Ashton to pay for humiliation?

When Andy Robinson was the England rugby coach he oversaw one of the worst periods of results in the national side's history and fans and critics united in their belief it couldn't get any worse. Well it hasn't got any better and as a result the heat is on Brian Ashton and the bookies are looking at who will replace him. Ashton was seen as the saviour of England rugby. The 'ideas' man who favoured free-flowing rugby and was light years ahead of modern thinkers in the game. He would engage youthful talent - having been head of the academy and been instrumental in the development of the country's best young players. He was also going to move away from the traditional powerhouse and predictability of England's forward might and make the game exciting again with running rugby and pace out wide. Ashton had the chance to put down his marker in his selection for the World Cup but rather like Duncan Fletcher at the recent cricket World Cup England's rugby coach decided to stick with the tried and tested - those who had brought back the World Cup on a famous night in Sydney four years ago. He couldn't have been proved any wider of the mark. Picking players who were not good enough to make the starting XV in 2003 - Martin Corry, Joe Worsley, Mike Catt - to name a few (if they weren't good enough then why are they now?) and players whose best days are firmly behind them - Andy Gomarsall, Lawrence Dallaglio, Ben Kay and Phil Vickery, made a mockery of the young talent in England. These supposed safe picks have humiliated the national shirt in the world cup appearances in France, struggling to beat USA before being thrashed by South Africa. It best sums it up for me when I spoke to Ashton a few years ago about a young full-back making headway in the domestic game. He told me then that he thought Danny Cipriani was the best player he had EVER seen. So why then did he not make the final squad? This World Cup selection will ultimately cost Ashton his job and Rob Andrew is 6/1 to be in the main role by the end of this year. William Hill go 16/1 about Dean Richards taking the post. One player who may well yet extend Ashton's time in the job is Jonny Wilkinson who, if he remains fit, is quoted as 12/1 to score more than 31 points in England's next game against Samoa. The way they have been playing, our advice is steer clear of that price as it would involve England scoring some tries.