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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ashton vows to stick to his guns | Ashton vows to stick to his guns |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Brian Ashton has promised to stay true to his principles of entertaining rugby following his appointment as England's new head coach. | Brian Ashton has promised to stay true to his principles of entertaining rugby following his appointment as England's new head coach. |
| England were twice booed off the pitch in the autumn by a Twickenham crowd frustrated by the failure to produce either results or encouraging displays. | England were twice booed off the pitch in the autumn by a Twickenham crowd frustrated by the failure to produce either results or encouraging displays. |
| A run of eight defeats in nine Tests saw previous coach Andy Robinson forced to resign at the end of November. | A run of eight defeats in nine Tests saw previous coach Andy Robinson forced to resign at the end of November. |
| "The key is to get back the enjoyment in playing the game," said Ashton. | "The key is to get back the enjoyment in playing the game," said Ashton. |
| Report: Ashton handed England challenge Interview: England head coach Brian Ashton | Report: Ashton handed England challenge Interview: England head coach Brian Ashton |
| The 60-year-old has established a reputation as one of the most innovative coaches in the sport after his previous positions with England, Bath and Ireland. | The 60-year-old has established a reputation as one of the most innovative coaches in the sport after his previous positions with England, Bath and Ireland. |
| "You get the best out of players if they enjoy it," added Ashton, who was promoted from his role as England's attack coach. | "You get the best out of players if they enjoy it," added Ashton, who was promoted from his role as England's attack coach. |
| "It's about creating an atmosphere that the players want to come to and be involved in. | "It's about creating an atmosphere that the players want to come to and be involved in. |
| "What I need to make sure happens is we put in place a team that can handle any situation thrown at them. The key thing is to have flexibility of thought. | "What I need to make sure happens is we put in place a team that can handle any situation thrown at them. The key thing is to have flexibility of thought. |
| "I have always enjoyed challenging players, and I want to see players playing with a smile on their faces. | "I have always enjoyed challenging players, and I want to see players playing with a smile on their faces. |
| It is really important everyone in the game now looks forward England director of elite rugby Rob Andrew | It is really important everyone in the game now looks forward England director of elite rugby Rob Andrew |
| "We have to make sure we do the foundations - scrums, line-outs and outplaying the opposition in the tackle area - correctly. | |
| "If you get those things right then you start winning games." | "If you get those things right then you start winning games." |
| England's slump to seventh in the IRB world rankings has seen them all but written off for next year's World Cup. | England's slump to seventh in the IRB world rankings has seen them all but written off for next year's World Cup. |
| But Ashton insisted his side could still be genuine contenders in France. | But Ashton insisted his side could still be genuine contenders in France. |
| "I think we have bottomed out, if not there will be a lot of pain coming my way," he said. | "I think we have bottomed out, if not there will be a lot of pain coming my way," he said. |
| "If all the players are fit and available England will punch their weight not only in the Six Nations but in the World Cup as well. | "If all the players are fit and available England will punch their weight not only in the Six Nations but in the World Cup as well. |
| "We will be going to the World Cup hopefully in a position to mount a very strong defence of it. It would be fantastic to be the first team to retain it, but there is a long way to go before then." | "We will be going to the World Cup hopefully in a position to mount a very strong defence of it. It would be fantastic to be the first team to retain it, but there is a long way to go before then." |
| England's director of elite rugby Rob Andrew said there are currently no plans to appoint a manager alongside Ashton. | England's director of elite rugby Rob Andrew said there are currently no plans to appoint a manager alongside Ashton. |
| "We are looking forward, and I have no doubts whatsoever that Brian is the right guy to move England forward," said Andrew. | "We are looking forward, and I have no doubts whatsoever that Brian is the right guy to move England forward," said Andrew. |
| "It is really important everyone in the game now looks forward. I am sick of looking back to (the World Cup win in) 2003 - we have to move on, because if we don't, we will stay stuck in this mess." | "It is really important everyone in the game now looks forward. I am sick of looking back to (the World Cup win in) 2003 - we have to move on, because if we don't, we will stay stuck in this mess." |
| Ashton will pick the team and captain, with Andrew, forwards coach Wells and defence coach Ford all taking "advisory roles" on selection matters. | Ashton will pick the team and captain, with Andrew, forwards coach Wells and defence coach Ford all taking "advisory roles" on selection matters. |