LANCASTER BOMBS OUT ASHTON AS SEVEN GO

CHRIS ASHTON was confirmed as one of seven players dropped from England’s training squad as head coach Stuart Lancaster closes in on the final 31 who will carry the nation’s hopes at the World Cup. Ashton is the highestprofile casualty, while fellow wings Semesa Rokoduguni and Marland Yarde, centre Kyle Eastmond, scrum-half Lee Dickson, flanker Matt Kvesic and prop Matt Mullan have also been dropped. The departures reduce the number of players who will be returning to the training camp at Pennyhill Park to 39, with August 31 the deadline for Lancaster to name his final 31-man party. ‘It has been difficult to narrow down the squad but I’ve told the guys who are not coming back in that the door is not closed. ‘They are only an injury away and there is a lot of rugby to be played this season, culminating in a three-Test tour to Australia. ‘Overall, we are in good shape. Both Nick Easter and Ben Morgan are now fit and we want to give them both opportunities to train fully and prove their form and fitness next week.’ Meanwhile, Tom Wood is on course to captain England against France next weekend. Chris Robshaw remains a nailed-on certainty to lead the hosts at the World Cup, providing he does not succumb to injury, but Lancaster is ready to take steps to address the doomsday threat of losing his established skipper. Since Lancaster took charge at the end of 2011, Harlequin star Robshaw has missed just three Tests — one against South Africa, due to injury, and the two in Argentina when he was rested. Dylan Hartley deputised against the Springboks, with Northampton flanker Wood stepping in for the two-Test tour of Argentina in 2013. Wood will reassert his status as the first alternative captain by filling the role for the game against France at Twickenham next Saturday.