Ashton gave Cipriani his England debut against Ireland on Saturday

Ashton, 61, has come under increasing pressure after a mixed Six Nations campaign but Cipriani says he is the best man to take England forward.

"I think Brian and his coaches have done a fabulous job with England," said Cipriani, who had his first Test start in Saturday's 33-10 win over Ireland.

"Look at Brian's results in recent times - they are just phenomenal."

Ashton was given a long-term contract by the Rugby Football Union in December after leading his team to the World Cup final in France.

I can't believe the stick he's getting... he is a very good coach England's Tom Croft

But he met elite rugby director Rob Andrew for talks on his future on Tuesday after a difficult Six Nations campaign, although England did eventually finish in second place behind Wales.

On Wednesday, it was reported that England's 2003 World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson would meet with Andrew with the possibility of getting involved in the set-up.

Cipriani has known Ashton for five years but was dropped for visiting a nightclub in the week he was set to make his first England start.

But he was reinstated for the final match of the Six Nations and says the current coaching set-up will benefit England in years to come.

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Interview: England fly-half Danny Cipriani

"In the last match, the coaches came up with the formula and we produced the goods on the pitch and that will help us as we move forward," added Cipriani.

"I like working with Brian and I've done so since I was 15. The other coaches have done a great job too so there's a great formula there and if the players keep gelling it could be perfect.

"Knowing Brian as I have for so long, his coaching ideas are very good, I can respond to the way he thinks.

"I'd like to have Brian around and I think things have gone well recently.

"If you know who the coaches are it's a massive positive, a lot of the players are saying continuity is a big thing."

Leicester flanker Tom Croft, who made three appearances in the Six Nations championship, says he is surprised at the pressure being placed on Ashton.

"I can't believe the stick he's getting," revealed Croft. "We came second in the tournament and got to the final of a World Cup, that's no mean feat.

"As far as a player-to-coach relationship goes, he is very good, he man-manages very well, he is good at analysing other teams - and it showed against France because we knew what they would do.

"A lot of the criticism he gets is unfair but he keeps it away from the players and lets them get on with their jobs.

606: DEBATE Andrew simply cannot admit to his bosses that his decision to keep Ashton et al on was a mistake VT

"He gets on well with the players and has a good rapport. He is a good coach but at the end of the day it's up to powers above me to make a decision."

Harlequins coach Dean Richards thinks Ashton should be judged on the results of the last 10 months.

"If you had asked 10 months ago whether a World Cup final and second in the Six Nations would be good enough they would probably have said yes," Richards told BBC Radio Five Live.

"But here we are, 10 months down the line, and people are questioning it.

"Consider the players he has brought through, like Cipriani and Croft, and the players he has lost and I think you would have to take your hat off to him and say he's done some great things.

"I'd certainly like to think he'll survive."