Chris Ashton hasn’t always shown the fancy kicking that helped Toulon secure a bonus-enhanced victory over Bordeaux-Begles yesterday.
In fact, the last time he played full-back there, he gifted a Champions Cup try to Bath with a horribly-skewed attempted clearance in early December.
Now Toulon fans are thrilled to bits to see his talented boots in action when taking up that position for the first time since the unhappy fiasco.
Not exactly Cristiano Ronaldo, but, all the same, a deft chip from the turf bamboozled Bordeaux and allowed Ashton to sprint 25 metres to register his 14th try in the Top 14 this season.
He maintained his lead over all other championship try-scorers during a 3612 win that opened a significant gap ahead of Bordeaux, who had trailed them by just one point.
Ashton, criticised by Saracens for leaving them, has become a crowd favourite and, with backs like ex-All Black Ma’ Nonu and powerful Fijians Josua Tuisove and Semi Radrada around him, he looks in his element.
Bordeaux’s new team boss, Rory Teague, must have feared losing with his team shorn of key players on France training duty or injured.
But even he cannot have suspected Toulon would have four tries in half an hour to lead 26-0 with a bonus point within reach.
One-time Rugby League star Radrada started the rout, then came Ashton’s thrust followed by tries from flanker Raphael Lakafia and Tuisova.
Denne historien er fra January 28, 2018-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra January 28, 2018-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Morris hat-trick lifts Steelmen
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Joe keen to follow in family footsteps
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Robson keen to make it to the top with Coventry
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Hancox joins the 200 club
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Bear keen to be a big hit Down Under
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To play in two World Cups was a dream
RUGBY started quite late for me.
Call time on this pantomime ploy
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Coetzee's pulling his weight again
WHETHER he starts or comes off the bench, Jaco Coetzee is just happy to be contributing fully to Bath’s revival after an injury-hit start to his career in blue, black and white.
Murray's on a wing - and a prayer ...
BLAIR Murray began the week ‘in a state of shock’ at having gone from nowhere on one side of the world to the starting grid for the autumn Tests on the other.
We need to kick on after winning at last
Paul Rees talks to Ethan Grayson who heard from two rugby legends after he helped Newcastle end their 25-match losing run
