Chris Ashton was speaking at a press conference and is quoted in today’s Guardian about the 2011 World Cup.
He doesn’t think matches will feature so much counter-attacking rugby:
“Teams [will be] trying to cut that out and not give you the opportunity to do it. They will just kick the ball off the pitch. I think sides are going to start cutting it out as soon as they can.
“When they know you have got a threat back there, I don’t think they will make it an option for you.”
He also wonders about the effects of the Tri-Nations games on team preparation so close to a Cup:
“The way you feel at the end of a season, you need that break. For them to carry on straight from a Tri-Nations and then into a World Cup is a tough ask.
“New Zealand and Australia are looking pretty sharp at the minute, but hopefully it will have an effect in a few weeks’ time.”
About Australia in particular:
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“A lot of them are [Queensland] Reds players so they have come off a great season. Sometimes that is a good thing and sometimes it is a bad thing.
“Even if you don’t feel it mentally, your body is tired and you do need a break. The Boks may be going about it the right way.”