Martin Offiah believes Chris Ashton will prove to be "one of the most exciting converts since Jason Robinson".
Rugby league legend tips Ashton for stardom
Martin Offiah believes Chris Ashton will prove to be "one of the most exciting converts since Jason Robinson" and is tipping the Northampton winger to have a record-breaking future with England.
Ashton shot to global stardom last month with two tries, including a stunning 90-metre effort, in the 35-18 triumph over Australia at Twickenham, reigniting hopes that Martin Johnson's side can challenge for World Cup glory in 2011.
His emergence on the international scene this year has come on the back of his prolific tryscoring exploits for the Saints, who he joined from rugby league outfit Wigan in 2007, and his final tally of 16 during the last campaign saw him named Premiership player of the season.
Ashton boasts almost a try per game in more than 80 appearances for Northampton since his cross-code switch and rugby league legend Offiah insists he has all the attributes to be a valuable asset for both club and country.
"He's a poacher, but he's also scoring the long-range try which he did against Australia," said Offiah. "I was actually more impressed with his first which was a poachers' try - because they are the kind of ones you'll score more often. It's once in a blue moon that you're going to go 90 metres.
"You can see that he's a thinking winger and he really is a good footballer. He's an ex Wigan full-back and obviously his background in league means he's got very good hands and a good passer of the ball.
Quick learner
"He's a quick learner too. I remember in one of his early Tests against France he bombed a chance where he could have finished but he's improved a lot since then and really settling in to the international game.
"The old-fashioned rugby union winger does tend to sit on his wing a lot more than a rugby league winger, who has to get to dummy half and support the ball a lot more.
"He's obviously got a lot of physical attributes such as his strength and speed but he it's the way he links up with play and has a hunger to score tries which is also very impressive."
The 23-year-old has only been capped five times by his country having made his debut against France back in March and Offiah insists the Six Nations campaign will be pivotal in his development leading up to the World Cup.
He said: "The Six Nations is going to be crucial for him. Before he gets to the World Cup he needs as much international rugby as he can and that's probably one of the main reasons Martin Johnson is playing him in every game.
"I for one was part of the clamour for him to be called into the team and it was almost as if Martin Johnson jumped on the bandwagon a bit late if I'm being honest.
"After all avenues were exhausted he got the call at the end of the Six Nations last year but you can't look back in time - he's in the England set-up now and I expect him to be there for a very long while."
Future hero
Robinson turned from a Wigan hero into a World Cup winner for England and Offiah has a feeling Ashton can make a similar impact in years to come.
"I think he can go on to be one of the most exciting converts since Jason Robinson," said Offiah.
"He is different from him though. He's probably not got as quicker feet and he's not as short but he does find a way to get involved in the game and get his hands on the ball.
"Support play is so important with the amount of offloading that's going on in English and world rugby and its fantastic if you've got someone like Ashton who can link up, pass and finish."
Ashton may only have three tries to his name at international but Offiah wouldn't be surprised if he one day surpassed Rory Underwood's record of 49.
"It's certainly well within him," said Offiah. "I know Rory spent a lot of cold afternoons on that wing at Twickenham but I do feel Ashton could have a far more productive career try-scoring wise.
"If England are on the verge of a new dawn under Martin Johnson, it could be happy days for Chris Ashton."
Character building
After initially bursting onto the scene at Northampton, helping the club earn promotion from National Division One, Ashton then struggled to adapt to life in the Premiership during the 2008-09 campaign and often found himself out of the side.
But his re-emergence last season underlined his determination to succeed and Offiah is now hoping he'll continue to deliver on his glowing potential.
Offiah said: "A lot of critics were asking whether he'd be able to do it at the highest level when things weren't going so well and he couldn't get in the team but that's now a thing of the past.
"I remember when Jason Robinson first came over and there were a few raised eyebrows and people questioned whether he should be fast tracked into the first team.
"When I see a player like that I knew from the get go he would have a fantastic career because he has the physical attributes, he has that poachers' brain and wants to get his hands on the ball. It's very hard to mark a player like that in either code because you just don't know where they're going to be. They just pop up."
Crossing codes
Offiah doesn't believe there are any rules for when a player should switch codes - if he ever decides to do so - and advises anyone contemplating a move to weigh up all the options.
"It's different for every player," said the former Wigan star. "You can't switch too young and you can't switch too late although it does benefit to be an established Super League player first or at least have one full season under your belt.
"Sometimes in life it's about grabbing an opportunity which might come just once but I would say you need to build confidence in whichever code you start in before switching. It would be difficult to cross as an academy player when you're still learning the game and developing as a person.
"It takes a lot to move to a different part of the country and work under different coaches, so that's what makes Ashton's success at his age even more impressive.
"Some would say Andy Farrell left it a bit too late, although he still managed to play in a World Cup.
"Obviously rugby union is now a massive game with more commercial opportunities for players and they want to be part of the big stage.
"There are benefits to playing in either code such as the Grand Final in rugby league, but players in this era do have the opportunity to do both such as Henry Paul, Jason Robinson, Andy Farrell and Jonathan Davies for example.
"There's been talk about St Helens' Kyle Eastmond switching due to comparisons with Jason Robinson. He might be a bit young now but opportunities may come his way in the future.
"There's a lot of talented players in rugby league at the moment and with the no relegation rule for Super League it allows the top teams to produce more younger talent."
Martin Offiah is represented by S J Dent & Co Sports Management -www.sjdentmgt.com
