Ashton handed shock recall as Jones’ ‘finisher’
First Six Nations start since 2013 for winger Nowell dropped to the bench against France
Eddie Jones has backed “trypoacher” Chris Ashton to make best use of his predatory talents after handing the wing his first start in a Six Nations match for six years.
Ashton was in self-imposed exile from English rugby a year ago and the closest he came to being part of the tournament was in his role as a pundit for France’s game with Italy in Marseille, with the 31-year-old admitting he never imagined being part of Jones’ set-up 12 months later.
He gambled by leaving Toulon for Sale last summer in the hope of making England’s World Cup squad, but Jones has been impressed by Ashton’s desire and believes the former Saracen has returned to English rugby a more well-rounded player.
“Chris has shown his own unrelenting desire to play for his country,” said Jones. “He is a finisher and offers something different.”
It has been a long journey to this point and even though Ashton made three appearances in the autumn his starting selection over Jack Nowell – who Jones described as “absolutely outstanding” in the 32-20 win over Ireland – indicates just how valued his try-scoring ability is. By making that call Jones has put his trust in his “gut feeling”, that Ashton, as he did against New Zealand in November, will make an immediate impact against France at Twickenham tomorrow as England look to score in the opening three minutes for the fifth successive Test.
Ashton himself was somewhat surprised to get the nod over Nowell but delighted nonetheless, all the more so given he was high up in a broadcasting gantry at the Stade Velodrome last February.
“I never thought that I would be sat here now about to play France,” said Ashton, who acknowledged that you sometimes only appreciate what you are missing when you are watching it from the outside.
“Everyone is in that sort of boat. When you are younger and in the team, you never think it is going to be your last game. You think you are going to have good, long years at it but that wasn’t to be the case for me.
I definitely understand what it is like not to be involved, to not have the shirt, so this is a big privilege to be back in.”
Ashton, who broke a nine-yearold Top 14 record when scoring 24 tries during his season with Toulon, has different attributes to Nowell, who enjoys the nitty-gritty, grafting work through defensive lines as well as being an asset at the breakdown.
“I am very different from Jack, who likes those tight areas and has strong defence and is a strong carrier,” said Ashton. “My strengths are attacking out wide, finding space and support play.”
The filthy weather conditions are due to ease at some point tomorrow. Quite when will determine the point at which Nowell makes an appearance from the bench.
England’s Dublin demolition job was impressive enough in its own right but that fact that Jones can juggle his resources on the wing to suit his tactical thinking is a real sign of the team’s burgeoning status in the global reckoning. It is all the more so in the context that France have been obliged to pick two centres, Damian Penaud and Gael Fickou on the wing, and a wing – Yoann Huget – at full-back, so stretched are their options.
“We have got great competition for places and that drives desire,” said Jones, who has made one other change, an enforced one, in promoting lock Courtney Lawes to the starting ranks for the injured Maro Itoje. Jones said Itoje was “not far away” even this week in his recovery from a knee injury, with Joe Launchbury coming on to the bench. “Courtney has really added to his ball-carrying and line-out work with more growth to come,” he said.
Ashton also has some insider’s knowledge on several of the French team, notably his former captain at Toulon, centre Mathieu Bastareaud, who has been recalled to form a heavy-duty partnership with Geoffrey Doumayrou to deal with the threat of Manu Tuilagi.
Jones rejected the notion of it being a head-to-head contest between the big bruisers, stating: “We’ll be able to take care of him [Bastareaud], whoever is defending in front of him.”
Ashton believes that France “will be hurt, and cut deep”, by the manner of their defeat by Wales and that Bastareaud will offer some of the direction in their play that was lacking at the Stade de France. “I saw in Toulon that Mathieu has become a leader at club and country, taking on the role and embracing it. He will have a positive impact for France. The French are very emotional, which can work for them and against them. They will come flying into this game.” As will England, and Ashton in particular, as they look to cash in on their rattling starts.