Ashton: Must improve tackling
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England coach Stuart Lancaster has warned banned wing Chris Ashton to be more careful in future.
The Saracens star will miss England's opening November international against Fiji on Saturday having picked up three yellow cards in the Aviva Premiership this season for dangerous tackles.
In passing judgment at the hearing, the Rugby Football Union's disciplinary chief Judge Jeff Blackett instructed Ashton to work on his tackling technique.
"One of Chris's real strengths is his competitive nature. It is tempering that to make sure we get the best out of him and, alongside that, work on his tackle technique," said Lancaster.
"He is more disappointed than anyone that he is not available. He has to deal with it and put that frustration to bed and work on those two areas to make sure he is ready for next week.
"There aren't many world class finishers around anywhere. We think we have two (Ashton and the injured Ben Foden) but they are unavailable. The spark doesn't have to be on the wing."
England's disciplinary issues do not stop with Ashton, as Wasps back rower James Haskell has been handed a retrospective yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Alistair Hargreaves in Sunday's Aviva Premiership defeat to Saracens.
Ashton has actually yet to score a try in Lancaster's reign, though the dual-code international has still touched down 15 times in his 26 England Tests.
It seems likely that Ugo Monye and Charlie Sharples will get the chance to start on the wing against Fiji with Alex Goode offering a ball-playing presence from full-back.
"You cannot just manufacture finishers. They come through the Premiership and we aim to pick them from there," Lancaster said.
"Danny Care, Ben Youngs, Alex Goode, Toby Flood, Owen Farrell - there are lots of playmakers in our team, people who can change the course of a game.
"The game is not just won by game breakers. You can break a game by scrumming and scrumming, mauling well, kicking your points. That's what makes a winning team. We have to get that balance right."
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
I have the answer for the Hooker issue. Manu Tuilagi. Would be good for Leicester too now Tait is fit and Chuter is getting on. He would be our answer Schak Britts.
Posted 14:47 07th November 2012
craigsman says...
Or wrong! Sl has called up both apparently. I wonder who will start...
Posted 07:06 07th November 2012
craigsman says...
Of course I am right! ;-)
It brilliant to have this depth though. Especially for full back. A little planning and rotation was all it took. I am even positive about fly half given the options available.
Now, about this hooker issue...
Posted 21:51 06th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Surely SL will see Brown and Moyne play together. Ashton and Goode play together. To select Goode on the game Ashton is out and Moyne is in and when Brown is at the hight of his game (and did not need game time to show it) would be daft move to say the least. I'm beginning to wonder how Farrell senior is influencing selection.
Posted 17:40 06th November 2012
heart_of_oak says...
Heathy - I agree. I did mention that this could have been a bit of, what's the word, 'journalese' ? Anyway, I think Craigsman has a point that I did not twig to first off which is that SL may well be intending to pick Brown for the bigger games while seeing what Goode can do against lower ranked teams. No disrespect to Fiji - I've great admiration for what they do with their available players but I'm sure Fijians would admit that NZ, Australia and SA are bigger games for England.
Having said this, I hope I have not done a Guscott. (The heart_of_oak definition of a Guscott is where you confidently predict side a will thrash side b, only for the opposite to happen).
Posted 17:08 06th November 2012
APV1 says...
@ craigsman - I hope you're right. I think Brown is better than Goode and want him in the bigger matches.
Posted 14:43 06th November 2012
craigsman says...
Heart Of Oak - completely agree. Which is why makes sense to play Goode against a lower ranked team.
Posted 14:25 06th November 2012
heathy says...
This is one of the areas that are issues with ex rugby league players. The tackle laws are not the same and high arms etc are common place in league. Yes, he does need to learn how to tackle properly!!! @ heart_of_oak - the Danny Care treatment was for different things as his off the field disciplinary has been dreadful. I hope he has now leaned his lessons now as he is our best scrum half ATM.
The full back issue is purely the thinking of the editor. I think that SL may well pick Brown. He is in good form and a better finnisher than Goode (who is also a good player though). Monye looks the part and is quick but has never done it for England really. He doesn't get involved enough or is hungry enough for the ball. This is where Ashton is better although last year he didn't seem interested. I would like to see our wingers get their hands on the ball as much as possible. If the game is tight then they should go hunting for the ball and look for spaces and popping up
Posted 13:59 06th November 2012
heart_of_oak says...
Craigsman, I hope you're right. By the way, i've nothing against Goode but I just happen to believe that Brown is the better all round full back.
Posted 13:16 06th November 2012
craigsman says...
Heart Of Oak - I think Brown is getting 'game time' before being called up to play the top 3 sides. With Alex Goode being asked to tackle the Fijians. That would make sense IMO.
Posted 11:28 06th November 2012
LondonWasp says...
haskel is a good player but is a walking yellow card
Posted 11:22 06th November 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Breaking News: Rugby Back can't tackle properly!
Erm... shocker.
Posted 10:13 06th November 2012
heart_of_oak says...
Rugbylover - I see. So there's an evil conspiracy afoot whereby the Evil English let their evil players off lightly while other noble, dignified nations properly penalise their players. Thank you for your oh so sensible comment.
Posted 09:46 06th November 2012
heart_of_oak says...
It looks as if Lancaster isn't going for Mike Brown and is ready to forgive Ashton for persistent illegal tackling. I'm beginning to get disappointed. I have to keep telling myself that it is early days still. But I am wondering what Brown has to do to get selected to start and how much more Ashton has to do wrong before he gets the Danny Care treatment.
Perhaps though, it is the way this article is written. Reporters have a tendency, as we all know, to exaggerate for journalistic effect. After all, this is a reporter saying Alex Goode will contribute from full back. It's not necessarily what Lancaster has decided.
Posted 09:21 06th November 2012
craigsman says...
More than anything I think Chris Ashton is a bit of a doofus. There is clearly no malice behind what he does. He just doesn't engage his brain.
Posted 09:18 06th November 2012
rugbylover says...
"tackles"?
As long as England have upcoming internationals, Ashton [or any other England player] will receive a slap, a wry smile & a carefully calculated 'ban' to work around those matches.
Posted 08:34 06th November 2012
Jediboy says...
How embarrassing. Being told by the national team coach to learn how to tacke.
Posted 08:13 06th November 2012