Why Chris Ashton is 'confused' over England's Six Nations malaise - 'That is quite unusual'

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TNT Sports expert Chris Ashton has explained why he is "confused" about England's Six Nations malaise. The former international winger believes England are yet to give an adequate response to any of their shocking Six Nations defeats in recent weeks. England were handed their first-ever loss against Italy in Rome on Saturday and now need to beat France to salvage some pride.

'We aren't seeing it' - Why Ashton is 'confused' over England's Six Nations campaign

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Chris Ashton says he is "confused" by the lack of a reaction from England’s players after their Six Nations campaign went from bad to worse with their first-ever defeat against Italy.

Steve Borthwick’s side were beaten 23-18 in Rome, leaving them in fifth place in the table with just one win to their name.

England made an impressive start to the Six Nations, beating bitter rivals Wales, but they subsequently fell to defeat against Scotland and Ireland.

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And Ashton believes the players are not delivering on their promises to implement change.

"What is surprising for me is I have not actually seen a reaction from the players," the former England international said during TNT Sports' coverage of Leicester's PREM Rugby Cup win against Bath.

"That is quite unusual, really. They were better yesterday for 50 minutes, there is no doubt about it, but they did not get the job done.

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"It is so surprising, so they have gone from Scotland to Ireland with no reaction really, they got dismantled against Ireland, and then they go and lose to Italy. That is the confusion for me.

"We have seen a lot of messages where they [England] are saying that they promise they will give us more, they promise they will be better and this and that, but then they are coming into the games and we aren’t seeing it.

"That is where the confusion comes from for me."

England go head-to-head with France in their final game of the 2026 Six Nations on Saturday.

France are currently top of the table on points difference, meaning they need a bonus-point win to guarantee that they walk away with the title.

"There is not much to say that that [England beating France in their final game of the Six Nations] is going to happen," Ashton added.

"I think it would obviously help. Winning in France would be incredible if they can do it.

"But France, we haven’t seen a France team play like that [like England have played during the Six Nations]."

Prior to this weekend, England and New Zealand were the only two teams that Italy had not beaten on the international stage.

Ashton praised Italy’s perseverance in their attempts to gain a seat at rugby’s top table.

"An amazing Italy win," he said. "They have been pounding at that door for years and years.

"The only two teams that Italy hadn’t beaten were New Zealand and England.

"They got that down to one yesterday as well, they were amazing.

Ashton concluded: "I think only a win [against France] would be OK for England," before declaring his belief that Borthwick should stay as head coach.

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