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Brown backs Ashton for England Rugby Team recall

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Saracens FC flanker Kelly Brown believes club mate Chris Ashton has done enough to secure a quick return to the England Rugby Team, having been extremely impressive for the London club as they reached the final of the Heineken Cup.

Faced with tremendous criticism over the last few months, Ashton answered back all that criticism on the field as he single handedly led the Aviva Premiership club to a 46-6 win over Clermont Auvergne in the semi final, setting up a final date with French Top 14 side Toulon.

The 27 year last appeared in a Test for England in their 22-30 defeat at the hands of New Zealand at Twickenham Stoop, being left in the international wilderness by head coach Stuart Lancaster. He was completely ignored from selection for the Six Nations Championship as well.

But having spent close to two full seasons with the former Wigan Warriors player, Brown believes Ashton is an asset that the England Rugby Team cannot afford to ignore for too long.

According to Brown, the final decision lies with the coaching staff of the England team but he believes Ashton is a brilliant player. He added when the club first signed him, he knew he was a good player who could get on the end of things. But it wasn’t before he had played that he had known how good he is off the ball as well.

And the Scotsman believes if Ashton does make his return to the England setup, he will be an asset for the team, one who could power the England Rugby Team to Rugby World Cup glory on home soil next summer.

Brown hailed the mentality of Ashton, and believes his mental toughness is something that most England players lack and the squad would do well with him in it.

Easter still has England Rugby future

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Nick Easter has been told he still has an outside chance of making Stuart Lancaster’s England Rugby team for next summer’s Rugby World Cup on home soil.

Easter was the last England man to lift the Six Nations Championship for the country and although he has been out of the national team picture ever since Lancaster took charge of the side after the country’s disastrous performance in the 2011 edition of the event in New Zealand, Easter still has the chance of securing his place for the event at the ripe old age of 37 years.

The former England man remains a key player in the Harlequins FC side and was instrumental in the team’s success in the Aviva Premiership in 2012. He remains a key part of the plans of boss Conor O’Shea for the foreseeable future as well.

However, the 47 cap player has had to swallow several snubs from the England Rugby squad following 2011. But things could change dramatically for the notorious bad boy of English rugby, according to his club boss.

Conor O’Shea stated that Lancaster hasn’t completely rules Easter out of the reckoning for a place in the Rugby World Cup squad. He added that the team is keeping a close watch on his development and form and if he manages to maintain this form and if his presence is a must in the side, then he will not be overlooked for selection.

O’Shea also mentioned that Easter fears he will not be able to maintain his form till then but he has no doubt he can and he will make the England Rugby squad for next summer’s extravaganza.

According to the Harlequins FC boss, Easter is extremely driven and ambitious and these qualities will make him a key part of the England team.