International rugby can be tough. In fact, if you have a moment, it can be as tough as a pair of extremely old boots, made from the hide of the world heavyweight cow-boxing champion, fitted with steel toes and packed off to boot camp in Siberia for 6 weeks. It is not for the faint-hearted and, while the rewards can be great, mistakes are rarely tolerated. Like all professional sport, it's high risk, high reward.
Two men who have recently been dealt a reminder of this - to their cost - are Ben Youngs and Chris Ashton, who will both be wondering where it went wrong. Both are in their mid-20s, far from retirement age, and both were key members of the side that won England's only 6 Nations title since 2003. Indeed, one of them was responsible for one of the best tries Twickenham has ever been privileged enough to witness. And yet neither will be involved in England's opening game of the 6 Nations in Paris this weekend. In a squad where experience is at a premium and in a ground where opposition teams usually get the kind of greeting associated with a wasps nest, it perhaps says it all that you will not hear any England fans complaining about the decision. Actually, you're more likely to find them applauding.
Ashton first: since he sparkled, dazzled and swan-dived his way into England fans hearts 4 years ago, the man has simply become a liability. He hasn't looked leaky in defence so much as free-flowing, gallantly waving attackers past with a swing of his arms worthy of Bolero while, 2 miles away back towards his own try line, the rest of the defence attempts to cover a 15 metre gulf on England's right flank. Flying out the line and hitting your man hard can work and gain precious metres, but it's high risk, high reward, and Ashton hardly ever reaps the rewards.
Of course, such defensive lapses might be forgiven if his try scoring was equally prolific, but the tries have dried up. His last two, against Argentina and the All Blacks, have come either when England were totally dominant or when Tuilagi had single-handedly mauled a defence into submission. Both times, it would have been difficult for a blind 5-year-old with no feet and one arm NOT to score, so it would have been bloody worrying if Ashton had mucked it up. On top of this, in recent times he has also shown a troubling propensity to offload into thin air, often inside his own half and without bothering to examine the air a touch more closely first, whereupon he might have noticed the absence of a white shirt and thought better of it. This, rather than speeding up England's attacking play (which is the whole point of offloading) slows it down considerably because someone then has to secure the ball on the floor, and any momentum is lost. Again, high risk, and no visible rewards to speak of. No, Ashton had to go.
Ben Youngs has had an even quicker fall from grace. England's first choice scrum-half in the last 6N played for the Lions in the summer and did little wrong, though he couldn't force his way into the test team. This is a different kind of dropping: it's not that Youngs needs to be got rid of, it's that England have better players in his position. Lee Dickson, Richard Wigglesworth and (though I'm not a fan. Remember this? (Keep watching for Martin Johnsons reaction)) Danny Care have all been playing better than him, it's as simple as that. Add the fact, England's best play of the autumn by some distance came in the first half versus Argentina, when the Northampton axis of Hartley, Lawes, Wood and Dickson formed the link between forwards and backs and provided the quick ball England so desperately crave, and there is simply no room for Youngs.
This, incidentally, is a problem that Wales would love to have. The fact often cited is how much bigger England's player base is than the other home unions, and certainly having a Lion as your fourth choice in any position is somewhat luxurious. Whilst Wales starting XV oozes world class in almost every position, and has an excellent replacement waiting in the squad, arguably their problem position is the fly-half berth. Dan Biggar doesn't look convincing, Gatland patently does not trust James Hook as far as he could throw him and Rhys Priestland, the incumbent, provided a stark insight into his decision making abilities against Australia in the autumn when, with Wales needing a try and the clock dead, he kicked the ball into touch.
It was a high risk, high reward punt. And as Chris Ashton will him, that can quite easily cost you your place in the team.
Two men who have recently been dealt a reminder of this - to their cost - are Ben Youngs and Chris Ashton, who will both be wondering where it went wrong. Both are in their mid-20s, far from retirement age, and both were key members of the side that won England's only 6 Nations title since 2003. Indeed, one of them was responsible for one of the best tries Twickenham has ever been privileged enough to witness. And yet neither will be involved in England's opening game of the 6 Nations in Paris this weekend. In a squad where experience is at a premium and in a ground where opposition teams usually get the kind of greeting associated with a wasps nest, it perhaps says it all that you will not hear any England fans complaining about the decision. Actually, you're more likely to find them applauding.
Ashton first: since he sparkled, dazzled and swan-dived his way into England fans hearts 4 years ago, the man has simply become a liability. He hasn't looked leaky in defence so much as free-flowing, gallantly waving attackers past with a swing of his arms worthy of Bolero while, 2 miles away back towards his own try line, the rest of the defence attempts to cover a 15 metre gulf on England's right flank. Flying out the line and hitting your man hard can work and gain precious metres, but it's high risk, high reward, and Ashton hardly ever reaps the rewards.
Of course, such defensive lapses might be forgiven if his try scoring was equally prolific, but the tries have dried up. His last two, against Argentina and the All Blacks, have come either when England were totally dominant or when Tuilagi had single-handedly mauled a defence into submission. Both times, it would have been difficult for a blind 5-year-old with no feet and one arm NOT to score, so it would have been bloody worrying if Ashton had mucked it up. On top of this, in recent times he has also shown a troubling propensity to offload into thin air, often inside his own half and without bothering to examine the air a touch more closely first, whereupon he might have noticed the absence of a white shirt and thought better of it. This, rather than speeding up England's attacking play (which is the whole point of offloading) slows it down considerably because someone then has to secure the ball on the floor, and any momentum is lost. Again, high risk, and no visible rewards to speak of. No, Ashton had to go.
Ben Youngs has had an even quicker fall from grace. England's first choice scrum-half in the last 6N played for the Lions in the summer and did little wrong, though he couldn't force his way into the test team. This is a different kind of dropping: it's not that Youngs needs to be got rid of, it's that England have better players in his position. Lee Dickson, Richard Wigglesworth and (though I'm not a fan. Remember this? (Keep watching for Martin Johnsons reaction)) Danny Care have all been playing better than him, it's as simple as that. Add the fact, England's best play of the autumn by some distance came in the first half versus Argentina, when the Northampton axis of Hartley, Lawes, Wood and Dickson formed the link between forwards and backs and provided the quick ball England so desperately crave, and there is simply no room for Youngs.
This, incidentally, is a problem that Wales would love to have. The fact often cited is how much bigger England's player base is than the other home unions, and certainly having a Lion as your fourth choice in any position is somewhat luxurious. Whilst Wales starting XV oozes world class in almost every position, and has an excellent replacement waiting in the squad, arguably their problem position is the fly-half berth. Dan Biggar doesn't look convincing, Gatland patently does not trust James Hook as far as he could throw him and Rhys Priestland, the incumbent, provided a stark insight into his decision making abilities against Australia in the autumn when, with Wales needing a try and the clock dead, he kicked the ball into touch.
It was a high risk, high reward punt. And as Chris Ashton will him, that can quite easily cost you your place in the team.
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