Chris Ashton: It"s killing me not playing for England

He has looked sharp for Saracens this season but from a situation where he was the first name on the England team-sheet he is now, arguably, third choice behind the current No14 Jack Nowell and Christian Wade, who was earmarked for a run in the position before injury ruled him out of the autumn Tests and Six Nations.

Ashton last started for England in November’s 30-22 defeat by New Zealand and the challenge is to make himself indispensable to head coach Stuart Lancaster — just as he was to previous regimes.

“Playing for England is why I play rugby,” said Ashton, who has scored 18 tries in 37 Tests. “It is killing me not to be involved in the matches and I am desperate to get back.

“Everyone wants to be involved in big games for England and also for their clubs and I am excited about Sarries still being in the Heineken Cup and pushing for top spot in the Premiership.”

In 2011, Ashton equalled the Six Nations try-scoring record with six in that campaign and followed it up by bagging another six at the Rugby World Cup, which meant he finished top of try list with France’s Vincent Clerc.

Since that tournament, his fortunes have ebbed and flowed with last season’s Six Nations exposing defensive frailties that continue to leave questions over his ability to recapture past glories.

With so many youngsters vying for England wing places, Ashton knows a big finish to the Heineken Cup — Sarries are in the quarter-finals — and Premiership, plus the summer three-Test tour of New Zealand will shape his influence on England’s 2015 World Cup campaign.

Besides Nowell and Wade, England  also have wing options in Jonny May, Marland Yarde, Ben Foden and Anthony Watson, which has made Ashton’s bid for a recall even tougher but at least he is still in the Six Nations squad. Despite club-mate Dave Strettle being the Premiership’s top try scorer with eight, the wing is completely out of the picture, highlighting the strength in depth Lancaster has.

Ashton, who has four Premiership tries this season, said: “The England coaches have told me they want me to keep working on my all-round play, being bang on with my defence and making sure there is also that bit of  x-factor. The coaches watch every game and it’s about me getting things right all the time.

“It was great to see the boys scoring some tries against Scotland and it is going to be a fantastic match against Ireland, who arrive at Twickenham unbeaten.”

The England players who defeated Scotland 20-0 at Murrayfield take a break from rugby this weekend. However, Ashton will turn out for Saracens at Sale tomorrow as one of 18 England squad members who have returned to their clubs before reassembling at Bagshot in preparation for next Saturday’s clash with Ireland.

While Ashton’s international fortunes are constantly debated, he did not expect to find club-mate Kelly Brown in the same situation. Brown, named Scotland captain before the Six Nations, was dropped after the loss to Ireland which meant he missed the defeat by England. “I have no idea why Scotland would drop Kelly,” said Ashton. “Maybe Scotland coach Scott Johnson was looking to prove a point about everyone being accountable. Each coach has their own way of going about their business and we are more than happy to have him here.”

Ashton’s immediate focus is on ensuring Sarries erase the memory of their 22-13 loss to London Irish. It cost the club leadership of the Premiership and this week’s training has been aimed at giving the team back the physicality they lacked in last Saturday’s match.

Ashton added: “Maybe the team were a little bit disjointed in the LV Cup games. We lacked in areas that are normally our strengths; discipline, turn overs and physicality. We have to get them right against Sale.”

Chris Ashton was speaking at the launch of Saracens’ sponsorship with CME Group, the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives firm. Visit cmegroup.com

Article source: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/VIDEO-Watch-rising-Bath-Rugby-stars-help-England/story-20265965-detail/story.html

Chris Ashton: It"s killing me not playing for England