Andrew's support for under-fire Ashton

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Although Ashton guided England to second place in the Six Nations, defeats to Wales and Scotland have left some on the Rugby Football Union's management board questioning whether he is the right man for the job.

He was handed a rolling contract just two months after leading the team to the World Cup Final, but Jake White, whose South African team won that game, is now favoured by many on the RFU to take over.

Andrew meets Ashton today to review the Six Nations before putting his recommendations to the board, although this will not happen this month as initially expected.

The RFU elite rugby boss said: "The last 12 months needs to be put in perspective. The team has changed during that period, we've won seven of the last 10 internationals away from home, we've been to a World Cup Final and finished second in the Six Nations."

Meanwhile, British and Irish Lions chiefs have brought forward the closing date for applications to coach the squad in South Africa next year to the middle of next month.

Gerald Davies, the tour manager, wants to make a decision as quickly as possible to give the chosen man maximum time to prepare for the three-Test series against the World Cup champions. The original decision was scheduled to be made at the end of April.

Ian McGeechan is still favourite to take the team back to South Africa - where he led them to a 2-1 series triumph in 1997 - with Wales Grand Slam heroes Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards set to complete a "dream team".

Gatland is the former London Wasps director of rugby, the role McGeechan now holds, with Edwards head coach.

He said: "It is nice to be associated with that and it is something you might like to do. It depends how many Welsh players might be involved and if you had an influence there. But my first priority is Wales."