Foden in mood to make his mark on World Cup

England full-back Ben Foden has backed Chris Ashton to break Jonah Lomu’s Rugby World Cup try-scoring record after he scorched to the top of the charts.

Ashton has come roaring back into try-scoring form after undergoing knee surgery during the summer and he now has 14 in 16 Tests for England.

Last weekend’s hat-trick against Romania took his World Cup tally to five – just three short of the record held jointly by All Black legend Lomu (1999) and South Africa wing Bryan Habana (2007).

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Ashton was listed pre-tournament as 33-1 to finish as this World Cup’s leading try-scorer – but Foden believes his close friend has the drive and ability to overtake that esteemed duo.

“He’s definitely hungry enough and greedy enough,” said Foden, Ashton’s Northampton club-mate and England room-mate.

“He loves all that stuff and it will just spur him on even more. Hopefully that will be a good thing for us.

“I expect to see him score a few more tries. He’s always hungry to do it.

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“Ashy is one of those guys who loves scoring tries. He loves doing it for Northampton. He didn’t score any for four or five Tests and then scores five in two. He’ll love all that.

“He’s got a terrific work-rate and the kind of player he is – he doesn’t shy away from any occasions.

“Hopefully we’ll be seeing a few Ash Splashes at the weekend.”

England tackle Scotland on Saturday in a decisive Pool B showdown, with both teams knowing defeat could bring their World Cup campaigns to a crashing halt before the knockout stages.

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Manager Martin Johnson was scheduled to confirm his team selection overnight but Ashton and Foden are likely to start alongside Delon Armitage, who appears to have been preferred to Mark Cueto.

“This is definitely the biggest game of my career so far, in terms of what’s at stake. We want to win the group and take through a winning attitude,” said Foden.

“No-one’s ever won a World Cup having lost a game (on the way) so we know what’s ahead of us.

“Scotland are going to be tough opposition and will make things difficult for us. It’s a crunch game for them as well.

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“They were unlucky to lose to Argentina at the weekend and they know they have to get a result against us if they are going to progress.

“Everyone will throw everything into it and hopefully things will go our way.”

Foden has not quite found his stride yet at this World Cup but, comfortable he is now ensconced as England’s first choice full-back, he is confident it will come.

“I always want to push myself and get better and I definitely think there is more to come from me,” the 26-year-old said.

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“Hopefully, it’s just a matter of time before things really start to fly.”

Foden has not always felt so wanted by the England management. Less than two years ago, during the 2009 autumn internationals, Foden took to the airwaves and said he was “livid” at being overlooked.

Armitage was out injured and England opted to use Cueto and Ugo Monye as stand-in full-backs instead of turning to Foden, who had been hammering on the door with a series of thrilling performances for Northampton.

Foden’s outburst earned him a dressing down from Johnson.

The England management knew him as a converted scrum-half and maverick attacking force but they were less than convinced by his defensive qualities.

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Eventually, Foden forced his way into the side for the final game of the 2010 RBS 6 Nations and has been England’s first choice ever since.

“One of the reasons they weren’t picking me was because I was a wild card and no-one knew what I was going to do at the back,” said Foden.

“I’ve shown that little bit of maturity in my game and have fixed up the areas they were worried about. I’ve worked hard in those areas and shown I can be trusted to play that style of game they wanted me to play.

“They’re all for me running the ball back and taking chances when it’s on but also you need to rein it in sometimes and neaten little areas up.

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“I’ve worked hard to do that with whoever it may be – Paul Grayson or Jim Mallinder at Northampton or coming here and working with Dave Alred and Brian Smith and getting things right.”

Manu Tuilagi, meanwhile, has played down links with a move to Super 15 and vowed he never wants to give up playing for England.

The Leicester centre’s brother, Freddie, is out at the World Cup and told a local newspaper over the weekend that he was exploring options in New Zealand.

But the 20-year-old, who has scored four tries in his first five Tests, insisted he could not consider giving up on England.

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“I am really happy to be at Leicester,” he said. “I have still got a couple of years there. I am not really thinking about the future. I am just thinking about this World Cup and the game on Saturday.

“I am loving playing rugby for England. This is my first World Cup and hopefully it won’t be my last.”

Six changes for Scotland as Robinson juggles his Cup squad

Head coach Andy Robinson will tell his Scotland side to be concerned only about victory in Saturday’s must-win World Cup Pool B clash with England in Auckland.

Robinson yesterday named a side showing six changes and one positional switch following last weekend’s 13-12 loss to Argentina which means Scotland must beat England by eight points or more - thus denying their rivals a losing bonus point - to advance to the quarter-finals.

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Second row Alastair Kellock returns as captain, Euan Murray is to start at tighthead prop, Richie Vernon at number eight, Mike Blair at scrum-half, Simon Danielli on the wing and Joe Ansbro at outside centre, while Sean Lamont moves to inside centre.

Out go Jim Hamilton, Geoff Cross, Kelly Brown, Rory Lawson, Graeme Morrison and Nick De Luca, with the latter dropping to the replacements’ bench.

Scotland have progressed to the knockout stages at every previous World Cup tournament and Robinson knows what is at stake, but is first determined to win the match.

Robinson said: “It’s the next challenge for me. It’s a great challenge to have.

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“The players are really excited. There’s a really good buzz around the side, not just because we’re playing England, but because of the challenge that’s there.

“What you look for in any Test match is winning the Test match and that’s what we’re going to focus on.

“We can’t get over worried about the scoreboard.”

Scotland last beat England by eight or more points back in 1986.

Georgia picked up their first win of the World Cup with a 25-9 victory over Romania in a Pool B basement battle in Palmerston North.

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Outstanding flanker Mamuka Gorgodze grabbed the only try of the game for Georgia and fly-half Merab Kvirikashvili added the conversion and five penalties, with replacement Malkhaz Urjukashvili also contributing a three-pointer.