‘Can beat you in a phone box’: The Wade vs Ashton Immortals XV debate

Gallagher Premiership players have had their say on whether Christian Wade or Chris Ashton should be selected on the BT Sport Immortals XV team. The sports broadcaster has been getting fans to select their Immortals XV before the selection culminates in a round-table debate show on May 27 featuring Ugo Monye, Lawrence Dallaglio, Ben Kay and Austin Healey.

Marcos Ayerza, Schalk Brits, Martin Castrogiovanni, Maro Itoje, Martin Johnson, Joe Worsley, Neil Back, Dallaglio, Danny Care and Jonny Wilkinson have all topped fan polls in recent days and with a vote for the No11 position currently taking place online, BT Sport have now added the views of numerous high profile players to the debate.

Exeter midfielder Henry Slade said: “I’m going to go with Wade because he is so hard to tackle. They are both proper quick but Wade could change direction so quick, really difficult to tackle.”

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Harlequins scrum-half Care chose differently. “I can’t go against Ashton even though I would love to. They are both incredible try scorers. I have known Chris for longer and he is still out there doing it at 38 or whatever age he is.”

The most consider view came from Alex Goode, the Saracens full-back. “Christian Wade is someone who can beat you in a phone box. Chris Ashton is someone whose energy, fitness which was underrated, and his support play is just the best we have ever seen. Both horrible defenders, terrible.

This is a tough one! ? Who gets your vote?#PremImmortals

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 14, 2023

“Pretty bad under the high ball as well, both of them. I will go Chris Ashton because he has done it with England, won a lot of Premierships and European Cups which sadly Wade hasn’t. So purely for accolades, he [Ashton] gets that one.”

George Ford, who is the starting No10 for Sale when they host Ashton’s Leicester in Sunday’s Premiership semi-final, sided with the league’s all-time record try scorer: “I’ll have to go Ashton.

“I played with him for six months at Leicester and he is unbelievable on the field in terms of how he wants the ball, how he talks, his understanding of the game and to be like that takes some doing especially as an outside back. No wonder he has scored so many tries.”

BT Sport’s Premiership Immortals celebrates the greatest players in the history of Premiership Rugby. From May 4 until the Premiership final on May 27, fans will be able to have their say on who they think deserves to have a spot in the competition’s all-time team. Cast your vote btsport.com/immortals