Ashton hails team effort

Coach eager to take spotlight off Cipriani

Last updated: 15th March 2008

Brian Ashton

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England head coach Brian Ashton said the 33-10 victory over Ireland was a team performance, not a 'one-man band'.

Stand-off Danny Cipriani stole the show on his first start for his country, landing seven kicks out of seven.

But Ashton, whose position had been under threat following the defeats to Wales and Scotland, said: "That was a team performance, not a one-man band - and one of the best team performances I've seen in a long time.

"Danny did really well, though. You're not sure until they come out whether players can bring Premiership form into internationals, but for most of the game he did.

"He will be very pleased - and we are reasonably pleased as well! - but the guys around him helped enormously, so let's not go overboard."

Cipriani replaced Jonny Wilkinson, who came on in the second half not for the 20-year-old but for Toby Flood in the centre.

Royal battle

Asked about what happens now for the England stand-off position, Ashton replied: "It will be a royal battle now. There are a number of good number 10s knocking around - and Jonny did well in the centre while he was out there.

"For the first seven minutes, we didn't feel we had worked Ireland out. We had a fairly short week in training - but we were fairly specific on what he worked on.

"We thought we could pose them problems and for most of the game we did, with the ball and without the ball."

On the subject of the championship - three wins and those two defeats - Ashton added: "It was a missed opportunity - big time."

But when it was put to him that the weight must now be lifted from his shoulders he was quick to respond: "You must be joking. Winning one game does not mean any less pressure.

"The pressure just comes with the job. You can't hide away - the press is there every single game. But this solidifies one or two selections, and it was a nice way to finish the tournament.

"We haven't got the players for about two months now. I hope they go back to their clubs, play really well and - most important of all - stay injury-free."

England tour New Zealand in the summer.

Improvement

"We put into operation all the things we said we were going to, and that's the first time in the tournament we've managed that," he added.

"Our performance was a massive improvement on anything else we have done in the Six Nations.

"It looks as though the players need a defeat to get them going. That's the biggest thing we have got to turn round."

Wilkinson was the only man dropped after Murrayfield, and Ashton said: "Jonny handled it in a very professional manner. We go away and reflect now.

"Of course I have sympathy for Eddie [under-fire Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan]. I have massive respect for every international coach and don't like it when they are getting stick."