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Rugby Union

Wilko backs Ashton to continue

11/12/2007

Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has backed current England head coach Brian Ashton to continue beyond the end of his current contract.

The former Bath coach's existing deal with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) expires at the end of the year, and it has been suggested that a new man could take over at that time.

However Wilkinson, who is widely credited with being a major catalyst behind England's resurgence at the Rugby World Cup in France, has suggested Ashton is the right man to continue in the job.

"I am a big fan of Brian. I have been ever since I got involved with him around 1998 or 1999," said the Newcastle Falcons star.

"He has always been a guy that can take the game forward.

"He can create an atmosphere and also release players into being fully ambitious and really daring to go out and play as opposed to fearing failure and that is so important nowadays."

Wilkinson's return to the England team sparked a revival after the side slumped to a humiliating 36-0 defeat to eventual winners South Africa in the group stage.

From that point onwards however, England beat Samoa, Tonga, Australia and France to march into the final before narrowly losing out to the Springboks.

"You can only go on what you've seen and Brian has taken us to the World Cup final and he has taken the game forward in what was a tiny, tiny space of preparation," Wilkinson continued.

"We had a matter of a couple of months to get ready for the World Cup. If the guy can have that sort of affect in such a short period, then he is worth his salt."