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The Worcester verdict on Chris Ashton's first five weeks at his latest club

(Photo by Getty Images)

Worcester have expressed satisfaction with how ex-England international Chris Ashton had fitted in at his latest Gallagher Premiership club, the soon-to-be 34-year-old finally making his debut last Saturday having joined the Jonathan Thomas-coached side on January 25. 

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The veteran, who is four tries shy of equalling Tom Varndell’s all-time Premiership try-scoring record, had hinted at his first Worcester media conference after he had signed that he was hoping to quickly play for the Warriors following his arrival from Harlequins.      

However, Ashton had to wait five weeks to make his Worcester debut, last Saturday’s outing at Gloucester being his first match of any kind since a December 20 Champions Cup defeat for Harlequins at the hands of Racing 92. 

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Aside from expressing his enduring desire to play rugby, Ashton had added that his 18-month deal with Worcester would see him become a mentor to the younger players in the squad being assembled at Sixways by newly promoted head coach Thomas, whose latest signing on Tuesday was Scott Baldwin, Ashton’s old Harlequins colleague 

Despite suffering eight consecutive Premiership defeats since an opening weekend win over London Irish in November, Thomas has described the input of Ashton these past five weeks as encouraging and he is expecting good things from the veteran in the months ahead. 

“He [Ashton] has settled in really well,” said Thomas about a player whose switch to Harlequins last year didn’t work out following his abrupt departure from Sale. “He is a really good guy. He is not afraid to challenge and that is one of the reasons I felt he could add value. Where we are in terms of our evolution of the team, we have got really good men and good people in the club but the great teams challenge each other because what rugby is about is problem-solving. 

“So when you are in a game and you are points down or you’re in adversity it’s about communicating, connecting and also challenging. It’s not always about fluffy conversations, so if you need to solve a problem you need to have a tough conversation.

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“Where we need to get better as a team is probably our communication at times isn’t good enough, that is something we need to improve. But Chris is someone who is really, really vocal. He has got real quality communication skills in those moments in terms of, I did a one-on-one with Jamie Shillcock on Monday.

“Because your 10 is someone who needs to pull the strings, what your 10 needs are voices outside of him giving him help on where space is and he said to me how good Chris was in terms of the voice and talking to him about kicks, space in the backfield and all those things. So Chris has added real value to the game in terms of his communication and his leadership. 

“Obviously the big thing for Chris is just getting through the 80 minutes. He knows there are a few work-ons but that is going to come. He hasn’t played for ages so he is going to get better but it was important that he got the monkey off his back in terms of playing in that first game. He did a lot of good things, a few things he can improve, things any player (does), but he has brought real value to the club and he is going to get better.”

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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