Ashton keen to end on a high

Defeats to Wales and Scotland mean the very best England can do is finish second in the championship, but realistically they tackle Ireland in a battle for third place.

"I don't feel any pressure. I think people around me do - by that I mean family and friends - but I don't and I won't do either," Ashton said. "I am perfectly happy with how I operate as a coach. I know this business is results driven but there is a lot more to it than that."

England's performance at Murrayfield last weekend was appalling and Ashton's decision to only drop Jonny Wilkinson prompted a raft of criticism, not least from the England Saxons coach Steve Bates.

England's director of elite rugby Rob Andrew has been quoted as saying that Ashton's job is safe, even if the campaign ends with a fifth straight defeat to Ireland.

But Ashton does not see Andrew's comments as a vote of confidence - because, despite the results, he has never stopped doubting his own ability.

He added: "Some areas of our game have made a significant amount of progress and we have a group of players who are prepared to work really hard to move our game forward.

"We have won seven of our last 11 games so it could have been worse. I am disappointed it is only two from four in the Six Nations. Hopefully it will be three out of five - the key thing is to finish the Six Nations on a high."

Ashton was clearly not impressed with Bates' decision to wade into the Wilkinson argument in the week he took charge of running Newcastle.

He said: "People have opinions. I don't operate like that."