Why England Would Be Right to Recall Chris Ashton for Australia Tour

England coach Eddie Jones will take 32 players on the summer tour to Australia, and Chris Ashton should be one of them. The question over whether to recall Ashton or pick Wasps flyer Christian Wade is agonisingly difficult, but here I make a pragmatic case for the controversial Saracen.

I expect Jones to take five back-three players down under, and with Anthony Watson, Jack Nowell, Mike Brown and Alex Goode inked-in, there is only space for one specialist winger—a shootout between Ashton and Christian Wade.

The case for Wade

Christian Wade, should anyone need reminding, is simply electric. His two breaks in the European Champions Cup semi-final, the first of which led to Dan Robson’s try, were breathtaking. He links well with the rest of the back three, and his understanding of the game is increasing with experience. He has wonder-try potential.

The Guardian’s Robert Kitson makes the case convincingly:

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In some countries there is little doubt Wade would already be a Test fixture. Imagine him on the wing for, say, Scotland or France? Yes, there would be those who would advocate sending a couple of hard-nut enforcers down his flank but that never seemed to bother Shane Williams unduly. Not since the mercurial Shane has British and Irish rugby had a more jet-heeled finisher.

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Wade’s defence is no worse than Ashton’s, either, but it’s his ability to take the high ball (he is only 5'8"  after all) that worries me. Should Wade be selected, a glaring mismatch with Wallaby full-back Israel Folau on a cross-field kick would surely beckon (remember Lote Tuqiri on Jason Robinson in the 2003 World Cup final). The counter-case for the slender speedster is Robinson's fine finish in the same match.

The case for Ashton

Chris Ashton is a big-match player. As per the Guardian, Ashton has crossed the whitewash 31 times in 48 European appearances. For England, he has 19 in 39, per ESPN Scrum. Ashton is more of a modern winger than Wade. He has a good all-round kicking game, including an excellent grubber and chase.

Ashton should go to Australia because I anticipate Owen Farrell starting at fly-half for England with Manu Tuilagi playing at inside centre. From playing together at Saracens, Ashton has a good understanding with the No. 10, meaning his trademark support lines are even more effective because he can read what Farrell is planning.

Farrell himself is developing much more of an offensive game this season, giving nice reverse passes and putting teammates into space. England could profit from such Farrell-Ashton combinations.

Eddie Jones has showed himself to trust and bring the best out of England’s pricklier players. He made Dylan Hartley captain, and Owen Farrell a deputy. In terms of discipline, Hartley was exemplary during the Six Nations. Ashton himself missed the tournament because of a lengthy ban, but the England coach should be backed to curb Ashton’s penchant for stupidity.

After Ashton was involved in the aftermath of the incident that saw England rival Anthony Watson of Bath red-carded for an aerial challenge on Alex Goode, Jones was quick to admonish the winger, as per the Daily Mail: “I didn’t like what Ashton did. I thought it was unsportsmanlike, and that is something he needs to get out of his game.” I think Jones commands enough respect for Ashton to get the message.

So Ashton gets the recall, only just, and for pragmatic reasons. Should George Ford be in better form by the autumn internationals and be installed as the first-choice fly-half, then it would be very hard to ignore Wade. But for now, the team setup calls for Ashton.

Ashton, though, is not in a strong enough position to oust the incumbent England wings, Nowell and Watson, from the starting lineup; they offer a more rounded skill set and have been consistently excellent this term. But although the rugby romantic in me is longing for Wade to be picked for England, Eddie Jones should instead take Ashton to Australia.