Ashton - a lucky general?
- 29 Jan 07, 11:42 AM
London - New coach Brian Ashton announces his first, eagerly-awaited, on Monday afternoon.
He's not the only one breaking new ground - this is my first blog entry.
I'm the website's man at Twickenham on Saturday so I'll be popping in throughout the build-up to the match.
As for Ashton, he has a far harder task than me, namely rejuvenating the floundering world champions.
The former Bath and Ireland boss has as an attacking coach but that does not mean he wants his team throwing the ball around for the sake of it.
England's strongest asset is their power and that is what Ashton will be basing his selection on.
One advantage Ashton has over predecessor Andy Robinson is that he looks like being a "lucky general".
He not only has ex-Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell fit and firing, it also seems as though Jonny Wilkinson is going to be available for selection.
He's played just 40 minutes against Leicester on his latest comeback from injury but there are to face Scotland.
Would you pick him, or is it too soon to welcome back English rugby's prodigal son?
Does Farrell have the necessary experience, will Martin Corry retain the number eight shirt, is Lewis Moody really an open-side, are England really as bad as recent results suggest?
Ashton has numerous questions to answer and we'll know his thoughts soon enough.
Wales 27-18 England
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Jonny is the best.But whether he should be [playing 43 minutes into his tenth comeback remains to be seen. Personally I think having him on the bench wouldnt do any harm, but starting would be asking too much. I'm looking forward to seeing what Farrell will do, but I do wonder who he will have outside him, that would be key, especially with a novice at 10. Dan ward-smith is very unlucky, I was looking forward to seeing him. But corry seems to be rejuvenated from having the wirght of captaicy off his shoulders so we may be ok. But for the last time.LEWIS MOODY IS NOT A 7. he is not, blindside if anything, but i think we need to see what others, Lund, Rees can do at 7, because we may well be in for a nice surprise!
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I was taught by Brian Ashton at Hutton Grammer school from the age of 11 (1973) and he was able to get a bunch of new kids to become rugby players and to go through the whole season undefeated and this was against some schools who took rugby very seriously.
Although we only saw him as a sports teacher (and geography I think) he managed to make the game fun but also succesful and we stayed with him for many years.
The very best of luck for saturday and the rest of 2007
Duncan Parker
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I think this could be Englands year, and our worth a bet for the championship.
1. Easy draw (Scotland and Italy at home to start the 6Ns) which should enable england to build morale and momentum before going into the trickier away games.
2. Competition for places. Players returning from injury or lack of form are challenging the encumbents for places.
3. Heineken Cup Form. England players have been stand-out in this competition, and they are bringing this to the 6Ns table.
4. No pressure. Its a new-era, so expectations will be quite low, compared to say that of the Irish.
5. Wilko. Although he might not be his 2001-2003 vintage, he is still miles better than the rest of the fly-halfs out there when fit. To be competitive at International level you need an 80% goalkicker. We havent had that in his absence.
So all in all there are lots of reasons to be positive, in which should be a classic 6nations tournament. I cant wait.
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The combination of Wilkinson and Farrell is extremely exciting. They're going to need as much time as possible playing together before the world cup, so I would pick them for Saturday. Both of them need playing time, not bench time.
If you have Wilkinson, Farrell, and then an on-fire Tait, Tindall or Noon, then finally England have what looks like a dangerous back line for the first time since Greenwood retired.
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Jonny Wilkinson should not be on the team sheet after just 40 mins thats only one half and to put someone in to the team you need to know they can play the full game.
England can not and should not put him in just because he is a great player. We have to remember that he is a great player that has and keeps suffering from major injuries the last thing we want is to name him and then for him to have to pull out again due to injury.
Along with that is he even on form is he the player we can remember. give him a bit longer and lets see how he gets on!
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Hmmm... Once again someone - inexcusably a journalist - who doesn't know the meaning of "prodigal", instead, associating it with the biblical story of the returning prodigal son... Very out of context. Without meaning to be drawn on semantic arguments, a dictionary wouldn't go amiss!
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James - Good to see your first attempt at a blog! I believe you'll see a different England outfit throughout this campaign, there are only 9 months to get their form back! One thing England has in its favour is form throughout the squad, with teh likes of Tindal, Worsley, Cohen (if he is picked), Wilkinson (in a supporting the team role) and our dominant forwards! Its obvious where England have suffered most, quick distritbution of ball from the centre and leadership, I sure hope we have now addressed both, given Ashton's way of thinking! England to either come 2nd of win! Change is good, and ashton brings that with him! Hope the politics of RFU can also be put aside once and for all! England to win by 15 points on Saturday
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Too soon to start Jonny, but put him on the bench. Imagine the roar from the crowd bringing him on with 20 minutes to go with a tight game. The lift to the team would be worth points!
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I would not pick Wilkinson in my starting 22, even just having him on the bench would put unnecessary pressure on our young Number 10's.
However, based on his big influence in training sessions i would not be surprised to see him starting, certainly it would be a huge psychological lift to the crowd seeing their World Cup winning prince return and play his first game for England in nearly 4 years.
I would also pick Farrell at 12. Im not sure about Tindall at 13 although i can understand why Ashton would want a solid and experienced outside center for this must win game. This should also give him the confidence to experience with a more interesting backrow, an area we have been seriously struggling at for well over a year.
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Ashton is indeed lucky, but Robinson was so spectacularly bad I'd be surprised if he could have achieved anything with a full strength squad.
His problems were not principally with availability but with what he did with those players that he had.
Anyone who was there at Twickenham when England lost to Argentina (and in doing so saw themselves moved to 7th place in the world rankings) and had to listen to both Martin Corry and Andy Robinson spouting meaningless cliches about 'still moving forward' will hopefully agree - Ashton's turnaround of the England squad (assuming it happens of course, and I for one hope with all my heart that it does) has to do with a lot more than who's injured.
He has to inject passion and belief into a squad of players who, in white jerseys at least, seem to have lost faith in themselves.
Having seen what he achieved with the disaster he inherited at Ireland and the unbelievable strides Bath took under his leadership (as a Wasps fan, they even had us worried at one point...), I truly believe that he's going to save this team from the abyss it now stares into.
It's already started. Robinson and Catt returning to the fold shows a faith in the boss that should get those who remember the guts of Early 90s England very excited indeed. Could Andy Robinson have talked Jason Robinson back into an England kit? I doubt it.
If things go well for England this year, please don't belittle Ashton's achievement by saying that it's only because Andy Farrell's finally ready and St Jonny is back to fitness. To do so takes away from the task that faces one of England's most adventurous coaches.
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We have to pick the big game performers from now until the World Cup, and let them gel as a team. The likes of Flood and Geraghty cannot be risked for a whole match against top opposition in the 6 Nations and World Cup, but need to be gradually introduced to international rugby from the bench. Jonny, when fully fit, is the best stand off we have, end of story. We have to get him settled back into the team ahead of the World Cup.
Wilkinson, Farrell and Tindall will give us the strongest midfield possible. With Cueto (when fit), Robinson and Lewsey as the back three, we would at least have the players to try to play Ashton's expansive rugby behind our powerful pack: decision-makers at 10 and 12 and finishers out wide.
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It's very disappointing how so many of England's best sportsmen have suffered from injuries in recent years, which have kept them from keeping our national teams where they should be. Wilkinson, Vaughan, Rooney, Pietersen to name a few. I hope Wilko comes good because he has been a huge loss to the side. His impact on the pitch has become much more apparent since his absence from it.
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I believe Wilkinson should be benched against Scotland and start against Italy with Farrel outside him at 12. I also think Lewsey could play at 13 but he should play 15 given his performance against SA in the AI's.
Tait has to be in the starting 15 but whether he will play at 13 or wing is yet to be seen.
As for the back row id like to see Worseley play 8 with Lund at 7 and Moody at 6. Worseley has experience at 8 (although not as much as at 6) and it means that the back row as a whole is extremely mobile.
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Play your best players - wilko is world class, the other numbers 10's are not. Who cares if he has been injured? He is fit again, so he should play. we need wins
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Nice to hear Duncan Parker's tale of being coached by Brian Ashton as a child.
It shows just how much the game has changed - it's hard to believe many future England coaches will have had careers outside the game.
And nice to get my first correction as well!
Anon points out my usage of "prodigal son".
In my defence I'd say the term has passed into wider usage to mean someone who returns after failing to live up to the expectations of those who have launched them on their chosen path.
But if there's one person who hasn't squandered their gifts, and instead been denied by the fates, it's Wilkinson.
And, as a colleague points out, if he does manage to help England become the best team in the world again, it will be a miracle of near-biblical proportions.
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Wilkinson is a class act no doubt about it. At th end of the day he needs game time if he's going to get back to his best. So in the absents of any real comptition (no offence to flood and co but both are rookies) like hodgeson I say play him.
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I have a feeling Jonny will at least be on the bench against Scotland. He's gone well in training and it will be a massive boost to the team to see him an England shirt again.
England need do the hard yards before opening up so expect to see Farrell and Tindall at centre - big bruisers who will make the yards and ensure England recyle well to allow the likes of Lewsey and Robinson/Balshaw/Tait get some room to move.
I hope Ashton gives either Rees or Lund a run at openside as the Moody experiment has not worked and we lack a scavenger in the back row.
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Is it just me or are we talking positively about England all of a sudden. However exciting the players appear in terms of form, there is no subtitute for time together and until the RFU and Premier Rugby get their heads knocked together by the fans and players, that is only going to happen by consistent selection.
Expect heart in mouth excitement, lots of running from deep, tries (for and against) a lot of knock-ons and interceptions in the early games and an improving England throughout the tournament.
Mr Ashton needs to pick the side he sees playing in the World Cup final regardless of fitness or experience. Everyone else needs to get that experience where they can. Perhaps the bench will change quite frequently.
I think 10. Wilkinson 12. Farrell 13. Tindall but we need something different on the wings. Perhaps Tait and Balshaw with Robinson or Lewsey at Full Back.
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Its maybe a little too early for Wilko, why not give Shane Geraghty a run out? He's been impressive for London Irish all year and will have benefitted from just training with England Squad so more improvemnet is to had over the next couple of months.
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I think we should play Farrell and Wilkinson at some stage this Saturday, the Six Nations is important but we should be building a team that can impress in the World Cup so whilst not letting ourselves down in the 6 nations, we should prioritise the World Cup and hence Wilko and Farrell should get some game time and a chance to gel with the other players this Saturday in a match situation. Isn't Robinson back too? It's suddenly looking a bit brighter for English rugby but hush keep it quiet!
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Put Jonny on the bench and certainly play him at some point, even for 10 minutes at the end. Having such a talisman returning in front of Twickenham will not only lift the team, but the crowd and the doom and gloom surrounding English rugby. It'll also be an enormous boost to his own confidence and that can only be positive for England.
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Get Wilko in...he's a born leader, which we've lacked, he cannot be faulted in defence, he's exemplary in his kicking and he's up there with any of the oher backs in attack (save Robinson).
Scotland, with all due respect (and I speak as a half-scotsman, from Wales) do not represent the challenge of New Zealand/S.Africa or even Argentina at the moment. They are low in the Magnes and non-exitent in Europe.
We need Wilko at 100% against Ireland...and for that he needs game time, preferably against weaker teams like Scotland and, to a lesser extent, Italy.
Both will raise their game to meet England, bouyed by Englands recent poor form, bu at Twickenham, with something to prove to a new coach and a doubting fanbase I can only see one result!
There's my 2 pennies worth...
PS. Come on Jimmy Hook, time to shine again!!
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it doesn't matter how salivating the backline will look until england find a good scrum half who can give them quick, clean possession. even with wilkinson in his '01-'03 form you need a scrum half of, at the very least, an in-form dawson.
otherwise jonny will get murdered by the opposition back row
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I think that Ashton should pick wilkinson! since he has been training with the squad, his presence alone has increased the morale around the camp, let alone his technical brilliance. its irrelevant that he has played on 40 mins, he is a match winner! and with Rugby world cup 2007 around the corner, we need a match winner and a consistant kicker! his already proven that! Wilko is what we need! Experience combined with youth!
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I think that Ashton should pick wilkinson! since he has been training with the squad, his presence alone has increased the morale around the camp, let alone his technical brilliance. its irrelevant that he has played on 40 mins, he is a match winner! and with Rugby world cup 2007 around the corner, we need a match winner and a consistant kicker! his already proven that! Wilko is what we need! Experience combined with youth!
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I believe if Jonny is fit he should play. He has a history of being fitter on his comeback game than he was on the match before an injury. There are bigger risks playing an inexperienced/unproven fly half than Jonny, even though he may have played on 40 minutes. All the reports suggest he is super fit at the moment, and although that's no substitute for match fitness I think he'll be fine, and an inspiration to others. We barely have a world class player these days so we need as many as we can get!
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There is a sense of optimism in these messages, and I have to say I share it. The omens are good. We've finally changed the guard, we have players coming back to fitness (Wilko, Stevens) and form (Tindall, Moody), as well as seeing some fresh blood (Farrell, Flood, etc) coming in. A couple of wins and English rugby might suddenly look quite healthy.
It's time to pick Farrell. Give him the Six Nations experience and we'll all know if he should play in the World Cup. I suspect he'll rise to the challenge.
Jonny is a tough call. The problem is if we keep waiting for the perfect moment he'll get crocked again playing for Newcastle. Every time he's made a comeback in recent times he's slotted right back in, playing superbly, so why not put him back in now? I think you either start him, and bring him off when he tires. Or you put him on the bench and bring him on in the second half (if we're losing) or last quarter (if we're winning).
But he has to play. We are a better side with him.
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Nice first Blog - don't bother with the dictionary dig!
Prodigal or not, Ashton should definitely play Wilkinson. No point being on the bench. He needs international match time, so get him straight back into the fray.
James Simpson-Daniel - what does a guy have to do to get into the team?! Very exciting prospects for the world cup and beyond (e.g. Dan Cipriani at Wasps), but understand the need to get the first wins under the belt at any cost.
Can't wait for a fantastic championship - I see Gavin Hastings reckons Scotland are in with a shout of the Triple Crown... Not if Ashton and co. have anything to do with it!
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England need Jonny Wilkinson if they are going to comepete in the 6 nations. Him getting picked or not will depend on whether they are looking to the world cup or for now. Without him England will lose to everyone except Italy.
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Brian should play the players currently fit and in form. I would put Johnny on the bench. We need flair in the backs players with genuine pace who can create openings and breaks. Try Farrell and Tait plus two lighting wingers - Billy Whizz (JR) if he is fit! Josh at full back coming into the line. but first we have to secure good FAST ball up front none of this messing about with the ball waiting at the base of some ruck. Get it out and into play use the width of the park take the ball to the touchlines and spin it wide.
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I think this could be very interesting. I am still concerned with the lack of Jamie Noon being spoken about. He has been England's bed rock for the past year and the only consistant performer for the side. What do people think? As tempted as I am to put Wilko in, I would start Flood with Wilko on the bench. Then Farrell and Noon in the centres. I think this would bring direct and expansive rugby to the fore. It would be very interesting to witness.
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"prodigal" - wasteful with money; tending to spend large amounts without thinking of the future.
how is jw prodigal?????
prodigious perhaps. put him on the bench and give him 30 mins in the 2nd half. scotland aren't as good as leicester.
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I am so happy that ashton has given both wilko and farrell a start, it doesnt matter if wilko has been injured hes fit now so must play, everyone that plays rugby goes out every game with the risk of getting injured.
farrell will do our centres a world of good, power, pace, vision, distribution, kicking...what more do you want?!
good too see a back to form tindall in there aswell, tait is very unlucky to miss out though.
very optimistic about this 6n now..come on england!
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Having watched JW at Welford Road on Saturday, I am not 100% convinced that he is really match fit. He did shake things up for Newcastle at 10 and looked his old self apart from pace. The cheer he got from us Tigers Fans shows how much he is admired and I really hope that he does really well against the Jocks. Don't know about JR on the wing but Saturday will tell. England will take this game by 40 minutes!!
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I've just seen the squad Ashton has announced. Fantastic! I feel that the England backs will finally start to click with Wilko back in the saddle. No point in messing about - Ashton knows that Wilko is a different class and England desperately need him.
England have made a statement of intent here. With Farrell in and Robinson making a welcome comeback, expect some ferocious running from the back line for the first time in a long time. Don't be surprised, too, if Balshaw regains his swagger and produces the kind of running we've been waiting for for ages.
In some ways these are daring selections, but they're backed up with a solid forward platform, and more importantly I believe the fans will back Ashton because this is something like the team we've been waiting for.
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I like this team!! The backs have experience (Wilkinson,Lewsey, Tindall, Robinson) but we also have a gamble as well on Farrell and Wilkinsons fitness. I am hoping that at last we will see some decent passing from 9 to 12. I also like the power in the pack and the strength of the bench. Fingers crossed for Johnny and Andy.
One downside is Ward Smiths injury. Nothing could sum up the issue of overplaying players more that this. Why did they not let him have a weekend off? In the old days a debut gap always got a game off.Was the Northampton game more important than building a decent England teram?
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England are hot favourites at home no question. But as a Scot I do enjoy your cockiness.
I think its set for a decent game. Scotland tend to punch above their weight in the 6 nations and are resonably settled and well organised.
England's biggest problem (challenge?) is the amount of new combinations on offer, it's a team sheet crammed with undoubted talent and no small amount of strength, but the result I feel hinges on how well these disparate elements come together on the day.
As for the championship, if England start well I think they have a real chance, the play France at home and Ireland may not enjoy the weight of being favourites. Wales? the jury is out.
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Wait and see how the game's going before putting Jonny on, preferably in the second half (look what Man U did at the w/e by waiting until the second half before putting Rooney on). If Scotland are shading it on a penalty or two, the last person you want to see coming on is JW to redress the balance when the opportunity arises - and it will. As for Farrell, we'll never know how effective he is until he gets to play and with a possible Wilkinson on the inside, TIndall on the outside and good posession, I could start to believe in England again...
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How can you leave out Matthew Tait??? I have to say I think that Jason Robinson will get found out against some bigger opponents and I can only hope we will find Tait back in the squad under some sort of reshuffle.
What are your thoughts?
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Here we go again. The usual array of Little Engerlanders giving it "We are the best" despite the really poor run of form and the distinct lack of over-acheivers in the England camp these past few months. I wonder, were these people saying the same thing last season? Listen up, chumps: Scotland will be no pushovers this year. There has been all this talk of resurgeance but if you suddenly turn out to win the World Cup with this bunch of no-hopers then I will dine heartily on my Tam O'Shanter. Your green and pleasant Cabbage Patch (must be all the verbal crap that keeps it so lush) will see many more falls before you see a rise in fortunes.
BTW - I hear through the grapevine that Andy Robinson won a coconut at the funfair recently. Perhaps you should have stuck with him after all, I mean the guy is clearly a winner...
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You want a scrum half/fly half duo in form? Try Paul Hodgson and Shane Geraghty from London Irish. A good bet to come on in the second half together. Geraghty has been outstanding, especially with Catt outside him - he tore Ulster to pieces at the Mad Stad. Hodgson was good enough to captain the Saxons last season in the Churchill Cup, so can't understand why he doesn't get a look in now : combative scrum half with good vision and outstanding defence.
Play players who are in form and fit - and although I am a huge Wilko fan, I'm not convinced he is either at the moment.
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I think it is a good selection. Very exciting to see some old faces again. I feel sorry for Ward-Smith because I think he was a dead cert for the nr 8 shirt.
As far as Wilko and Farrel are concerned, bring it on. These guys at their best are world beaters.
For the first time since the last world cup I'm excited about the England team again.
Good luck chaps.
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Yes,Brian Ashton may be a lucky general with players regaining fitness and finding their formjust as he takes over as coach. But he also has the wit to choose a coherent team with players in their best positions - something his predecessor perversely refused to do.
Jonny Wilkinson cannot be fully match sharp after so long a lay off. But the World cup is just around the corner and the Scots should be the easiest of the 6 Nations opponents. Moreover he will be better protected by the England forwards,who should dominate their Scottish opponents, than the Newcastle scrum against almost anyone.
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Tom Wrote....
As for the back row id like to see Worseley play 8 with Lund at 7 and Moody at 6. Worseley has experience at 8 (although not as much as at 6) and it means that the back row as a whole is extremely mobile.
Is "Tom" really Andy Robinson?? Messing around with the back row was one of the worst aspects of AR's coaching. For the first time in ages we have a 6 playing at 6, a 7 at 7 and an 8 at 8 (only unfortunate Dan Ward Smith is injured).
For those saying Jonny should be on the bench, if the guy is fit enough to bench (and be brought on after a minute should Flood have got injured) then he has got to be fit enough to play.
Apart from the back 3, good to see we have a coach who seems to be picking primarily on form. Really looking forward to Faz proving all those doubters wrong.
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the idea of wilkinson and farrel is very exciting however, can anybody tell me why the in-form Ben Cohen has been dropped from the England side but Mark Cueto -who has not been in form- and Ian Balshaw -who is not of international standard- kept there places?
Somebody please reply to this with the answers
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If Jonny needs time on the pitch to get back in the swing of things I'd rather he is doing it with an England shirt than a Falcon's shirt, (Bristol & England fan).
Picking him for the bench is like buying an Aston Martin and leaving it in the garage to look at every now again, only bringing it out for a run when it's not raining or only when there is a 'Y' in the month.
Give him the ball and let him do his stuff. If he's injured, give your support to the substitute young bloods. Jonny won't live forever, England will.
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If Jonny needs time on the pitch to get back in the swing of things I'd rather he is doing it with an England shirt than a Falcon's shirt, (Bristol & England fan).
Picking him for the bench is like buying an Aston Martin and leaving it in the garage to look at every now again, only bringing it out for a run when it's not raining or only when there is a 'Y' in the month.
Give him the ball and let him do his stuff. If he's injured, give your support to the substitute young bloods. Although we all think Jonny is great, he won't live forever, England will.
Ashton should do well. I think we'll be in a 3 way fight with France and Ireland, which is good considering recent form. No Grand Slam this year but we won't be pushed around either so Scotland beware, the English are coming.
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Well there is no denying that many of the posts here are confident and positive... but let us not forget the experience we’ve had in the last year of england rugby, we have been woeful. Of all the comments the fairest assessment was from a scot kennyb, his sentiments about the ingredients being present but without having been tested together are all very true… we cannot afford to leap ahead of ourselves, the same people extolling all these positive messages will be the same people bashing the coaches after the game if we loose. My hopes are with this team and the current set-up, but it may take time, after all Rome wasn't built in a day!
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As a Welshman I'm very surprised Wilko is starting on Saturday. Let me qualify this - quite amazingly even if he has only played 40 minutes of competitive rugby since his latest comeback he is the form fly-half in England - truly world class. However if I were Ashton I would have a focus on the World Cup. With Hodgson battling to be fit in time for the WC and Wilkinson as injury prone as he is, imagine the scenario if Wilko starts at 10 for all the 6N games and then gets injured prior to the WC. You then have a limited number of games in which to blood Geraghty or Flood or hope Hodgson(still flaky when the pressure is on) gets back in time - your WC defence will be a disaster! I would use the 6N to develop Geraghty and Flood and let Wilko get the game time under his belt in a slightly less competitive Zurich Premiership. I can only assume Ashton intends to play JW for 40-50 mins, get the game under control and then bring on Flood from the bench to increase his international exposure. OK so the 6N is a tournament in itself and perhaps should not be seen as the warm up to the main event of the WC - Ashton clearly wants to put out his best side for the 6N and to build squad confidence by maximising the win/lose ratio but for my money I would have delayed JW's international comeback with the bigger picture in mind.
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