Ashton should be cited...

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...and face a ban for bringing football like professional diving into the game of rugby.

Just watching the England All Black highlights on BBC2, and I could not believe how blatant Ashton's dive and claim for a penalty was, and unfortunately given by Jourbert to put England in the lead.

Ashton kicked ahead and then run into the retreating All Black runner. The slow motion shows Ashton look clearly at the player, dip his shoulder and proceed to run at him, then dive to the ground with the following appeal for a penalty.

For a moment I thought I was watching football...

This theatrical performance by Ashton does nothing but make my stomach churn.

He should be made an example before it becomes seen as the norm, as I would the to see this happening as a norm in Rugby as it does and is even coached in football.

On the whole, good performance by England. All Blacks show what class they are, but I think the weight of the concurrent win run, plus pressure of yesterday's game seems to be weighing heavy on them. Just wish Wales had them this year, well would have been nice, if we didn't have so many injuries.

quinsforever wrote:need a bit more of this i reckon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXoBNFOxlQM

"This is not soccer" Best referee in the world. Great statement.

havent seen a link yet.

it wasnt that bad a dive. he did get obstructed, but he definitely ran into crockett's back and then fell to the floor.

quinsforever wrote:havent seen a link yet.

it wasnt that bad a dive. he did get obstructed, but he definitely ran into crockett's back and then fell to the floor.

Thanks. Kind of what I figured based upon sifting - carefully - through the comments.

look, I know it's a theatrical fall, but the fact remains, it's a pretty clear obstruction IMO, Crockett knows exactly what he's doing, you see him look at Ashton and change his running line to make sure he cuts across Ashton's running line (Ashton is running straight for the ball BTW). It wasn't even subtle.

Those saying Ashton should have just run around him are completely missing the point, because if he does that he loses a potentially crucial split second and England don't get the penalty. It's a bit like saying when your scrum is marching the other side backwards your SH should get the ball out rather than wait for the penalty, because he has time to.

I'm reminded of the yellow Barnes gave McAllister (?) in 07 for a similar offence (again, McAllister clearly runs straight across Jauzion's line rather than towards the ball, and Jauzion like Ashton falls somewaht theatrically to the floor). In both cases, the NZ player has deliberately tried to gain his side an unfair advantage by illegally blocking the player chasing the kick, so a penalty is justified.

No ones denying it was a penalty. The point here us it is only a player if ashtons class that would result in him running smack into a tree that was right in front if him. Read into that what you will.

Agreed. Crockett was in the wrong maybe more so but that doesn't justify Ashton's dive. That Crockett initiated the circumstances in which it happened should have no bearing on the fact that within those circumstances Ashton, not without a hint of opportunism, made the decision to prance around like an injured deer. Blocking/obstruction may be dirty and underhanded in its own right but seeing a guy, who has made the decision to play a physical sport, act so pathetically generally makes me sick on sight.

It's one reason I hope Lee Byrne's extended absence from the Wales squad becomes permanent. Very talented player undoubtedly but such a drama queen.