Thursday, November 18, 2010
Chris Ashton's brilliant try against the Wallabies at Twickenham
Ashton scored two tries as England turned on the heat against the Wallabies last weekend. His first came from some fantastic build up play. The second was that of pure adrenalin and raw speed as Ashton ran 95 metres to score one of the greatest tries ever seen at Twickenham.
The former League player made the switch to Union three years ago after being inspired by Jason Robinson. Robinson himself was watching on Saturday and has said that he did something he hasn't done in the past - leapt to his feet and cheered Ashton all the way to the tryline.
"Too right I did, me and 80,000 others," said Robinson. "I've not done that before but that was something special. Chris is the real deal. And to think he's only 23. You don't reach your peak until you're 26 or 27.
"He's come into a new game and he's learning new things but his league upbringing is helping him like it helped me. I see a lot of league in him in that there are no restrictions in how he plays. He attacks, he takes people on. You've got to be able to take people on when they don't expect it," he added.
Those involved, Ben Youngs, Courtney Lawes, and Ashton himself, described the moment through their eyes. "Sometimes in rugby your instincts just take over. I saw the gap and just went for it," said Youngs, who passed to second rower Lawes after his dummy on the tryline.
"I just tried to draw the man. I was going to pass the ball earlier bout thought, 'Whats the point?'. I managed to draw him in, give the pass to Ashy and it worked out all right," said Lawes.
"I think he thought he was Sonny Bill Williams, sucking in two players and offloading," added Youngs. Ashton said that he was pretty knackered by the end of the run, but with such adrenalin in front of a home crowd, he could have kept running all the way up the stands.
"I just got the ball in a bit of space and ran like always. When I made the break out of the 22, I looked up at the big screen and it gave me an idea where I was and where Mitchell was," explained Ashton.
"There was no-one on his inside so I thought I would go that way for the corner, as as I went past him he seemed to drop off, so I went under the posts. I didn't really change speed, I just kept on going.
"I'll have to sit down with a beer and reflect on it," he added.
England outpace the Wallabies at Twickenham
Posted at 12:47 pm | 94 comments
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Viewing 94 comments
Anonymous November 18, 2010 3:26 pm

cheyanqui November 18, 2010 3:26 pm

But I cannot remember that last time England as a team did something like this, barring something from Jason Robinson.
As the commentator said -- don't play where you are, but what's in front of you.
Here's to England giving us more of these scorelines which are not divisible by three.
Anonymous November 18, 2010 4:29 pm

Anonymous November 18, 2010 4:30 pm

anywho, well done eng, i still dont reckon youll do any good in the next 6 nations/world cup.
Anonymous November 18, 2010 4:57 pm

Dont get me wrong, i was at the game and my voice was hoarse by the end of it but if you take a step back and look at it two people have drawn their men and passed and then Ashton's run really fast for 90m and beaten one man.
To me a great try is one that involves the whole team + some great individual skill.
Still - a very good try.
Greiffel November 18, 2010 5:03 pm

Juggernauter November 18, 2010 5:07 pm

Awesome stuff. More of the same, please.
Chris November 18, 2010 5:14 pm

Shows the confidence of the kid. He does it with Northampton too, backs himself and has confidence to make it in situations that aren't easy.
He'll get egg on his face one day but the times he gets it right it's a sight to behold
b.b. November 18, 2010 5:35 pm

To be honest, watching the game live, I thought Lawes had butchered a good opportunity. I figured he'd do what England usually do and forgo the offload. When I realized he sucked in the outside defender (Adam Ashley-Cooper?) and made the offload, I was standing shouting for Ashton as well.
Given the atmosphere of the try, I'd say there's nothing "depressing" about calling it one of the best seen at Twickenham. The only thing faster than Ashton seemed was the camera on the rail.
vinniechan November 18, 2010 5:36 pm

From Palmer to Flood to Tindall to YOungs to Lawes to Ashton, without anyone of them the try wouldn't have happened.
Good use of the big screen tho :P
Bradders November 18, 2010 5:36 pm

Youngs was outstanding...AGAIN!
As for the Anon a few above - piss off - can you really see Ireland and Wales doing well in the 6Nations - on current form I see Eng having a fairly good chance!
Chris November 18, 2010 5:37 pm

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I was trying to find out how fast those cameras moved lol. I thought he had it beaten for speed at one point!
Anonymous November 18, 2010 6:05 pm

Having said that top quality finish after some nice skill by Lawes.
Still not better than the St. Andre try at Tickenham....
Anonymous November 18, 2010 6:36 pm

Drawing opposition and passing is something every player should do. The fact that he is a lock has nothing to do with it. That he drew two players is bad D on the Australian's part - outside man should've trusted his inside to make the tackle.
"Changed direction without slowing down, and had the gas to continue his run and outstrip another winger"
He did slow now, not much, but he did. Plus i was expecting him to beat Mitchell once he has stepped inside, Ashton was carrying all the momentum.
Anonymous November 18, 2010 6:47 pm

Kearney for tests November 18, 2010 7:14 pm

Greiffel November 18, 2010 7:52 pm

techik November 18, 2010 8:13 pm

John F November 18, 2010 8:35 pm

We'll see.
Anonymous November 18, 2010 8:47 pm

Ben and Courtney deserve all the credit Ashton had the simple bit any winger worth his salt would have scored that.
georide November 18, 2010 9:04 pm

the try is a norm in super 14. great but not one of the best ever.
Typical jealous aussies was a world class try and NORMALLY the tries like that in the super 14 are a result of shit defence
that try had everything brilliant defence amazing finish and quality pass by lawes and a nice little break from a scrum half..... in his own in goal area havent seen that in the super 14?!?
Anonymous November 18, 2010 9:11 pm

Tommo November 18, 2010 9:15 pm

Anonymous November 18, 2010 9:47 pm

Anonymous November 18, 2010 9:59 pm

Canadian Content November 18, 2010 10:13 pm

the try is a norm in super 14. great but not one of the best ever.
According to your logic perhaps that is why England was able to exploit the typical weak SH defense.
Myself, I don't think so. This was a brilliant try scored by a team hell bent of playing rugby the way we all dreamed it should be played.
And this is coming from a neutral who rarely supports England.
What's with Ashton using the big screen? You have a problem with players evolving and using every element to their advantage? You miss the days of fat slobs dominating the game as well?
Brilliant instincts I'd say.
And in regards to the comments made about his facial expressions... great athletes never worry about what they look like in the midst of greatness. Haters do and thus never achieve greatness.
Anonymous November 18, 2010 10:14 pm

Look at England on the IRB tables, still below Australia!
Tom November 18, 2010 10:14 pm

You must release once you make a tackle, neither Palmer or Flood ever released Genia.
Palmer also went to ground, didn;t release and didn;'t roll away, then got to his feet with his hands on the tackled player, lost his feet again, and still didn't release.
That ruck was completely illegal.
Hey anon, 'getting isolated' doen't automatically entitle England to break the fucking laws.
That aside, incredible finish from Ashton, great confidence and skill and great lead up work. Good confidence to pass it that close to the line.
Anonymous November 18, 2010 10:21 pm

You clearly don't know what you're talking about. He's world class, he was thought of that way before this try. Did you not see any of his tackles, offloads or passes in this test and the other ones he's played in, plus in the prem, he dominates other wingers. He's everywhere you would want a winger in defence too, he's always there when a kick goes over! He's a world class player, in great form, with only better to come. Simple as that!
(u-p)rick November 18, 2010 10:26 pm

but to read some of the comments above...im not surprised rugby looks like its becoming more law orientated...everyone loves a bitch, a gripe and just a down right moan about anything and everything....honestly you all sound like football supporters....
id say forget about the false/depressing best try at twickers stuff...this is depressing clicking onto the comments section...yet it was one of my favourite places to click to read everyones praise of certain things....
I think the worst part is, had this been down with the AB's and howlett scored or with the Saffas and Habana scoring everyone (including the English fans) would have said it was well done....but because its a 'weaker' NH team getting 1 up on a 'stronger' SH team, they must have cheated, or it 'didnt mean sh*t' ....
...none of you guys seem to have any love of the sport itself....its all about 'Who did it and the shirt they were wearing' which sadly to say is a MASSIVE soccer attitude!
Good try (id like to say more about it, but im not so much in the mood for it anymore!)
p.s Cheers RD for getting this stuff up!
Kearney for tests November 18, 2010 10:43 pm

He's fast and reasonably strong I'll admit, but I really don't think he brings a lot to the game beside those two things. He just doesn't have the brain for it in my opinion.
chris November 18, 2010 10:53 pm

You are literally a moron. This is a great try, and something I haven't seen from England in a long while.
You could argue he spurned another chance in this game for a try scoring opportunity for Cueto but it doesn't matter. That french attempt was an error but ditching a player on the basis of one error is not Rugby. He did have a good game that day and was finding the space other wingers haven't.
Player at 23 years old scoring the amount of tries he is as a league convert, I'm pretty impressed. Stop watching the highlights and start watching the full game, might give you a better informed opinion instead of the twaddle you spout.
fry November 18, 2010 11:05 pm

the try is a norm in super 14. great but not one of the best ever."
Oh, come off it. No, this isn't the norm in the Super 14. It happens, but it certainly isn't the norm. What you have a better chance of seeing is wingers like Masaga who run in for a 10m try through the hands and have a goddamned dance party as if it was something magical.
This, however, was a pretty superb try. From Tindall getting the counterrucking done, to Youngs' step inside, to Lawes drawing in two defenders, to Ashton outpacing O'Connor (who many people were extolling for outracing Shane Williams the other week) and having the foresight to put Mitchell in the impossible position of preventing the try. Australia is the #2 side in the world, so to score a well-nigh 100m try against them is pretty damned impressive in my book.
Jack November 18, 2010 11:10 pm

fry November 18, 2010 11:12 pm

Players squander tries all the time; but he's 23 and he'll only get better and more adept and reading the game. Why do you have to be so negative?
Great stuff, thanks for the appropriately-titled/-described post!
Anonymous November 18, 2010 11:41 pm

definatly not a superb try, true tindall played more like a hard working 6 than a centre, and yes, lawes can pass the ball 3 metres and ashton is fast, but any winger is when theres know one in front of them and the covering winger is 10m behind, and then mitchell is caught in no mans land. nothing superb about that, no great passing, no great one on one stuff, nothing special
Anonymous November 19, 2010 12:01 am

have to agree i knew it he was quick, but if you watch the camera when he sets of gives you a real sense of his pace.
irishfan November 19, 2010 12:17 am

Also, think if Aus had crept over there and scored when they had possesion, it makes the try Ashtons scored all the more brilliant.
I still don't like league though.
noms November 19, 2010 12:18 am

Jono November 19, 2010 1:06 am

What they did as illegal, it's why the ball was turned over.
Great try, but the turnover was illegal.
Anonymous November 19, 2010 1:30 am

how about you go and play a test match of rugby, step QUADE COOPER, draw in adam ashley cooper and then out run james o connor and drew mitchell
f*ck off...you're probably some pissed off aussie
Jono November 19, 2010 1:52 am

Well, that describes me.
small fry November 19, 2010 1:54 am

what takes more skill? Masaga having 10 metres and beating 4 players to try line or Ashton having 95 metres to beat 1 player? hmmm
Whats more entertaining? Masaga dancing with rhythm or Ashton putting one hand up and pointing his finger? hmmmm
JDG November 19, 2010 2:42 am

Jono November 19, 2010 3:20 am

I am an Aussie, I'm not pissed off.
I just know the rules, and I'm not simpleton.
I know the turnover was illegal, just like I know the try was a great one.
Sorry for "ripping" and "spreading hate"... I didn't realise I was being a player hater, I better keep it real...
you nob.
I'm dsicussing the try, not just saying "oooh waht a great try"
Sorry if you expected everyone to just say what a great try it was, when you can see the trun over was illegal.
Fucking England fanboy.
Chris November 19, 2010 3:21 am

Whats more entertaining? Masaga dancing with rhythm or Ashton putting one hand up and pointing his finger? hmmmm
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Come off it. If Masaga scored a try like this for NZ against Australia it'd be ranked as his best try.
If Kearney scored this try, Kearney for Tests would rank it his best try.
Hell, for everyone being negative, if your favourite player scored this try you'd be singing their praises.
You say he beat 1 man? Is it his fault that he outpaced and outclassed the Australian team. If he only beat one man that's testament to his speed.
Most criticisms on here reak of xenophobia.
Chris November 19, 2010 3:26 am

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Maybe if Genia held onto the ball instead of feeding it to the England player he'd have got a penalty.
You play to the whistle, number 1 rule.
The game would be alot better without pedantic fans like you. If you want a game where play stops every 20 seconds and the refs don't make human mistakes go watch NFL.
If the game was reffed seemingly to your standards every infringement would be penalised and the whistle would go every 30 seconds.
Sounds like a great spectacle your game.
Jono November 19, 2010 3:40 am

Can't have a legal ruck, it would ruin the game.
You do play the whistle, you're right, and its fine that the ref made a mistake, England did well to score the try.
Genia probably shouldn't have made the run.
But they still turned the ball over illegally.
You're the kind of person who is fine with this when it favours your team, but bullshit if you'd be ok with it happening the other way round.
If Australia just illegally played the ball at the ruck, bullshit that you wouldn't mind.
Jono November 19, 2010 3:42 am

That's Genia's fault?
Fucking England fans.
ChinUp November 19, 2010 3:55 am

Anonymous November 19, 2010 4:48 am

Anonymous November 19, 2010 5:07 am

Anonymous November 19, 2010 5:10 am

AB's for life November 19, 2010 5:35 am

fry November 19, 2010 5:41 am

Weird. I always thought it was the try itself that should be entertaining more than the celebration.
fry November 19, 2010 5:44 am

goodNumber10 November 19, 2010 5:51 am

news flash matey, Super 14 isn't test match rugby in front of millions of people.
All the people slagging of this, great, try when you're playing at this level, and can do any of what those guys did come back and let us all know.
Otherwise have a coke and a smile and shut the f*ck up!
Anonymous November 19, 2010 7:45 am

Certainly, an exceptional try, at least at Test level, but hardly amazing.
Von November 19, 2010 7:48 am

The turnover was won illegally. Fact. There's nothing subjective about it. Neither Palmer nor Flood released the tackled player, Palmer was lying on the wrong side of the ruck and Flood was in from the side.
The only mitigation is that Genia took a while to release the ball - in fact he only "released" it when Tindall ripped it from him.
So maybe the ref saw it as a possible penalisable offence for both teams. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. If that's the case then I'm pleased (as a rugby fan) that he let play continue. Nothing worse than stop-start pedantic reffing: it spoils the spectacle.
Von November 19, 2010 7:49 am

Jono November 19, 2010 9:04 am

Ashton is some winger, big, fast great reading of the play, I'm very impressed.
Overall England were very impressive, very much the better team on the day. Instead of playing a negative game, they ran the ball, and look how succesful it was.
They've got some great young players coming thru, and they will be areal threat at the Wrold Cup.
The turnover was illegal, but Genia probably shouldn't have made the run. It's a fact it was illegal, that's all I was saying.
But fair play to England, the courage and ambition to run the ball in that situation speaks volumes.
Anonymous November 19, 2010 9:32 am

Laz November 19, 2010 10:22 am

Its just the way it is with rugby, so picking it out does sound like sour grapes unfortunately, whether you're technically correct or not.
Robbie November 19, 2010 10:27 am

Ignore all the negative comments on this try, they are just Australians.
No we aren't. Good try, not great.
Anonymous November 19, 2010 10:34 am

Great try Ashton and to the miseries complaining of ...well, everything really; yes this is the England team of the forseable future.... I can feel another laugh coming on.
Great try.
Richard November 19, 2010 10:57 am

Defender came in for the charge down, created the dog leg, and a 3 on 3.
Well finished
Anonymous November 19, 2010 11:09 am

Old7 November 19, 2010 11:50 am

Maybe they should only show replays for infringements and try highlights on the big screen during the games? But that's a whole other discussion.
Nice run in for the try.
Anonymous November 19, 2010 2:27 pm

Great finish by Ashton but as said previously the swift change from defence to attack left Aus flat-footed. In my opinion any top 8 side in the world should be able to score from there with a turnover in that position that quick and with the opposition so defensively stretched.
Anonymous November 19, 2010 2:32 pm

The same infringement as Giteau's yet WB's get a yellow card, England get a try..
This was the main turning point in the game.
It still doesnt take away from the indvidual brilliance of this guy...
Anonymous November 19, 2010 2:50 pm

Chris November 19, 2010 3:18 pm

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Sounds about right. Australia is a protected species. With the arse kicking League and AFL have been giving Union for the last century the IRB are doing everything they can to help Australian Union.
Aymeric November 19, 2010 3:20 pm

Congrats England, you've finally got a decent team that is able to run the ball! We French saw glimpse of it in the 6 nations for the final game, but it looks like you went one step further.
The turnover might have been a penalty but that's the ref decision and I'm glad it made this try possible.
Even I had goosebumps when I heard the whole crowd cheering during Ashton's run (and God knows how I usually hate Twickenham's atmosphere...).
Looking forward to playing England next February, should be a cracker!
(u-p)rick November 19, 2010 5:53 pm

I do view the majority of videos on here with a keen eye for letter of the law, and I will happily say 'Chris Ashtons try should NOT have been scored, due to the infringement at the ruck.' However the try WAS scored and the fashion in which it was performed was fantastic!
Any team treads the line when it comes to the law and defending on their own try line....so for me i'd say the english team did a very good job, and as stated above somewhere this is nothing new to Richie McCaw...
My main point is it is disappointing to see people stick a comment in saying 'this was illegal it sucks' or 'illegal' when quite clearly from the 9's point of view, and the locks and ashtons point of view they were shipping the ball from the base of a ruck.
so sure state it was an illegal breakdown but dont deny england their effort on this score!
Anonymous November 19, 2010 8:46 pm

Come on Italy, the English pulled the Aussies pants down, all you have to do now is the spanking.
Anonymous November 19, 2010 10:42 pm

Anonymous November 20, 2010 7:59 am

tim November 20, 2010 2:54 pm

i am loving laughing at the convicts who can't take a defeat on here.
Jono November 21, 2010 3:31 am

I said it was agreta try, heaps of skill, to score from 90 metres out is a massive effort at this level.
I also said Ashton's a great player, egnland were the better team and that the fact they were willing to run it from that position speaks volumes for their ambition and confidence.
So I gave credit where it was due, and by the same token, I also pointed out that it was a blatantly ilegal turn over, just as I would if Mccaw had done something like this.
It was similar to what Gitaeu did, and he got yellow carded for it.
Anonymous November 21, 2010 3:12 pm

Great play by Youngs, Laws and Ashton, Laws in particular in teeing Ashton up. All three are a breath of fresh air to English rugby and can become truly world class.
Its a sensational try given that England were on the verge of conceding only seconds before, and was very slickly executed. People moaning about some mistake Ashton made once, some time ago, need to move on. Ashton is improving at a rate of knots. Everything he does is quality. hes very confident and he and Foden are giving England a new dimension to theyre play and breeding confidence. Even Cueto has returned to some decent form.
Roll on 2011 W.C.
Bill November 22, 2010 1:00 am

That's what Gitaeu got carded for.
Anonymous November 22, 2010 12:03 pm

Its funny that many people, Aussies in particular, complain that England play boring rugby, but yet when England put some quality play together, score a great try and beat the Wallabies at their own game, they still find a way have a moan. Some people are never happy.
NiWiTa November 22, 2010 2:19 pm

Unlucky Ozzie. You are a far better team than (us) England as I have been constantly reminded on this site. Whilst I am sure you are going to excel at the world cup its' nice to have the shoe on the other foot for once!
Bill November 22, 2010 10:20 pm

You're saying basically they can't be expected not to cheat when they might concede a try.
That's a proffesional foul, it should be a yellow card if it's deliberate.
The rule is the tackler's must release and roll away if they are in the way.
Neither Palmer or Foden released. Both played the ball. Palmer even layed across Genia, sealing the ball off. These are blatant penalties, just admit it.
Anonymous November 24, 2010 7:18 pm

Awesome try tho i think youll agree. Arnt England just brilliant?
kaibishin April 22, 2011 8:05 pm















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