Former England and Saracens winger Chris Ashton has offered his services to Steve Borthwick to help change the fortunes of the international sides under-firing wingers.
RUCK’s 2024 Guinness Six Nations content powered by ISUZU.
The record-breaking wing backed Borthwick’s decision to name Jamie George as his captain and explained what the Saracens hooker would bring to the role.
Speaking to Gambling Zone, Ashton said: “Every England captain brings their own style to the role, and I think Steve Borthwick has thought about how he wants his team to be represented in the media and how he wants his captain to communicate with them. Jamie is always open and honest in interviews and is relaxed in that environment.
“He’s got the experience required for the role. He’s been there and done it. He’s captained The Lions midweek teams, he’s been vice-captain at Saracens for years. We had limited options at hooker at the Rugby World Cup, so Jamie played nearly 80 minutes in every game and he did it with ease; that is one of his strengths. He does it week-in, week-out. The Set pieces is so important to English rugby and the style we play Jamie will be central to that.”
England role:
On a future role, Ashton said: “I mentioned to Steve Borthwick that I would be happy to help the wingers if there was an opportunity. I would have liked to have worked with the back three lads, but it’s difficult because if you’re going to play a coaching role, then you need to be in and around the team all the time. You can’t be in and out.
“I would have liked to have passed on some experience to the young players and try to help them to get more touches and more involvement in the game. England have a young back three.
“Some of the lads that are in the current Six Nations squad have done really well for their clubs this year, I would of liked to of helped them understand when to go and look for the ball and when to stay on the wing. The margins are so fine in international rugby – players don’t get plenty of opportunities to impact the game – so you have to take them.
“You have to make them count. You have to get your timings right and be in the right place to score a try, so that would have been something that I would have wanted to pass on.”
Statement: Three laws changes confirmed for the 2024 Six Nations
1. The Shot Clock: A New Tempo for Conversions and Penalties
One of the most noteworthy modifications is the introduction of the shot clock, designed to ramp up the pace of the game and eliminate time-wasting tactics.
Teams will now face the pressure of time constraints, with a mere 90 seconds allotted for taking a conversion after scoring a try.
The urgency intensifies during penalty kicks, where teams have just 60 seconds to execute. In addition, the shot clock imposes stricter time limits on lineouts and scrums, reducing their duration to a brisk 30 seconds. Furthermore, the ball must now be released from the ruck within a mere 5 seconds, ensuring a faster and more dynamic flow to the game.