Six Nations: Martin Johnson salutes the rise of Chris Ashton

The only way is up for Chris Ashton

England coach Martin Johnson has saluted the rise of Chris Ashton from struggling Rugby Leaguer to Six Nations great.

Ashton touched down his ninth try in nine Test matches during his side’s 59-13 demolition of Italy at Twickenham on Saturday, and became the first Englishman to tally four tries in the same Six Nations match since Ronald Poulton-Palmer in 1914.

The former Wigan Warriors lad made the cross-code switch in 2007 after his performances for his home-town side were widely criticised, but he continued to struggle for first-team action following a move to Rugby Union and the Northampton Saints.

But since breaking the Division One try record, scoring 39 times in 25 appearances a year later and scoring 15 times in 16 matches this season for his club, Ashton has caught Johnson’s eye, though not even he envisaged such quick development.

“I don't think anyone could have said he would be where he is,” Johnson told BBC Sport after Saturday’s win. “At the start of last season Chris wasn't sure of a place in the Northampton team and he was playing for England by the end of it.

“We need finishers. They make the difference in games. Chris is enjoying what he does but underneath that he does work hard, he is conscientious and he wants to be a very good player.”

And England legend Rory Underwood, who amassed 85 caps between 1984 and 1996, has predicted Ashton could break his record of 49 England tries, but the Wigan lad is keeping his boots firmly on the turf.

“The day I start looking at records is the day I am sure I will stop scoring tries,” Ashton added. “My aim when I got in the team was to play the best I could and hopefully the tries would come from that. Thankfully, it is all going right for us.”

But fellow try-scorer Mark Cueto, who will be relieved to have broken a nine Test duck at the weekend, has warned Ashton he could well be a marked man in England’s crunch-tie with France on February 26th.

Elsewhere, Shaun Lamont – Scotland’s only shining light in the darkness of Saturday’s defeat to Wales – had some stern words for his team-mates following a 24-6 slump.

“We were poor and that is being polite,” he told reporters. “We need to sit down and have some serious alone time, pointing fingers. It is time to shut doors, perhaps not even have the coaches there.

“We have to question how much we want this and I think a few boys need to be worried and start looking over their shoulders.”

Lyall Thomas - Follow me on Twitter

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