Ashton faces anxious wait

Ashton met with Andrew at Twickenham on Tuesday as part of the RFU's standard tournament review and former England hooker Brian Moore believes the decision has already been made to replace Ashton.

"There has been a lot of hysteria about this and I suspect he's going to go," Moore told BBC Radio Five Live. "From what I hear a deal has already been done and the decision made."

England finished second in the championship, despite defeats to Grand Slam winners Wales and Scotland, just five months after reaching the World Cup final.

But doubts over Ashton's future persist, with some high-ranking union officials not convinced by England's current coaching team.

Andrew presents his report to the RFU management board on March 26 - and will face some difficult questions about his own position if he proposes axing Ashton.

The former England fly-half initially installed Ashton as head coach after firing Andy Robinson, and then reappointed him in December following a two-month review of England's World Cup performance.

Andrew also offered support to Ashton when the flak was really flying in the days after England's miserable defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield.

He said there would be "no knee-jerk reaction" and that changing the coach before the summer tour to New Zealand was "not something I would consider at this point".

However, there are those within the England set-up who are not convinced Ashton, John Wells and Mike Ford are the best coaching fit.