tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post6711869327376252236..comments2023-07-09T21:38:41.963+01:00Comments on TOTAL FLANKER...a rugby blog: He's coming home...TotalFlankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624839368553218464noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-75615964701896654552018-07-09T14:21:56.395+01:002018-07-09T14:21:56.395+01:00I still don't get the widespread disliking for...I still don't get the widespread disliking for Ashton. <br /><br />- Everyone I'm aware of who's actually met the bloke says he's as decent a person as you'll come across. Look at the post-Barbarians match presser with Pat Lam - what a bond those two had developed in a very short space of time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNmoR5WbGRU&t * (In fact, I was a bit surprised Ashton didn't take him up on the informal offer to join him at Bristol, but Sale must be a lot handier for family).<br /><br />- He's a passionate, committed competitor, who wears his heart on his sleeve. <br /><br />- He scores tries at a ridiculous rate. 104% strike rate in his Top 14 season.**<br /><br />- He's spent a whole season at Toulon in a different position, so he now offers greater versatility across the back 3.<br /><br />- Has always taken the criticism in his stride, I've literally never heard him complain about it, even though it's been so wildly disproportionate and often abusive.<br /><br />- Loads of players swallow dive over the whitewash, no-one else gets grief for it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDnxoa8lHPQ<br /><br />- Took three full-swing punches from a temporarily deranged Samoan and didn't even flinch. So calm and measured about it, even in the immediate aftermath of that match. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVauOKNeifY<br /><br />- He's making a massive sacrifice in my view, when he could happily continue scoring tries for fun and living a life of luxury on the south coast of France, quietly returning to England and going about his business. <br /><br />Personally, I hope he has another amazing season - as part of a very exciting backline being put together at Sale there's no reason why he can't - and I hope he makes the world cup squad too. <br /><br /><br /><br />* By the way, I bloody love the way Lam gestured inverted commas every time I mentioned the BaaBaas "relationship-building exercises", i.e. getting smashed together.<br /><br />** Some people claim it doesn't count because so many are finishing off other people's hard work. This is nonsense. Finishing off tries is his job! If it were that easy, how is his strike rate so amazing? He reads the game and gets into the right place at the right time. Exactly what he is paid to do. <br />Vonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09854900796524398172noreply@blogger.com