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The Life of Brian - why Ashton won't be in charge come the Six Nations

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Pablo Luna - Moonlighting for Betfair. Pablo looks at why despite being at the receiving end of unfair criticism, Ashton isn't the right man for the job

William Brian Ashton (3 September 1946, born Leigh, Lancashire) is eagerly awaiting the RFU review of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, which culminated with South Africa beating England in the final. The head coach is currently on a one-year rolling contract until the end of the year. It is fair to say that his prospects look gloomy.

Opinions are divided between whether he should stay or whether Jake White (South African coach) should be given the job. Jake Whites' team dethroned England as the reigning champions in the World Cup Final at Stade de France in Paris, winning 15-6. The 43-year-old has made no secret of his desire to coach England. What should be worrying Ashton is White's agent Livingstone manoeuvring White from two other jobs - Australia and Wales - in which he has 'expressed an interest'. It is also believed new Welsh Coach Gatland turned down the England job.

I was stunned by the personal attacks by the media and English rugby fans on Brian Ashton who, in December 2006, picked up the reigns of a side who were in complete disorder. He had succeeded Andy Robinson and inherited a team that had lost eight of their previous nine fixtures but still got them close. He should have been congratulated not castigated! As Rob Andrew, the RFU's elite rugby director acknowledged, Ashton was on the wrong end of a hospital pass. Talk of unrest and issues within the camp during the World Cup Tournament is trite and not worth regurgitating especially during the autobiography season. He should not have been hurt by these casual annotations.

Despite thisk, there are a few reasons why I do not want him retained as our coach for the next six nations tournament and these are not all rugby- related. He is now 61 years old and will be 65 at the next World Cup and I wonder if he is physically and mentality able to handle the pressure. I think a younger more dynamic coach should be appointed. International rugby demands that you get things right incisively.

Some of the things this unpretentious Lancastrian has said do not rest easy with me. I do not like head coaches using phrases like 'it's nothing to do with me' when discussing the amount of training time the England players are allocated. He should be demanding more time not whinging about it!

It worries me that he has said on camera that he does not care how his side wins. Allowing for the short time he had with the England players prior to the World Cup to grind out results was fair enough but I would still expect him to have a vision and a plan.

Ashton has listened to players within the team when talking tactics and policy and has changed his mind under pressure. He must be the leader, they must believe in what he says, it is non-negotiable, it cannot be any other way. There was clearly a change of approach after the Group defeat to South Africa when we got hammered 36 - 0 and this was not all down to the coach.

He is not comfortable with the press or the politics. I know this is not the number one priority (remember Alf Ramsey) but in this current era I would like to see a confident articulate man, clarifying and taking the nation with him on the journey.

I do like his beliefs when he says, "my main strength is as a coach. I see my job as improving players individually, to do the technical work with them, and also to establish the environment, the framework, in which the players operate." Ashton's philosophy is that the backs comprise three creative forces (the scrum-half, the fly-half and the inside-centre) and four penetrative finishers (the outside- centre, the two wings and the full-back). I just wonder if he is the man to take us to the 2011 Rugby World Cup?

There are other problems like Rob Andrew's unwillingness to step into a team-management role and Ashton's anxious relationship with forwards' coach, John Wells. Clearly, any failure to get Ashton and Wells singing from the same hymn sheet will inevitably result in one or both going. The key question hanging over Brian Ashton though is can he carry all the responsibility on his own? I do not think so!

Brian Ashton reports to Twickenham on Monday for the conclusion. Will he be in charge for our first game against Wales at Twickenham on 2 February 2008 where England are [1.68] with Betfair for the Triple Crown, [4.4] with Betfair for the Grand Slam and [3.6] for the Outright Winner, also with Betfair.

I somehow doubt it...

To read more about the Six Nations:

http://www.rbs6nations.com/splash.htm