Can't stop scoring: Chris Ashton
England underlined their 2011 Six Nations title credentials on Saturday as they demolished Italy 59-13 in an eight-try performance at Twickenham.
It was a showing that will add weight to talk of a possible Grand Slam as sublime running and support lines left the Azzurri with no answer.
Toby Flood and Chris Ashton were once again the top performers, with the right wing crossing four times to take his championship tally up to six.
Next up for England - after a week's break - will be a mouth-watering prospect of testing themselves against reigning champions France on home soil. And if they progress past title contenders Les Bleus, there is a prospect of a trip to Ireland on March 19 for possible glory - where they in fact sealed their last Grand Slam back in 2003.
One major reason for England's sudden boost in confidence has been the form of Ashton, of that there is little doubt. Northampton's prized possession regularly gets himself on the shoulder of the initial line-breaker, with his four tries showing just that as he fed off the many breaks made by Flood and others wearing white.
It took just three minutes for Ashton to get over the line following his fly-half finding a hole in his own half. It was a sucker punch for the side beaten narrowly by Ireland and one that they struggled to recover from. But in truth, England were a gear up than the Irish.
The visitors did manage to stay in touch via two Mirco Bergamasco penalties, but when the lively Ashton crossed again on 25 minutes, the writing was on the wall in London.
Italy were struggling for any foothold in the match as their line-out fell to pieces in the first half-hour. And that problem was the catalyst of a moment to savour for Mark Cueto, who followed Ashton's support-line lead by popping up for his first try in nineteen Tests. England were cruising at 24-6 up.
Captain Mike Tindall joined the party five minutes later when he was on hand to take a nice offload from number eight Nick Easter that extended the lead to 25 points at the break.
Italy needed a miracle to get back into the contest and were not helped by tighthead Martin Castrogiovanni being yellow carded for slapping the ball out of Ben Youngs' hands as the scrum-half tried to take a quick penalty. His absence led to Ashton going over and then the procession continued as Danny Care crossed.
Fabio Ongaro snatched a consolation try for the Italians from a rolling maul, but James Haskell grabbed a deserved score before Banahan sent Ashton in for his fourth late on.
Man-of-the-match: Toby Flood was once again the architect but for his four poacher-like tries, the award has to go to Saints star Chris Ashton.
Moment-of-the-match: Despite all the pre-game talk about not throwing in the Hollywood dive when scoring, it took just three minutes for the in-form Ashton to go against his word. Cue the laughter from the journalists. Wonder how Brian Smith and Martin Johnson reacted.
The scorers:
For England:
Tries: Ashton 4, Cueto, Tindall, Care, Haskell
Con: Flood 5, Wilkinson 3
Pen: Flood
For Italy:
Try: Ongaro
Con: Bergamasco
Pen: Bergamasco 3
England: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Mike Tindall (capt), 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Nick Easter, 7 James Haskell, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Alex Corbisiero.
Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson, 17 David Wilson, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 Hendre Fourie, 20 Danny Care, 21 Jonny Wilkinson, 22 Matt Banahan.
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Andrea Masi, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Valerio Bernabo, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18 Santiago Dellape, 19 Robert Barbieri, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Kris Burton, 22 Gonzalo Garcia.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Peter Allan (Scotland)
Television match official: Tony Redmond (Ireland)
By Adam Kyriacou
Comments
Carpelone says...
Back to the Italian side, I think that there is an issue about Parisse's leadership. In the crucial moments, he always takes the wrong option. This was true against Argentina, Ireland and England. For example, why didn't Bergamasco kick to posts at 53th min instead of kicking to touch? The thrown was lost and Italy got their 5th try during their last minute of Castro's bin. Result.
Why did Parisse argue with Craig Joubert who was having an absolute fantastic day at the office? BTW, I wish Joubert were in charge of the match ITA-IRE, his refereeing at the breakdown (which is absolutely amazing) could have had an influence on the final score.
One question for all: is England back at their top or was just Italy having huge problems, especially in the 10 channels?
I am not particularly annoyed by Ashton, he will change his behavior as soon as he meets a team from downunder.
Posted 14:20 14th February 2011
lawynd says...
@MarcoP - do you think that as part of the agreement to enter into Magners League competition, Aironi and Treviso should have minimum number of Italians in the squads?
Posted 12:02 14th February 2011
lawynd says...
@senatore_virg - someone will make Ashton pay sooner or later of that I'm sure, but to describe a try celebration as 'arrogant' all of a sudden when plenty of players (particularly wingers - they're a different breed) the world over do the same every week smacks of bitterness, particularly when most of the complainers are from Celtic nations who deplore anything English in all walks of life, simply because it is English. I don't think I or any other Englishman is 'better' than anyone else, but I also won't apologise for my nationality - why should I? The resentments from just over the borders and the other side of the Irish Sea are borne out of events for which ancestors of mine weren't even around for, and it's pathetic how they manifest themselves in the sort of 'anyone but England' mentality that is on show here. You talk about 'respect', yet where England is concerned all anyone does (here in particular) is trash-talk players and fans alike - pot, meet kettle. I'm sure you know the colour.
Posted 18:28 13th February 2011
senatore_virg says...
@lawynd: Congrats for your reply to caramba13; this proves exactly what he meant, as your supposed superiority does not allow you to care about what other people, that you too simply label as frustrated, say.If this is not arrogance...
But I need to understand you, after a keyboard hero switches off the computer, he can only look out of the window and see where he lives. You need some satisfaction every now and then to convince yourself you're right. So enjoy this victory.
Concerning Ashton, I wouldn't be surprised if somebody would hit him harder and harder to make him pay for his behaviour. Superb player, of course, but respect is one of the bases of this game. Otherwise, there is plenty of football stadiums where he can show off.
Regards from downunder.
Posted 17:05 13th February 2011
l00sehead says...
For me it was a good, not great game. Much has been said about Italy not being 'at the races' but again you can only play against the team that turn up on the day. Personally I felt for Parisse and Castrogiavani who never gave up. As a forward I find Ashtons scoring 'thing' tedious and disrespectful BUT as an Englishman I'm just grateful for the points!. Then again as a card carrying member of the fron row union I must admit to finding wingers a lower form of life. :) For me the highlight of the game was Cueto scoring his try. The reception he got from his team-mates made it for me. Much has been made of his try drought but watch the other England games and you'll see he's unselfish, he makes breaks, he's a brilliantly balanced runner and he has a great eye for a gap. Then again, what do I know, I'm a prop.....devastating from 5 yards out but I'd struggle in the wide open spaces :)
England will have far harder games to play over the next few months but its nice to see the Twickenham faithful finally get a good day out and value for money for an England performance.
The debut England prop too had a good game against the much vaunted Italian front row.
What made it a good game as opposed to a great one was the way that with all the changes that were made early in the second half, the rhythm was lost a bit. We had a period when England forwards were turning up in the middle of back moves and not playing 'total' rugby but just getting in the way. We also had a period when we just seemed to be trying too hard to entertain. The REALLY great sides (Buck Shelfords All Blacks) carry on putting scores on against lesser opposition, they get driven on and don't slacken off.
Might be an idea to look at our maul defence too.......
Still having watched England through their many many ups and downs and false dawns, this was an enjoyable game.
Posted 13:28 13th February 2011
lawynd says...
@caramba13 - so Ashton is 'arrogant' because of the huge chip that large numbers of Irish, Welsh and Scots still carry around on their shoulders? Good to know...I'm sure none of us terrible Anglo-Saxons really care about the opinions of small-minded individuals that are nursing centuries of bitter resentment by crying into their pints.
Posted 13:09 13th February 2011
munster1981 says...
Fair play to England, clinical display, did what Ireland couldn't do and finish Italy off. If they pull off Le Crunch the Grand Slam looks good.
Can't wait for Ashton to drop the ball with his soccer like celebrations and make a idiot of himself. Its ok to celebrate after scoring, but before is just childish.
Personally thought Flood should have got man of the match.
Ashton only had to work hard for one of his tries, the rest were easy enough. Thought Flood was at the centre off every good English move.
You have to feel sorry of Parisse, bet he wishes he had declared for Argentina!
Posted 11:55 13th February 2011
lawynd says...
@jmanngod - A bit harsh on Castro perhaps, but Joubert did have a rather excellent game, particularly at the breakdown where he was fair, equal and got pretty much every call spot-on.
@norm - What I like most about Ashton is his enthusiasm for getting in the right places and running the support lines he does; that workrate is rare in a winger (Bryan Habana being the only other I can think of that does as well) and it seems to be rubbing off on other members of the squad too - even Tindall is running on the shoulder! I don't buy the suggestion that it's solely down to his league experience, but whatever it is there are plenty of players out there who would benefit from studying his approach, the Italian backs in particular given their forward's ability to get over the gain line.
@choky - I think you're being a little hard on les Bleus, you've not been able to pick a settled backs division until recently and, the game against England last year aside, were thoroughly deserved winners of the Grand Slam.
Posted 11:38 13th February 2011
caramba13 says...
I feel I must come to dafydd29's support here: what he is complaining about is 'English arrogance', typified on this occasion by Ashton's show-off diving. All the other NH countries have their quirks and their individualists but they do not go in for 'arrogance' in quite the same way as the English. It's not the fact that it's Chris Ashton who is swallow-diving; it's the fact that it's a guy in white.
Posted 11:33 13th February 2011
lawynd says...
...so no other player in the history of rugby has ever celebrated a try, I'd be right in saying?
Posted 02:00 13th February 2011
Bones7 says...
dafydd29 and JeanLucJoinel, please get over yourselves. Ashton dived whilst scoring after being told not to. It's does not mean that he is a bad person, a 'spoilt soccer player' or that the game we enjoy has somehow been diluted. I remember David Campese running across the field to score against the All Blacks having been told not to, throwing blind passes over his head and chucking a ball about during the haka. This definitely didn't ruin rugby and it definitely did NOT cause empty stadiums. He's having a bit of harmless fun and if players never did anything different then the catalogue of rugby stories would be a lot thinner and less entertaining for it.
Posted 00:28 13th February 2011
Danatthecorner says...
"When I saw Ashtons first try - totally against Johnston's instructions, I turned off the TV"
Wow. Just wow. I cannot believe the sanctimony here, its pathetic. No one says a thing when props go berserk after winning a scrum do they? No one calls it ungracious, its accepted as part of the theatre of the game. Rugby is better off without fans who think "Who the hell is Chris Ashton to enjoy scoring tries for his country eh? The gall of the man!"
Celebrations are nothing new, the islanders have been doing them for years. Off the top of my head I can cite Lelia Masaga who dances when he scores and Gareth Thomas who did the head tapping thing, but again no-one said a thing. Most similarly Philip Burger does the most OTT dives when he scores.
If all you can talk about after a game in which England have score 8 tries, of which Ashton scored 4, is how he dived to ground the ball I'm afraid it says more about you than it does about him.
Posted 23:06 12th February 2011
dafydd29 says...
When I saw Ashtons first try - totally against Johnston's instructions, I turned off the TV. If England want to play like spoilt soccer players they can play to an empty stadioum. The is NOT rugby.
Posted 22:15 12th February 2011
alanatleeds says...
You can do no better beat the team in front of you and England did just that and in some style. After watching the second-rate Wales/Scotland encounter the way England threw the ball around and finished seems even more impressive. The acid test is in two weeks against France-should be some match and I hope, whoever wins, it gves hope for a northern hemisphere result in the RWC.
Posted 21:35 12th February 2011
Kawasakifreak says...
Ashton sniffed out four good tries - fair play to him - even if his celebrations make me cringe.
Nothing more than a training game for England really - Italy tried hard (as always) but were just not good enough in any area of the game (except the scrum & one rolling-maul) to provide meaningful opposition on the day.
As always with English sport of any kind - complacency is it's biggest enemy & England Rugby has plenty of 'previous' on this area which has proved they're undoing !
Posted 20:12 12th February 2011
Danatthecorner says...
JeanLucJoinel - As unlikeable as someone who judges someone's entire character and personality based on how they dive when they are scoring a try? Get a life.
Ashton didn't disrespect the Italians, they disrespected themselves with that shambolic effort.
Posted 18:37 12th February 2011
giomamo says...
What a shame my poor Italy!!!
Presumptuos approach in the first two minutes (immediatly punished by Flood & Ashton), ridicolous attacking game, dozens of wrong tackles, half line dominated, unwatchable touches...a full disaster. An horrible performance by Orquera...Flood, Cueto and Ashton cut our defensive line like a knife in the butter...simply a nightmare afternoon!
Posted 18:15 12th February 2011
stuart10 says...
Swing low sweet chariot !!
Posted 16:54 12th February 2011