Northampton assistant coach Paul Grayson believes England wing Chris Ashton will be targeted
Northampton assistant coach Paul Grayson has told Chris Ashton that he will have to deal with players attempting to mark him.
The winger scored two tries in England’s 35-18 win over Australia on Saturday 13 November and the coach believes that this will make opposition teams more wary of his ability.
The Northampton winger’s second try was scored from 90m out and it has already been hailed as one of the great individual tries to be scored at Twickenham.
Speaking to BBC Look East, Grayson admitted that Ashton has put in an incredible performance for England in the Test.
"He scores tries like he did for England every Monday afternoon when we're playing some of our games. You see him go and it's a sight to see. To see him do it in an international is an entirely different thing," said Grayson.
However Grayson warned Ashton that he must back up his performances and prove that he is a great player by sustaining his form, despite the fact that the opposition will signal the player out as a threat.
"If everyone knows what you're going to do and you can still do it then you've got true quality. He'll get special attention from everybody from now on and let's hope he rises to the challenge."
Grayson compared the winger’s dramatic rise to that of former England international Ben Cohen who won 57 caps for his country.
"I remember Ben Cohen first getting into the England team and he scored a couple of blistering tries to announce himself as an international predator," said Grayson.
"Chris has done the same thing. It's enjoyable to watch. We were always hopeful about his ability," added the Northampton coach.
Ashton has cemented his position as England’s first choice winger and the player’s impressive displays so far could be needed for the remainder of their Autumn International Tests.
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