From the Touchlines: Last post for Ashton

Unless England put together an all-singing, all-dancing performance against Ireland in the final round of Six Nations matches, Brian Ashton will be axed as national coach.

The Rugby Football Union bosses have finally lost patience with England's stop-start form under Ashton, particularly after the abject performance against Scotland, which pundits deemed as the worst by England for quarter-of-a-century. Ironically, Ireland - the team that sacked Ashton after just a year at the helm in 1997 - hold the key to the Lancastrian's future.

RFU boss Rob Andrew is thought to be putting together a proposal to sign South Africa's World Cup-winning coach Jake White, the union's first choice in the winter despite Ashton guiding England to the World Cup final last October.

Ashton's stock has fallen so rapidly in the last five months that even Sir Clive Woodward has turned on his former friend, hitting out at his decision to axe Danny Cipriani for the Scotland game, saying, "If I'd dropped every player who had not got to bed by one o'clock I wouldn't have had anyone in the team".

Has the time come to axe Ashton and is White the man to replace him? We want to hear your views...

Comments

[Fee Ebook]

I feel sorry for brian ashton, but....well you know..

[Fee Ebook]

I feel sorry for brian ashton, but....well you know..

[Bobby]

I think Elliott is talking sense - bit risky but better than what we've got now. Come on Martin.

[Gord]

I like Jake White. He talked a lot of sense when he was over and on the box for the launch of his book. Would make a change from Ashton who just talks in soundbites.

[Elliott Hayter]

Why not go back to Woodward as the overseer and Johnson as the coach. It worked with the pair in slightly different roles before and there's no reason why it won't work again. Go on, bring that combo back!!

[jgriffin]

Why go outside? Nick Mallett would've been a better choice. White would need good coaches anyway. Might as well appoint an inspiration such as Jonno or Deano with some good coaches beneath - and then do a Lievremont for a season! There are many good English players around.

[IAIN]

i actually feel sorry for brian ashton. he's had his coaching staff forced upon him in wells and ford and the chat is he doesn't get on particularly well with them. so how on earth is he supposed to get his team playing the fast-flowing rugby he dreams of with that sort of set-up. he'll be made the scapegoat, the next man'll get appointed with carte blanche control and things'll look up with ashton having blemishes on his copybook. but that's not fair. rob andrew needs to say to him 'do what you want, appoint who you want' and things'll change. there's no point chopping and changing when everything else is still in a mess.

[Rugby bet King]

Ashton did what was originally asked of him, to step into a difficult situation, take a team in complete disarray ( at very short notice ) and produce credible performances in the then-imminent 6N and RWC. . However he has shown along the way that he is simply not up to the role, particularly by his consistently wobbly selection and substitutions.

Why and how he is still in a job i have no idea. England are fast becoming an embarassment again!!

[Luke Davies]

Anyone's got to be better than Ashton. I can't remember ever seeing England look so one-dimensional in the 20-odd years I've been following them. The players are clearly good enough - you only have to look at what they do in the Premiership and the Heineken Cup - so the buck stops with the coach. Ashton can say all he likes but he's totally ballsed things up. England have taken a step backwards and gone from World Cup finalists to worrying to the point of woeful. It's time to change whoever the hell they get in.

[Bradleigh]

White's not the answer. I reckon it was his World Cup sidekick Eddie Jones that made the difference. Only when he came in did the results really turn round and the consistency come in. Appointing White would leave the RFU with egg on their faces once again.