Ashton hails team effort

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On his first start for his country stand-off Cipriani, axed last week over a nightclub visit, landed four penalties and three conversions at Twickenham and he did not miss one kick at goal.

But Ashton, whose position had been under threat following the defeats to Wales and Scotland, said: "That was a team performance, not a one-man band - and one of the best team performances I've seen in a long time. Danny did really well, though."

He added: "You're not sure until they come out whether players can bring Premiership form into internationals, but for most of the game he did.

"He will be very pleased - and we are reasonably pleased as well! - but the guys around him helped enormously, so let's not go overboard."

Cipriani replaced Jonny Wilkinson, who came on in the second half - not for the 20-year-old but - for Toby Flood in the centre.

Asked about what happens now for the England stand-off position, Ashton replied: "It will be a royal battle now. There are a number of good number 10s knocking around - and Jonny did well in the centre while he was out there.

"For the first seven minutes, we didn't feel we had worked Ireland out. We had a fairly short week in training - but we were fairly specific on what he worked on.

"We thought we could pose them problems and for most of the game we did, with the ball and without the ball."

On the subject of the championship - three wins and those two defeats - Ashton added: "It was a missed opportunity - big time".