Moore senses Ashton exit
Brian Moore believes coach Brian Ashton is poised to part company with England following a mixed Six Nations campaign.
Brian Moore believes coach Brian Ashton is poised to part company with England following a mixed Six Nations campaign.
Ashton, who was appointed in December 2006, met with Rugby Football Union elite rugby director Rob Andrew on Tuesday to discuss his future.
And former England hooker Moore is of the opinion that a decision has already been made by the Twickenham hierarchy.
“There has been a lot of hysteria about this and I suspect he's going to go,” he said, speaking to BBC Radio Five Live.
“From what I hear a deal has already been done and the decision made.”
Andrew will meet the RFU management board next week to submit his own review of England's efforts in the Six Nations.
It is expected that it will be at that meeting on March 26 that a decision on Ashton's future will be made.
The former England fly-half initially installed Ashton as head coach after firing Andy Robinson, and then reappointed him in December following a two-month review of England's World Cup performance.
Andrew also offered support to Ashton when the flak was really flying in the days after England's miserable defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield.
He said there would be “no knee-jerk reaction” and that changing the coach before the summer tour to New Zealand was “not something I would consider at this point”.
However, there are those within the England set-up who are not convinced Ashton, John Wells and Mike Ford are the best coaching fit.
Critics of Ashton's claim the coaching team is not unified, which only leads to a breakdown in communication and mixed messages.
There are some key figures at Twickenham apparently keen for South Africa's World Cup-winning coach Jake White to take over.
But in today's meeting with Andrew, Ashton will have been justified in demanding he be judged by past results and the potential for success in the future.
Ashton had just ten months preparation ahead of the World Cup and, by hook or by crook, they reached the final against all odds.
England were poor in patches during a competitive Six Nations but still finished second, and the future looks bright with the likes of Danny Cipriani breaking on to the international stage.
The new agreement with the clubs kicks in this summer and Andrew is placing a lot of stock in the additional access to players turning this year's second-place finish into a Six Nations title in 2009.
The key question is whether Andrew, and subsequently the RFU's management board, accept Ashton is the best man to harness England's potential.