Chris Ashton’s inclusion in the England team to face Australia sets up a promoter’s dream clash between the rugby league convert and Wallabies winger Digby Ioane.
Two of rugby’s most explosive and exciting wingers will face off for the first time in a Test match at Twickenham on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
Ashton was named on the right wing to mark Australia’s left winger Ioane, who is returning from a knee injury.
The 25-year-old Ashton has been something of a nemesis for the Australians with three tries in as many Tests and it’s a clash Ioane is looking forward to.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Chris Ashton because he’s done a lot for England rugby,” Ioane told AAP.
“But I see him as another stepping stone in my career. I love these challenges and coming up against Chris Ashton will be a challenge.”
Ashton’s inclusion is the only change to coach Stuart Lancaster’s side that beat Fiji 54-12 last week with the move seeing Charlie Sharples switching to the left wing in place of Ugo Monye.
The former Wigan league player missed the Fiji match due to suspension.
Ashton scored his first Test try in England’s 21-20 victory in Sydney in 2010 and crossed twice in a record 35-18 victory at Twickenham a year later.
The second of his tries, finished a counter-attack from their in-goal and is regarded as one of the best tries scored at Twickenham. Ashton iced the touch-down with his customary swan dive.
Ashton is England’s most lethal attacking weapon with 15 tries in 26 Tests but hasn’t scored for nine matches.
Ioane, who has 11 tries from 31 Tests, is playing his first match since early last month when he scored in Australia’s 25-19 win over Argentina in Rosario.
The hulking winger’s try against Argentina was the last time Australia have scored a try in a Test match after failing to do in their past two against New Zealand and France.
England: Alex Goode, Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, Charlie Sharples, Toby Flood, Danny Care, Thomas Waldrom, Chris Robshaw (capt), Tom Johnson, Geoff Parling, Tom Palmer, Dan Cole, Tom Youngs, Joe Marler. Res: David Paice, David Wilson, Mako Vunipola, Joe Launchbury, Tom Wood, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Mike Brown
atlas
Guest
amend that to ten tries in seven tests this season for Julian Savea. If he'd played all the tests he may be ahead of some international teams in the try-scoring totals.
Jerry
Guest
Back in the 1987 RWC a Zimbabwean player (Richard Tsimba) dislocated his shoulder with a showy dive for a try.
atlas
Guest
one from the archives - 1999 an Auckland Blues player Charles Reichelmann did one of those dives while scoring a try, landed poorly and broke ribs out of action for a while, a lesson there for the posers.
Albo
Guest
At least when AAC, Mortlock and Co do it they are holding the ball safely against their chest. That ridiculous seagull try that Ashton does is about as stupid a thing as I've ever seen and about as prone to dropping as you can get. Now that I would pay money to see (dropping it that is).
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Geeeez I hate that showboating swan dive Ashton does when he scores. Mind AAC still occasionally does it although can't remember the last time he scored a try. As for this clash, here is hoping Diggers sees the ball.
atlas
Guest
Savea's 8 test tries in six tests have been a good start. Visser's defence?
jnr
Guest
id take big tim visser after his display as explosive winger
atlas
Guest
are they among the 'most explosive and exciting wingers " call me old-fashioned, but I like wingers whosscore tries. Ashton hasn't scored since 10 tests ago. 5 of Ashtons last 7 tries (in 17 tests) were v Georgia and Romania. Ioane has 2 both re Argentina in this year's RC, have to go back another 12 matches to see him crossing the line. I am less than excited about this aspect of the game.