Ashton at Full Back?

[CunningPunter]

I was amazed to learn from this mildly interesting article:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45079598

that Ashton played full back during his recent highly successful season for Toulon. Is this the Ashton who used to dive out of the way when he saw a tackle situation approaching?

[Puja]

I was amazed to learn from this mildly interesting article:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45079598

that Ashton played full back during his recent highly successful season for Toulon. Is this the Ashton who used to dive out of the way when he saw a tackle situation approaching?

If there's one thing which we can say for him, he is willing to work at his flaws and his tackling has noticeably improved as his career has progressed. It's still not good and I don't think he'll ever be Josh Lewsey, but he's not a complete liability anymore.

I think he'll play 15 for Sale as well - they've got Yarde and Solomona already and I don't think any of the three signed on to sit on the bench.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

I was amazed to learn from this mildly interesting article:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45079598

that Ashton played full back during his recent highly successful season for Toulon. Is this the Ashton who used to dive out of the way when he saw a tackle situation approaching?

If there's one thing which we can say for him, he is willing to work at his flaws and his tackling has noticeably improved as his career has progressed. It's still not good and I don't think he'll ever be Josh Lewsey, but he's not a complete liability anymore.

I think he'll play 15 for Sale as well - they've got Yarde and Solomona already and I don't think any of the three signed on to sit on the bench.

Puja

I can't really see any of Ashton, Yarde, Solomona, Cooper, or even McGinty being happy sat on the bench.

And yes Ashton did play at FB a fair bit for Toulon - where it accentuated both his positives and his negatives; so lethal when tracking other runners and popping up at the right point - such a turnstile in defence, who's reallly not a kicker of the ball.

[Digby]

What's his passing like these days?

[Timbo]

I was amazed to learn from this mildly interesting article:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45079598

that Ashton played full back during his recent highly successful season for Toulon. Is this the Ashton who used to dive out of the way when he saw a tackle situation approaching?

If there's one thing which we can say for him, he is willing to work at his flaws and his tackling has noticeably improved as his career has progressed. It's still not good and I don't think he'll ever be Josh Lewsey, but he's not a complete liability anymore.

I think he'll play 15 for Sale as well - they've got Yarde and Solomona already and I don't think any of the three signed on to sit on the bench.

Puja

I can't really see any of Ashton, Yarde, Solomona, Cooper, or even McGinty being happy sat on the bench.

And yes Ashton did play at FB a fair bit for Toulon - where it accentuated both his positives and his negatives; so lethal when tracking other runners and popping up at the right point - such a turnstile in defence, who's reallly not a kicker of the ball.

I watched Toulon a couple of times at the back end of the season, aswell as the Munster qf and Scarlets away, and his kicking was really solid. Certainly in terms of clearance kicks and hitting touch with decent distance.

[Puja]

If there's one thing which we can say for him, he is willing to work at his flaws and his tackling has noticeably improved as his career has progressed. It's still not good and I don't think he'll ever be Josh Lewsey, but he's not a complete liability anymore.

I think he'll play 15 for Sale as well - they've got Yarde and Solomona already and I don't think any of the three signed on to sit on the bench.

Puja

I can't really see any of Ashton, Yarde, Solomona, Cooper, or even McGinty being happy sat on the bench.

And yes Ashton did play at FB a fair bit for Toulon - where it accentuated both his positives and his negatives; so lethal when tracking other runners and popping up at the right point - such a turnstile in defence, who's reallly not a kicker of the ball.

I watched Toulon a couple of times at the back end of the season, aswell as the Munster qf and Scarlets away, and his kicking was really solid. Certainly in terms of clearance kicks and hitting touch with decent distance.

As Timbo said. Funny though that video remains, I think it shows more panic at being thrown a stupid and terrible pass combined with a spectacular rolling of a 1.

Puja

ETA. Cooper? I assume you were thinking of O'Connor. Although Cooper would fit the Sale milieu

[Digby]

What foot does he favour? Thinking back over the few passes of his I can recall I wouldn't be surprised if he was left handed, so maybe that's the wrong foot he was attempting to clear with even if it was still rubbish

[Puja]

What foot does he favour? Thinking back over the few passes of his I can recall I wouldn't be surprised if he was left handed, so maybe that's the wrong foot he was attempting to clear with even if it was still rubbish

You know what, I'm beggared if I can remember and it doesn't appear to be the kind of thing that's googleable.

Puja

[Digby]

He's mostly played right wing so if he's a lefty kicker and given most players aren't then he's probably a right footed kicker. But that kick was less coordinated than one of his try scoring dives, so maybe there's some mitigation

[Scrumhead]

Ashton may well spend some time at 15 for Sale but he’s not a test class fullback so I sincerely hope we don’t see him lining up at 15 for England.

[Digby]

Ashton may well spend some time at 15 for Sale but he’s not a test class fullback so I sincerely hope we don’t see him lining up at 15 for England.

Based on his time on the wing he showed exceptional reading of the game on attack and questionable reading of the game on defence. But absent of seeing him play much more at fullback it's a touch early to decide what standard he may prove, especially when some of his specific issues on defence around when to come into the line, which man is his and spacing wouldn't exactly replicate

[BenHK]

I can't really see any of Ashton, Yarde, Solomona, Cooper, or even McGinty being happy sat on the bench.

Or Byron McGuigan for that matter. Nice to have decent back three options for a change. Oh, and Faf & RJVR. Can’t see them benching much either



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[BenHK]

ETA. Cooper? I assume you were thinking of O'Connor. Although Cooper would fit the Sale milieu

James O’Connor?

[Timbo]

What foot does he favour? Thinking back over the few passes of his I can recall I wouldn't be surprised if he was left handed, so maybe that's the wrong foot he was attempting to clear with even if it was still rubbish

He’s right footed.

[Puja]

ETA. Cooper? I assume you were thinking of O'Connor. Although Cooper would fit the Sale milieu

James O’Connor?

That's the one.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Not that pre-season games tell you too much but.......Ashton is playing at 15 v Doncaster this weekend.

[francoisfou]

I’d have no qualms whatsoever if he was picked at full back for England. He performed admirably at 15 for Toulon and if he plays si as well for Sale then Eddie should pick him.

[Which Tyler]

Being serious for a moment, I wouldn't be upset to see him at FB for England; he'd have a genuine call for being 4th choice there, and I'd be watching from behind the sofa because you just know something appalling is just around the corner, but it really does play to his strengths in attack.
Watson and Woodward are outright better than him there, whilst Brown and Ashton are polar opposites, with Daly full of potential, but no experience.

Say what you like about Ashton (and I have), he runs some gorgeous lines and is a fantastic reader of his teammates

[Digby]

Playing well at fullback doesn't always advance a career as Foden, Pennell, Abendanon and Armitage could attest to, so what technical specifics will Eddie be looking for

[Peat]

Being serious for a moment, I wouldn't be upset to see him at FB for England; he'd have a genuine call for being 4th choice there, and I'd be watching from behind the sofa because you just know something appalling is just around the corner, but it really does play to his strengths in attack.
Watson and Woodward are outright better than him there, whilst Brown and Ashton are polar opposites, with Daly full of potential, but no experience.

Say what you like about Ashton (and I have), he runs some gorgeous lines and is a fantastic reader of his teammates

Are his strengths in attack the sort of thing we need to add to improve though? We're already deadly out wide, Ashton popping up in the right spaces out there is unlikely to make us an appreciably better team.

Ashton popping up midfield could offer some real benefits as we sometimes struggle to interest teams there, but we need to open up some holes for him to run into there and have distributors playing close to the gain line, which I'm not sure is happening all that often right now.

Right now, this team needs to get tighter in defence and it needs to find a way to create time and space for the attack that isn't Billy Vunipola, and maybe regrow its tough mentality. Does Ashton's skills help us do that?

Although I suppose arguably will any 4th choice back do that...

[Mellsblue]

Although I suppose arguably will any 4th choice back do that...

This is a good point. I thinks he’s really fighting for the sixth choice spot - behind Brown, May, Daly, Watson and Nowell, assuming all are fit. That really means is he better than Yarde, Solomona, Roko, Cokanasiga etc. If he plays 15 or alternates between 14 & 15 then he’ll also have that ability to play two positions which is pretty important when picking squad players. That said, will Jones take 6 ‘outside backs’.

[Mikey Brown]

Being serious for a moment, I wouldn't be upset to see him at FB for England; he'd have a genuine call for being 4th choice there, and I'd be watching from behind the sofa because you just know something appalling is just around the corner, but it really does play to his strengths in attack.
Watson and Woodward are outright better than him there, whilst Brown and Ashton are polar opposites, with Daly full of potential, but no experience.

Say what you like about Ashton (and I have), he runs some gorgeous lines and is a fantastic reader of his teammates

Are his strengths in attack the sort of thing we need to add to improve though? We're already deadly out wide, Ashton popping up in the right spaces out there is unlikely to make us an appreciably better team.

Ashton popping up midfield could offer some real benefits as we sometimes struggle to interest teams there, but we need to open up some holes for him to run into there and have distributors playing close to the gain line, which I'm not sure is happening all that often right now.

Right now, this team needs to get tighter in defence and it needs to find a way to create time and space for the attack that isn't Billy Vunipola, and maybe regrow its tough mentality. Does Ashton's skills help us do that?

Although I suppose arguably will any 4th choice back do that...

Not that I'm seriously advocating picking him there, but did Ashton ever play alongside Ford? I feel like Ford's ability with the late pass, right at the gain-line, would be great for Ashton. Yes we need to create holes there, but to get to that point we need more dangerous runners through the middle in general. The prevailing options of a) Vunipola or another forward on their own b) out the back to Farrell c) laboured passing down the line to a static Joseph/Slade et al. have not really been cutting it.

[Peat]

I don't think Ashton and Ford have played together, no. In the right circumstances, I do believe Ford and Ashton could make hay. I'm dubious about those circs coming about - but as I said, that could offer some real benefits.

[morepork]

Jesus if you guys regress any further you will start growing gills.

[Which Tyler]

Jesus if you guys regress any further you will start growing gills.

Yo''ve not been to the Forest recently have you