. Cons: Ford 6. Pen: Ford.
BARBARIANS – Tries: Ashton (3), Vito (2), Russell, Radrada, Timani, Laidlaw. Cons: Russell (7), Laidlaw, Lobbe.