The EPS according to Social Pundit part 6 – The Back-Three

Posted on Jan 10, 2012 in Latest Rugby News

Current State: Not too bad actually. Full-back is almost definitely the strongest area of the squad, with two proven internationals and a host of Premiership hopefuls snapping at their heels, led by the very in form Mike Brown. It would take a lengthy injury list before we start hitting players I’d feel unhappy with, five or six. Johnson deserves credit for picking Armitage at least, as it was not the most obvious call. At wing, how well stocked we are depends slightly on what you think of Matt Banahan. I do not think he’s an international wing. I do not think he has the agility to take full advantage of the spaces wingers work in. In time, I might be talking about him as a 12, but right now he’s short of the reckoning for me. That said, he is there should injuries happen, and there are worse injuries. Without him, we only really have Ashton. Yes, Strettle and Monye are around the place and are worth looking at, but never really proved they had it. Likewise Topsy Ojo. James Simpson-Daniel is the only other one who might be said to have proven it, but that was a while ago, he is chronically unlucky with injuries. Behind them, there is a crowd of youngsters, all with varying good qualities but none with the out and out star quality Ashton was showing when first capped. I don’t think England will pick any bad wingers this 6N, but Lancaster needs actively good, and that’s going to require thinking.

What would Social Pundit do: Recall Sinbad. Yes, his age profile is wrong for England. Yes, announcing him in the squad will probably cause his leg to fall off. Or a caravan to fall on his head. These are risks that have to be taken. Without (or maybe even with) he’s the best English winger playing, he offers an inventiveness that none of the other options do, and he can play 13. Plus he still might make the next World Cup, god knows he’s had plenty of rest in his career.

Simpson-Daniel joins the Northampton duo to take three of the six places. They will not be joined by Delon Armitage. This is harsh on the London Irish man who provides quality at both full-back and wing, which is a rare commodity in this country, but he has no one to blame but his own poor discipline. Four bans in one year is an incredible feat even for bad-tempered locks, nevermind full-backs. It is the sort of thing that tends to lead to more bans and longer suspensions and this will start affecting England. Armitage is not so far in front of his competition that he can afford this and Mike Brown’s incredible form deserves recognition. It demands a starting place really, and he’s unlucky to be up against a very good full-back in excellent form himself in Ben Foden.

I have two winger slots left to dole out and I shall piss off/please Gloucester fans by bringing Sharples for one of them. Maybe his form doesn’t deserve it, but he is a flying machine with a record of consistency and I think the best back-up to Ashton as try scorer extraordinaire. Backing up Simpson-Daniel I’ll take Miles Benjamin. Strettle would be the better like for like, but I want a different option in the squad and Benjamin offers that on account of being really strong. If England are looking at their options and feel the need for a more brute force option, then Benjamin will be there. Ojo and Monye might feel aggrieved to see Benjamin streak past them, but neither are quite doing enough with my club for me at the moment.

I’m taking Ojo ahead of Monye for the Saxons, as he’s just edging it for me, and Strettle joins to give a back-up clever option in the likely event of Simpson-Daniel’s fitness failing. Wade’s talent is something that England need to start studying up close as quickly as possible, so in he goes too, while the final slot goes to Jonny May who is ridiculously fast and turning into an incredibly versatile player. At full-back Delon Armitage stays in contention, and will wait in the Saxons for injuries, and will be joined by Rob Miller, who’s really been impressing me. Although I’d like it even better if he were to return to fly-half as that is where England’s need lies.

Pre-match instructions:  I’m expecting the blindside winger to work very, very hard here, as both Ashton and Simpson-Daniel shine when arriving in the line. Ashton in particular should be looking for breaks around the fringe or to hit inside balls from 13. Simpson-Daniel is a different option, more creative, and him arriving in the line at second receiver could be the ideal way for us to unlock stretched defences. I’m hoping the two will link up well, like Bowe and Monye did for the Lions, except with better finishing. Then the pair of them need to work back hard, as Foden will obviously be encouraged to counter-attack when possible. Foden will also be encouraged to hit the line, aiming for that gap between 13 and the wing where he is at his most devastating. I’m not sure who the bench option would be as there is no wing/full-back in the England squad; who is best to fulfil that role will have to be settled in training. In time, I think Jonny May might be targeting that spot strongly, although Elliot Daly also looks like he could offer something in such a role. Right now however, I’m guessing Mike Brown would be the likely number 23 – assuming we don’t have a fly-half who can cover 15.

Final pick:

EPS: Ashton, Benjamin, Sharples, Simpson-Daniel, Brown, Foden

Saxons: May, Ojo, Strettle, Wade, Armitage, Miller

Ashton gets four week suspension for hair pulling

Posted on Dec 8, 2011 in English Rugby, Northampton, Premiership

Chris Ashton of Northampton Saints was this evening suspended for four weeks for an act contrary to good sportsmanship (Law 10(4)(m).

Ashton was found guilty of pulling Alesana Tuilagi by his hair and dragging him from the field of play during the Aviva Premiership match against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Saturday, December 3.

The Saints wing, who denied the offence, was suspended from December 7 to January 3 by an RFU Disciplinary Panel of His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett (chair), Jeremy Summers and Christopher Quinlan QC in the Offices of the Judge Advocate General in the Royal Courts of Justice, London. He can play again on January 4.

His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett, the RFU Disciplinary Officer said: “We accepted that this started by accident but it became clear that at some stage Chris Ashton knew what he was doing.

“If you pull somebody by the hair there is an element of denigration and this act was a catalyst for a mass brawl that resulted in two red cards and significantly affected the image of the game. Without any laid down guidance on sanction we have aligned the offence to that of spitting and reduced the entry level points to that off three, six and 10 weeks for low, mid-range and top end respectively. This was a mid-range offence but we have reduced the sanction by two weeks based on the player’s good record and conduct at the hearing.”

He was also ordered to pay £500 in costs.

Any appeal must be lodged within 48 hours of receipt of the judgement.

The red cards issued to Tom Wood of Northampton Saints and Alesana Tuilagi of Leicester Tigers for striking were deemed to be sufficient and both can continue to play.

Citing Commissioner Mike Rafter has also issued Level One citings – the equivalent of a yellow card – to Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers), Horacio Agulla (Leicester Tigers) and Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) for their part in the same incident. The three players were not required to appear before the panel and can continue playing.

Tindall removed from EPS. Ashton and Haskell fined

Posted on Nov 11, 2011 in England, English Rugby, Rugby World Cup

THE Rugby Football Union has taken the following disciplinary action regarding breaches of the England Elite Player Squad Agreement during the 2011 Rugby World Cup:

• Mike Tindall has been removed from the England Elite Player Squad with immediate effect and fined £25,000 for his conduct around the events that took place in Queenstown on the night of Sunday, September 11, 2011
• Chris Ashton has been fined £5,000 (fine suspended until December 31, 2012), for his part in the events in Dunedin on Friday, September 9, 2011 and warned as to his future conduct
• James Haskell has been fined £5,000 (fine suspended until December 31, 2012), for his part in the events in Dunedin on  Friday, September 9, 2011 and warned as to his future conduct
• Dylan Hartley has been cleared of being involved in the exchange of inappropriate language which led to allegations of wrongdoing against himself, Chris Ashton and James Haskell, in Dunedin on  Friday, September 9, 2011

The sanctions follow appearances by the players before the RFU’s Professional Rugby Director Rob Andrew and Legal and Governance Director Karena Vleck.

Rob Andrew said: “We have considered all the evidence carefully and interviewed the players at length. These actions have not been taken lightly but we believe that in all these cases the sanctions are commensurate with the level of seriousness of what occurred.

“Mike Tindall’s actions reached a level of misconduct that was unacceptable in a senior England player and amounted to a very serious breach of the EPS Code of Conduct.  Whilst we acknowledge his previous good character it needs to be made clear that what he did will not be tolerated.

“Regarding the events in Dunedin, it should be stressed that the allegations of very serious wrong-doing made against Chris Ashton, Dylan Hartley and James Haskell by Annabel Newton, a member of staff at the team hotel, were entirely false. We do not believe the players had any intention to sexually harass or intimidate Ms Newton.

“However, the incident is precisely the kind of dangerous, compromising situation the players were warned about prior to departure for New Zealand and that they were specifically told to avoid in the EPS Code of Conduct.

“While we found that Dylan Hartley played no part in the ill-considered exchange with Annabel Newton, Chris Ashton and James Haskell’s behaviour on September 9 did breach the EPS Code of Conduct and they have each been given suspended fines of £5,000. If they commit any further breaches of the Code before December 31, 2012 the fines will become due.

“Finally, these episodes and the subsequent disciplinary action should stand as a strong reminder that the highest standards of personal conduct are expected from any England player on and off the field.”

The players have the right to appeal to the RFU Acting Chief Executive within three working days from today.

Chris Ashton wins Try of the Year

Posted on Jan 31, 2011 in Rugby News

A wonderful individual try scored by England’s Chris Ashton at Twickenham against Australia in November has been named the International Rugby Players’ Association Try of the Year 2010.

The England international’s try won the public vote having fought off stiff competition from some outstanding scores finished by Mils Muliaina, Felipe Contepomi, Shane Williams and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010 star Danielle Waterman.

Ashton’s memorable try, his second in the match, combined pace, power and panache as the wing raced clear to finish off a superb counter-attack that started near his own try-line.

The try received the most votes following an online poll at www.irb.com which saw the global Rugby family select his score from a shortlist of 18 from the RBS Six Nations, Tri Nations, Women’s Rugby World Cup, Pacific Nations Cup and IRB Nations Cup as well as the June and November internationals.

“It’s a fantastic accolade to win the IRPA Try of the Year Award, and it means a lot to me that so many people took the trouble to vote for me ahead of so many other great players,” said Ashton.

“Even though I had the job of putting the ball down over the whitewash it was a team effort with the whole team playing its part in defending and forcing the turnover before Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes gave me the ball. They all deserve the credit too – it wouldn’t have happened without all of us working together.”

IRPA Chairman Damian Hopley said: “The IRPA Try of the Year is a highly prestigious Award featuring world-class Rugby action from players representing seven nations. Chris Ashton’s outstanding try will live long in the memory of those of us fortunate enough to be at Twickenham that day, and he is a very deserving winner.”

“We had great difficulty narrowing the field from our original 230 entries to the 18 nominees which were presented for the public vote as there were many spectacular tries scored in 2010. The public vote proved equally close with Danielle Waterman and Israel Dagg polling considerable votes, before Chris emerged as the winner.”

The full shortlist was: Shane Williams (2), Ben Foden, Dan Carter, Felipe Contepomi, Gonzalo Tiesi, Mils Muliaina, Israel Dagg, James O’Connor, Danielle Waterman, Cobie-Jane Morgan, Huriana Manuel, Chrysander Botha, Nikola Matawalu, Juan Jose Imhoff, Chris Ashton, James Hook and Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Ashton follows in the footsteps of 2009 winner, South Africa centre Jaque Fourie, Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll in 2008 and Takudzwa Ngwenya of the USA who claimed the inaugural award in 2007.

Tait challenges Falcons to deliver

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 in Rugby News

Newcastle first team coach Alan Tait has challenged his players to turn words into deeds on Saturday, as the Falcons look to regain their place in the top half of the Guinness Premiership table against London Irish.

The Exiles travel to Kingston Park for a 5.30pm kick-off, with Tait insisting that a victory is the absolute minimum requirement for his side to fulfil its top six ambitions.

“The players are talking the talk at the moment about finishing in the top half of the league, but now’s the time to see if they can back it up with their actions,” said the dual-code Scotland and Lions star.

“We can all sit here and say we’re going to finish in a Heineken Cup place, but if you don’t go out and win games then it’s just words.

“If the players are going to talk big about things like the top six then they need to bring in at least four points this weekend, it’s as simple as that.”

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