Ashton demands supply to Robinson

England coach Brian Ashton has already decided his starting line-up for the opening Rugby World Cup pool match against the USA in Lens on September 8 – but he will not tell the players until Tuesday.

However, Ashton admitted today that the chosen XV may have a pretty good idea after tomorrow’s training session.

“I know what the team is to play America. I’ll tell them on Tuesday but that XV might train together tomorrow,” said Ashton, who expects Leicester Tigers’ forward Martin Corry to have recovered from the knee injury suffered in the defeat to France two weeks ago.

Corry has not trained for the past two days but Ashton added: “The signs are he will be fit for the USA game.

“I expect him to take a full part in training on Tuesday or Wednesday.”

The one person who appears certain of his place is 2003 World Cup winner Jason Robinson, who is retiring from rugby after this year’s tournament.

Ashton is demanding that Robinson’s team-mates provide the left-wing with the service to make him the team’s cutting edge in attack.

He also reaffirmed that there was no chance of the Sale Sharks star reverting to full-back, whatever emergency may arise.

“I haven’t considered it. I think he’s more useful to us on the wing,” he said.

“We recognise that Jason is one of our most lethal try scorers. We have to make sure that when we are in situations where he is running free – which he was three or four times against France – we have to get the ball to him.”

Ashton hinted that if all goes well against the USA in a match England are expected to win handsomely, he could field the same side against South Africa the following week.

That game could well decide the group winners and clinch a potentially easier match in the quarter-finals.

Changes could arise, however, if the players fail to heed his instructions to release the attacking flare of Robinson.

The winger has received only half a dozen passes in the last three games and Ashton admitted: “It does concern me but I suspect he will receive more than six passes the next time he turns out.”

Despite two defeats by host nation France in the past month, Ashton, who went for experience over youth when he named his final World Cup squad of 30, is adamant that his planning is on track.

“After the Marseilles game the players have realised that there are no second chances now,” he said. “When the opportunities arise, we have to take those opportunities.

“We are a side of players who came together seven weeks ago, we’ve played together three times with different personnel so we are an evolving team.

“We have to move on very quickly from that but we aren’t far away from where we want to be.”

Ashton admitted it was “unprecedented” for the defending champions to be going into a World Cup tournament ranked seventh in the world.

But he is unconcerned that England’s hopes are being roundly written off around the globe.

“It really doesn’t bother me. I just wish I had the time to think about other teams,” added Ashton.