A refreshing take from the Aussie.
Chris Ashton was all set for a triumphant return to the England set-up, during the Six Nations, but he will now have to concentrate on training with Saracens.
The winger was banned for 10 weeks, on Wednesday, for ‘making contact with the eye area’ of Ulster’s Luke Marshall last weekend. Ashton, who was not part of England’s disastrous World Cup, may appeal the decision but he looks set to miss the entire championship.
Rather than crib about the loss of a key player, new England boss Eddie Jones fully accepted Ashton’s sanction.
Jones was asked if he was disappointed that Ashton put himself in the position to be sanctioned. He replied:
“100%, but I am disappointed for him. He was a player in our squad; I am disappointed for him. He’s got to take responsibility for it.
“Is the suspension too hard? No. That’s the suspension he’s got. So he’s got to sit it out or appeal.
“Obviously he’s going to miss the Six Nations unless he appeals and wins the appeal. It’s terrible luck for Chris, but he’s been punished.”
In a separate interview with talkSPORT, Jones indicated that former captain Chris Robshaw would be shifted from openside for the upcoming campaign.
He commented, “We had a good chat and I said to him, ‘Look, going forward, the first thing you have got to do is get in the team and to get in the team you have got to be the best number six in England’.
“Chris has gone and done that so he has got a great chance to be the starting six against Scotland.”
As for the captaincy, Jones has yet to make an announcement but Dylan Hartley is widely expected to get the nod.
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