Ashton: My wife has better Lions chance

CHRIS ASHTON joked that his wife has a better chance of making the Lions touring squad than him. The Saracen, who turned 30 this week, has scored nine tries in 12 matches this season — a better rate than the current Test wings from Britain and Ireland — but is not expecting Warren Gatland’s call. With the squad picked in 18 days, Ashton still has a chance to impress, starting against Glasgow tomorrow, but dismissed the Lions talk, jokingly tipping his wife Melissa for selection. ‘I think my missus is closer to it than me!’ he said. ‘She sleeps near the phone! She is in training at the minute, I am trying to get her into a girls’ rugby team so that’s why she’s a bit closer than me. ‘It would be nice but I think it’s a very big ask. There are a lot of good wings playing in

the Six Nations. I have big games coming and that’s my opportunity.’ Ashton has come to terms with his international exile, having decided to move to Toulon next season, but still feels he is playing Test-standard rugby. ‘I think a lot of credit is the coaching at Saracens,’ he added. ‘We have a set of international coaches here that constantly works both ways — if I go to them and they come to me — we are always looking to improve. I have a lot to thank them for. ‘I don’t feel any different from whether I had been in England training or not. I’d like to think I could play at that level still. ‘Making the decision to move on has definitely made it easier for me. I can watch as a fan, but not in a pub where I get a bit of abuse if it’s full!’