Winger Chris Ashton, forced to watch from the stands through suspension, was so frustrated at missing England’s 54-12 victory over Fiji he walked out of Twickenham after an hour and drove home in a sulk.
As England scored seven tries, including two by his direct replacement Charlie Sharples, Ashton was left to rue the three yellow cards that led to his one-game ban, knowing he was missing a glorious opportunity to end his personal try drought.
Having nailed 15 in his first 17 internationals, the former rugby league man has now gone nine without scoring.
“It’s killing me,” he said yesterday having been recalled in place of Ugo Monye in England’s only change for tomorrow’s game against Australia.
“I was pleased for Charlie but it was so frustrating to see so many tries being scored and not be involved.
“It was so frustrating I had to leave after 60 minutes, I couldn’t watch it. I just went out to the car park and drove home. Every now and then I put the radio on but I had to turn it straight off again. I couldn’t even listen.”
Only four players from each starting team survive from their last meeting at Twickenham two years ago, when Ashton blasted into public consciousness with a wonderful length-of-the-field try.
Created with some ambitious work on their own try line by scrumhalf Ben Youngs and lock Courtney Lawes, Ashton had the home crowd roaring as he tore clear before braking suddenly to wrong-foot Drew Mitchell then sprinting away and diving over the line for his second score in the record 35-18 victory.
Australia coach Robbie Deans has made four changes in his team in the wake of last week’s 33-6 thrashing by France. Fullback Berrick Barnes and winger Digby Ioane return for Mike Harris and Pat McCabe, while lock Sitaleki Timani and tighthead prop Ben Alexander come in for Kane Douglas and Sekope Kepu.
Deans brushed aside comments by David Campese he has “destroyed Australian rugby,” but admitted he understands criticism of his regime.
“It’s great that David’s passionate about the game still and particularly the Wallaby jersey. But I really don’t want to comment any further,” he said.
One change for France
Lock Yoann Maestri was named in the France team to face Argentina tomorrow as manager Philippe Saint Andre made only one change to the side which thrashed Australia.
Maestri, who missed that game because of a back problem, replaces Jocelino Suta. The rest of the team is unchanged, with man-of-the- match Frederic Michalak staying at outhalf and Maxime Machenaud at scrumhalf.
Number eight Kieran Read will captain the All Blacks for the first time against Italy tomorrow as coach Steve Hansen continues his long-term planning for a successor to Richie McCaw.
The 27-year-old Read had been widely expected to be given the captaincy for at least one match on the end-of-season tour as Hansen had said he wanted every player in the 32-man squad to get game time.
McCaw, 31, who led the team in their 51-22 victory over Scotland last Sunday, has dropped out of the squad with Sam Cane to start at openside flanker.
