Interview: England prop Matt Stevens

Ashton has been rewarded with a new England contract

The 61-year-old guided England to the World Cup final in his first year, but a rollercoaster campaign cast doubts on his suitability for the long term.

But an extensive review by England's elite rugby director Rob Andrew decided Ashton and his coaching team of John Wells and Mike Ford are the right combination going forward.

So, what is the reaction around the sport? Here are a selection of views from fans and some top players and coaches, past and present.

"There would have been no justice in the world if they had lost their jobs after getting to the World Cup final. I would have been upset if I'd lost my job after taking a team to the World Cup final."
Wasps assistant coach Shaun Edwards

"It would have been very difficult to dismiss Brian Ashton and his team... The problem is where you go next. I'm not sure there's a great deal of succession planning going on. They've got to start grooming the next crop of people to come in. Brian Ashton will be 65 by the next World Cup."
Former England and Lions coach Dick Best

"They did an amazing job in view of the short period of time they had with the team. It might be sensible to give them a short contract because then there can be changes, if necessary, two years or so out from the World Cup."
Bristol coach Richard Hill

"Over the years, Brian has always been right there for me, he made life very, very easy for me at the World Cup and that's no mean feat when you think about the pressure, expectation and fear of failure that's flying about.

"The coaching staff took any kind of criticism [at the World Cup] so well and the players did the same. I enjoyed the relationship and it would be a shame if all that work was left to flow away. You want to build on that and England need to build for the next four years."
England and Newcastle fly-half Jonny Wilkinson

"What I do find a bit strange is that it's quite apparent to anyone who was anywhere near the World Cup that the three coaches just didn't work well together. Whether they can work it out over the next three or four years or three or four months, maybe it's a possibility. But it doesn't sound a marriage made in heaven to me."
Former England hooker Brian Moore

"The majority of the squad have stuck with Brian and for the good reason that by the end of the World Cup we were a pretty solid unit. It's important that we continue to show that solidarity."
England and Bath prop Matt Stevens

"Brian Ashton is a brilliant coach; I learnt a lot off him and he picked me for every game after I started in the World Cup so I'm indebted to him."
England and Wasps wing Paul Sackey

"Once again narrow-mindedness from the RFU, instead of looking for a fresh direction for the game in England we get landed with a coach who got very lucky during the last World Cup with a group of OAPs!"
Rugbyfish1984

606: DEBATE Your views on Ashton's re-appointment

"I guess we will now find out who the real Brian Ashton is. Is he the modest genius who took a bunch of has-beens and made it to the final? Or is he the clueless manager who let the players take over and get themselves to the final?"
Vinotackler

"Ashton has serious limitations and can be given minus zero credit for England reaching the WCF. The credit for that achievement was down to the spirit of the players who did it in spite of Ashton."
TopAnalyser

"If the players did what they did in spite of Ashton, why didn't they do something in spite of Andy Robinson? And if Ashton gets no credit for getting England to the WC final then neither should SCW, Eddie Jones or Jake White!!!"
Northern Rugby

"Ashton should have been offered a new contract right away. Whilst I'm not a huge fan, he worked absolute wonders at the RWC with a limited team and should have been rewarded accordingly. The fact that it has taken months of people questioning his position seems to have undermined him and I think it will be much more difficult now under these circumstances."
Falvoe123