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Debutant Ashton at the double in emphatic Toulon win
By Peter Thompson
Chris Ashton scored a second-half double on his competitive debut as Toulon started the Top 14 season with an emphatic 41-14 drubbing of Pau on Sunday.
The former Saracens and England wing touched down twice in quick succession during the second half at Stade Mayol, where the three-time European champions outscored Pau by four tries to two.
Hugo Bonneval, another new recruit, and Marcel van der Merwe went over in the first half and Anthony Belleau scored 13 points from the tee to put Toulon 23-7 up at the break, Pierrick Gunther crossing for the visitors.
Ashton stole the show following the interval, intercepting a stray pass from Colin Slade to score his first try and finishing off a slick move on the right six minutes later.
The clinical Ashton also produced a try-saving tackle in an impressive bow in the French top flight, while Bonneval took his points tally to 21 as Toulon hit the ground running.
Florian Nicot scored the other try for a Pau side that were soundly beaten.
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Smith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.
Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?
Go to commentsWhich Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ?
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