Ashton - I hold no grudges
England head coach reassures his critics about their future
By Phil Jackson Last updated: 23rd December 2007
Ashton: No grudges
My message to everyone is that the door is open unless you have retired from international rugby.
Brian Ashton
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Brian Ashton has dismissed suggestions Lawrence Dallaglio's England future is over.
The head coach, who was retained on a rolling contract on Wednesday, was criticised by the Wasps number eight in his autobiography.
Rugby Football Union chiefs reacted angrily and Dallaglio admitted his international career may have been at an end.
But Ashton has reassured the 35-year-old that he will be able to add to his 85 caps if he is playing well enough.
Opportunity
"I never have been and never will be a vindictive man," Ashton told the Sunday Mirror.
"If I think a player is the best in that position, or the best servant for England in that position, then he will get selected - it is that simple.
"You cannot operate selection by saying, 'I am not going to pick him or him'. You can't operate like that.
"I didn't like the criticism but, to be honest, it just washed over me. It didn't affect me at all.
"So my message to everyone is that the door is open unless you have retired from international rugby."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Guinness Premiership | |
| Wednesday 1st October | |
| 19:30 | Wasps vs Bath |
| 19:45 | London Irish vs Sale |
| 19:45 | Bristol vs Saracens |
| 19:45 | Leicester vs Northampton |
| Thursday 2nd October | |
| 20:00 | Worcester vs Harlequins |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Guinness Premiership | |
| Tuesday 30th September | |
| Gloucester 39 - 23 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 27th September | |
| Harlequins 27 - 28 London Irish | |
| Saracens 26 - 12 Northampton | |
| Bath 37 - 19 Worcester | |
| Friday 26th September | |
| Newcastle 17 - 3 Bristol | |
| Sale 23 - 9 Gloucester | |
| Sunday 21st September | |
| Saracens 44 - 14 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 20th September | |
| Northampton 24 - 20 Wasps | |
| London Irish 16 - 20 Bath | |
| Worcester 17 - 19 Leicester | |
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