sport news Eddie Jones back his 'try-poacher' Chris Ashton to start fast against France

Chris Ashton's last involvement in the Six Nations came a year ago and France were in his sights. He was assessing them as a television pundit, not that the event sticks in his mind.

It was February 23, 2018, and the Sale wing was armed with a microphone on the touchline as France took on Italy in Marseilles. Asked about broadcasting at the Stade Velodrome, he initially denied it on Friday.

Then it came back to him and the memory served as a surreal reminder of just how far he has come since last summer. ‘It was a year ago and I’d never have thought then that we’d be sitting here now, with me about to play France,’ said the 31-year-old.

Chris Ashton is back to represent England in the Six Nations once again on Sunday

Chris Ashton is back to represent England in the Six Nations once again on Sunday

He spoke about being recalled by Eddie Jones, for a starting place out wide in the England side to face France at Twickenham on Sunday, following a four-minute cameo in Dublin last Saturday, as the national team swept aside title-holders Ireland.

When he did his forgettable stint as a pundit, he was playing down the road at Toulon and blazing a trail in the Top 14, on his way to a record-breaking haul of tries last season. But so much changed so fast in the months that followed, starting with selection for the Barbarians and a hat-trick against England at Twickenham — which reminded Jones and the public here about his enduring predatory instincts.

Next came the release from his contract with the Cote d’Azur club and a transfer to Sale, bringing him back into range of a Test recall. A harsh pre-season ban threatened to derail the comeback but it ultimately didn’t.

Ashton started against the All Blacks in November, scoring an early try as England pushed the world champions all the way before succumbing to a narrow 15-16 defeat.

Eddie Jones is backing Ashton to start quickly and sniff out a try at Twickenham 

Eddie Jones is backing Ashton to start quickly and sniff out a try at Twickenham 

The Sale winger is prolific and has come in to replace Jack Nowell out wide

The Sale winger is prolific and has come in to replace Jack Nowell out wide

He has continued in prolific fashion for his new club and after serving as one of Jones’s so-called ‘finishers’ last weekend, the irony is that Ashton has been included in the starting team this time, on account of his finishing prowess.

Jack Nowell has not been dropped, as such. He did nothing wrong in Dublin. Indeed, he contributed well to a momentous win. Jones has just settled on a different horse for this particular course.

England have developed a handy habit of striking at the start of games. In each of the last four Tests, they have scored tries in the opening minutes.

The management believe Ashton is the man to continue that useful trend.

Jones suggested that he had

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