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Chris Ashton will get 'special attention', warns coach

Chris Ashton touches down for England

Ashton's thrilling try against Aussies

Chris Ashton has been warned he could become a marked man after his two tries for England against Australia.

Paul Grayson, the winger's coach at Northampton Saints, says all eyes will be on the 23-year-old in the future.

"If everyone knows what you're going to do and you can still do it then you've got true quality," Grayson told BBC Look East.

"He'll get special attention from everybody from now on and let's hope he rises to the challenge."

Ashton, who made the switch from rugby league side Wigan to join Northampton in 2007, has crossed the line four times in as many Premiership appearances this season.

Grayson delight at Ashton showing

But the crowning moment of his career so far came with the two tries he scored in Saturday's 35-18 win over the Wallabies at Twickenham.

And Grayson sees similarities with former Northampton winger Ben Cohen, who played 276 times for Saints and collected 57 caps for England.

"I remember Ben Cohen first getting into the England team and he scored a couple of blistering tries to announce himself as an international predator," added Grayson, who played more than 100 times for Saints as a fly-half.

"Chris has done the same thing. It's enjoyable to watch.

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"We were always hopeful about his ability.

"It was well documented that he went through a fairly dark period when he had an average year in the Premiership [in 2008/09]. But the raw material was there, which is why we brought him to the club.

"He scores tries like he did for England every Monday afternoon when we're playing some of our games," said Grayson.

"You see him go and it's a sight to see. To see him do it in an international is an entirely different thing."



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see also
England 35-18 Australia
13 Nov 10 |  Rugby Union
World Cup win realistic - Ashton
13 Oct 10 |  Northampton
Ashton scoops Premiership award
18 May 10 |  English
Ashton signs new Northampton deal
14 Jan 10 |  Northampton
Ashton & Hape earn England calls
13 Jan 10 |  English


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