Ashton happy with selection

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Although the solitary switch is a seismic one in England rugby terms - Danny Cipriani for Jonny Wilkinson - all 14 remaining Calcutta Cup flops have been retained.

Ashton said: "We need to put in a really good performance this week, we know that. It's not as if we aren't trying to."

He added: "We didn't play well last weekend, and everyone has held their hand up, including the management team and the playing side as well.

"It is very easy to have a knee-jerk reaction towards the end of a tournament. These guys have served us pretty well. My feeling was that after a performance as there was in Scotland they have got an opportunity to bounce back."

For Wilkinson, meanwhile, it is the first time in his England career he has effectively been axed following a loss of form.

When he was replaced by Paul Grayson in England's 1999 World Cup quarter-final against South Africa at Stade de France, it was very much down to a horses-for-courses selection policy.

Ashton added: "Jonny has had an inconsistent Six Nations, and it was always our intention to give Cipriani a start at some point.

"For me it was just another selection decision. I suspect for people outside the immediate squad it will be momentous for a number of reasons, but I can't control what other people think."

As for any suggestion Wilkinson might be taking the rap for his own - and several other players' - deficiencies, Ashton said: "No, not at all, not unless you guys (the press) write about it. He is on the bench, he is a full part of the 22 covering the 10/12 positions. For all we know he could come on for 75 minutes and win us the game."