England coach bemoans players' lack of basic skills
England coach bemoans players' lack of basic skills
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Tuesday, 18, Jul 2006 11:03
England's newly-appointed attack coach Brian Ashton has said that the England rugby union squad do not have basic skills that can withstand the scrutiny of international competition.
In an interview with BBC Radio Five Live the former Bath head coach was highly critical of how life in the Guinness Premiership prepares players to take the next step up.
"The players need to develop higher skill levels in all the core areas of back play - the running, handling and kicking skills," he said.
Ashton was appointed to his post in May as part of the Rugby Football Union's shake-up of the national side's management structure.
So far he has seen his Rugby World Cup-winning charges comprehensively beaten in two matches in the southern hemisphere against Australia.
"I'm talking about improving skills under the severe pressure of the international arena, so that when the players get there they feel a little bit more comfortable than they seem to be at the moment," he continued.
His comments are unlikely to improve the already-strained relationship between England's top clubs and the RFU.
The two are in bitter dispute over the availability of top players for a proposed international against New Zealand to open the new south stand at Twickenham organised for this November.