Ashton: If his talents are not going to be exploited, why pick him?

Chris Ashton burst onto the international scene two years ago now with a flurry of tries which apart from the trademark 'splash', the most noticeable thing was his ability to read the game and ghost into the spaces which apparently dried up after the last World Cup.

As to be frank, he's not a great winger/striker in the mould of say Pietersen of Habana, why play him as a square peg in a round hole?
He should have a much more of a roaming role to find the gaps and break the defensive line.

He seems to play well when Flood is playing because Flood plays quite flat and is quite good at sending players through gaps with well timed passes. Ashton is still a good player. In all fairness his purple patch two 6ns ago was never likely to last.

I would say that the problem isn't the way they're playing Ashton but just the fact that we are making many line breaks at the moment for him to feed off.

thomh wrote:I would say that the problem isn't the way they're playing Ashton but just the fact that we are making many line breaks at the moment for him to feed off.

But is that not partly because England are so predictable? They go forward diagonally and quickly run out of space as demonstrated vs Australia last week.
The Aussies' worst case scenario was to be gummed to death by toothless English bulldogs.

If Ashton stood back from the line there might be more space and Ashton (standing back) might just have the presence to drag the defensive line out of shape and create the holes and dog-legs to be exploited either by himself or from mid-field.

Flood made a couple of breaks last week that were crying out for a Splash on his shoulder. Where was he?

The problem is very simple and ive been saying it since the last 6n and the summer in SA.

At the moment Englands carriers are making no impact.
Look at other teams and they all have guys who break the line regularly...hitting the ball from deep and at pace. This sucks in defenders and creates the gaps that allows the backs and players like Ashton to make things happen.
Englands guys have been taking the ball flat and basically standing still...never more evident than against Australia on Saturday.

Launchbury improved this area a little on his arrival hence his promotion to starting line....but the big one for me is Morgan. There has been such hhoo haarrr about his carrying ability rushing him in to the England set up ...yet we've seen ZERO evidence of this yet.
If i dont see any of this in the next two games...even just glimpses then ill not be impressed.

I would re-title this: 'Wingers! If you're not going to play them, (against top opposition), whay pick them?'
Seriously....with our center pairing? You might as well stick some quick, tackling flankers out there to bosh the opposition attacks as a purey defensive measure. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to stand there, 'ooh at last, quick ball!!!! Good pass from care....nice feint from flood, miss move! its coming, its coming!!. Oh. Silly me. Manu bosh. Slow ball. Turn over. Wish I'd stuck to league'

GeordieFalcon

Did you not see Morgan in the Six Nations? Some pretty impressive carrying from him then.

thomh wrote:GeordieFalcon

Did you not see Morgan in the Six Nations? Some pretty impressive carrying from him then.

He had some decent carries against France. Setting up Foden's try for example.

Could it be because Manu can't pass? Or chooses/is instructed to take the route 1 option.

Manu passes plenty. He off-loads plenty. When there is someone to pass to, other than an isolated winger who is outnumbered, which is who is usually outside of him.

I agree that most of the criticisms of Manu not passing come in situations where it wouldn't have done us much good anyway.

I saw bits from him...and i have just watched the highlights of the Ireland game again..he controlled the ball at the base well and had his moment.

But im still waiting for the fireworks from the guy. I really hope he just goes for it against the Boks today cos i think hes what we need....

Wherever the fault lies in the team its Lancaster and his gangs job to fix it. Its not just been Ashton whos been struggling, the wingers in all games ( Fiji aside) have struggled to get scoring opportunities created by the teams own endeavours. Most of the breaks they have made have come in open play.

It is a legitimate point, and perhaps why Lancaster is now picking fullbacks at wing.

Englands structured attacking play has been poor.