Prayer for a wing

As I watched Matthew Tait cut it up yet again for Tigers in their ultimately fruitless struggle in Toulon, I turned to my friend and remarked - tongue in cheek - "We've got yet another addition to the people to play ahead of Ashton".

Now, this article is not a call for Ashton's head, a call which would be rather ill-timed considering his useful performance against Ulster in the Heineken Cup, including a vintage Ashton try. But nor will it be a hymn in his praise, for from England's point of view he deserves no such thing. If anything, Ashton's performance heightened my frustration with England's wing play, a frustration I know I'm far from alone in. Ashton can play, but hasn't been. Brown can also play - he can play full-back. While those two have toiled on, we have watched as promising a generation of young English wingers as there's been in some time settle for terrorizing the defences of the Premiership. Of them, only Sharples has received a chance in a game against tier 1 opposition, playing the game against Australia. With the addition of one game against South Africa, where Strettle played, you have the only two games where England didn't play with two specialist full-backs. Ashton has played every single game against tier 1 opposition since Lancaster took over, with a return of two tries.

This article is aimed at being an overview of England's possible choices on the wing. While Lancaster is clearly stubborn and loyal to his man, the situation as stands feels untenable. England's wings are, at the very kindest, not the complete package. The list of pretenders seems to grow weekly. It is a very obvious place to trial a change on at least one wing, if not both.

What does Lancaster want from a winger? England hopefuls such as Christian Wade have commented on being told to work on things so they've got several skills at 7 or 8 out of 10, rather than just the one asset at 9/10. He clearly sets get store on wingers who are defensively in the right place at the right time and who can kick accurately. Add that to a demand for wingers who are secure under the high ball, and you see why he's attracted to playing two full-backs. Given England's pressure defence tactics a good kick chase is essential. Given the value England place on being difficult to score against you'd have though secure tacklers were preferred, although you have to wonder about that. And of course, there's attack. England haven't exactly created fantastic chances for their wingers, which has turned the ability to operate in traffic into a premium, while we've also seen the wingers popping up in midfield a fair bit.

The full list - as I make it - of English winger hopefuls reads like this: Ashton, Banahan, Benjamin, Biggs, Eastmond, Elliot, May, Monye, Nowell, Sharples, Simpson-Daniel, Strettle, Thompstone, Varndell, Wade, Yarde. To which, given Lancaster's predilection for playing full-backs on the wing, should be added Abendanon, Brown, Daly, Foden, Tait and Tuilagi. Yes, I know the last is not a full-back, but since Lancaster's name checked him as a potential winger, it would be remiss not include him. As I said, England are not short of options here. So, let us look at them, going in nigh-Alphabetical order - I think it only fit to put the current incumbent, the most frustrating man in English rugby, first.

Chris Ashton

Strengths: At his best, a proven test level try scorer - a rare beast. His ability to hit the right supporting lines and finish off opportunities makes him, on form, an excellent addition to an attacking team. He is also an aggressive kick chaser - cast your mind back to the Ireland game this spring, where he flattened O'Gara and basically won the penalty.

Weaknesses: Not the best tackler, nor the best disciplined player; his nine penalties conceded is a tally equalled only by Monye out of the out-and-out wingers on my list. His appetite for the high ball has been questioned. Finally, when starved of opportunities to finish off moves, he often seems a peripheral figure, lacking the footwork, power or vision to start creating opportunities of his own.

Nick Abendanon

Strengths: Genuinely comfortable at both full-back and wing, Bendy has a strong running game, provides for others, and looks defensively secure. He's beaten 35 defenders this season, fifth overall in the Premiership. A good all-round option, particularly for a man looking to play a full-back on the wing.

Weaknesses: With eleven penalties to his name, Abendanon is comfortably the worst disciplined player of the lot, which added to his 27 turnovers conceded is a lot of lost ball. Not really the ideal choice for a tight-fisted outfit in that respect.

Matt Banahan

Strengths: His strength. If England want to give teams something to think about other than Manu, the prospect of Banahan hitting a crash line should attract hearts and minds. At 6'7", he also does well under the high ball, and his offloading could fit in well with England's desire to play a quicker game when possible.

Weaknesses: Apart from being more of a centre these days - surely not a problem in Lancaster's England - Banahan has something of the air of tried and failed about him. Maybe he'd fulfill his potential under a different man, but no one is holding their breath, particularly as his physicality didn't look enough last time. His relative lack of pace and agility would be a constant worry in defence too. Still, as long as he offers something unique, people will wonder about him.

Miles Benjamin

Strengths: Powerful and quick, Benjamin is an excellent finisher. He may have missed this season through injury, but last season his seven tries for Wuss were hugely influential in their survival fight.

Weaknesses: Absence, as they say, makes the heart grow fonder. Let us see whether his physical attributes remain when he returns, and whether he thrives in the Tigers environment with the expectation of winning games.

Tom Biggs

Strengths: Fantastic hair and a nice guy, Biggs has become a real fans favourite to have a crack at one of those wing slots. He's a busy, running winger who's effective at what he does.

Weaknesses: Ok, I'll be honest, I can't see what all the hype is about. He is effective, but he's not electric. Would he be an international standard try scorer?

Mike Brown

Strengths: Internationally experienced now, Brown offers a booming left boot and plenty of security under the high ball. He also offers a serious amount of go forwards in traffic, where his strength and footwork allow him to wriggle through gaps like an enraged ferret, arguably making him England's most threatening attacker this Six Nations. Particularly true when picking and going, although that's only really been seen for Quins.

Weaknesses: A combination of a lack of speed by international wing standards and possible positional inexperience leaves him rather prone to getting done on the outside, while the same lack of speed probably helps account for why he's never really made anything of the half-chances to gas someone on the outside and be free he's been given. I suspect he has more international caps than he does senior appearances on the wing.

Elliot Daly

Strengths: Quick, elusive and a quality finisher, Daly also possesses a massive boot, which he could use for cracks at some of the kicks at the very edge and beyond of Farrell's range. Also blessed with a bit of creativity, Daly has shown just how dangerous he would be coming into the line off his wing in the outside channels when he plays at outside centre.

Weaknesses: Well I've just said it really - Daly plays a lot at outside centre and while Wasps are increasingly seeing him as a full-back, and do play him occasionally on the wing, he's really no specialist. Given it's Lancaster I'm including him, but all the positioning and high ball taking aren't really natural strengths. Daly's also slipped off a few more tackles than I'd prefer.

Kyle Eastmond

Strengths: A very gifted all round footballer, Eastmond could offer a second playmaking option coming in from his wing. He has an excellent kicking game too. And he has no slouch running with ball in hand either.

Weaknesses: It seems Bath are increasingly seeing Eastmond as a centre, so he's not picking up the positional experience he'd need. His size - 5'6", smaller than any other candidate except possibly Wade - would also be held against him, particularly if he not regularly showing he can still take the high ball.

Jamie Elliot

Strengths: A good old fashioned winger, Elliot is quick, elusive and scores tries. He is currently equal first in the much vaunted and value competition, "Highest Premiership Try scorer not playing at Wasps". Solidly built for his size, Elliot has made some vital defensive contributions for Northamption this season, most particularly in their victory against Ulster, and has shown a good measure of versatility over his career, having played a bit of centre and full-back.

Weaknesses: He gets some of the big ones, but does he get them all? Elliot's succesful tackle rate of 75pc is distinctly unimpressive. Part of that might be the time spent at full-back covering for Foden. And although he is quick and elusive, whether he'd still seem those things at the next level is something I mildly doubt. Hopefully the improvements Northampton are looking to make to their backline for next season will allow Elliot a better platform to demonstrate his talent.

Ben Foden

Strengths: Internationally experienced and proven, Foden has done a fair job to say the least at full-back for England, and didn't look too out of place on the wing either. All of the elements of kicking, the high ball and so on, would be strengths for him. Foden is quick and powerful for his size, which has not only translated into a good try scoring ratio, but also an admirable defensive record too, with only one real blotch on his record for England in that respect.

Weaknesses: Foden has been badly out of form recently. He has not been defensively solid for Northampton, and his attacking game has only really been beginning to spark again. He too will be hoping that Alex King and the new signings can provide a better platform. There is also the small matter of him mainly playing at full-back - he has the physical characteristics for it, but he's not got the specialist instincts.

Jonny May

Strengths: Very quick and very elusive, May is already established as one of the most dangerous wingers in the Premiership, having scored a number of wonder tries. His strike rate this season is 5 in 10. May's also spent a fair bit of time at full-back over the past couple of seasons and while it doesn't seem his most natural position, it is a bit of additional versatility. Also happy to leave his wing and get his hands dirty.

Weaknesses: There are probably players with better fundamentals, and his defensive record isn't excellent. Almost definitely one of the players Lancaster told to work on getting a more rounded game.

Ugo Monye

Strengths: Monye is in my opinion the best defensive winger in the Premiership - a very good tackler, excellent under the high ball and a superb natural athlete. He's a willing worker in every sense, frequently seen applying his strength in the middle of the park, and while not as dangerous as when he broke through, his 5 tries in 14 games still represents a decent return.

Weaknesses: 9 penalties and 17 turnovers conceded is not an ideal tally. I suspect part of that comes from chasing marginal balls, something the England coaches have said is not a problem, but it can't entirely be so. There is also a distinct sense of tried and failed about him too which doesn't help, although that was some time ago and in a different set-up.

Jack Nowell

Strengths: Quick, good feet and strong, Nowell has the ability to cut through defences and a bit of a predatory instinct - although he's also very happy coming off the wing for a spot of crash. Nowell is another guy with full-back experience and he has looked useful enough under the high ball and when having to clear with his boot. Nowell is also defensively strong, strong enough to come into the defensive line and cover a so-so fly-half.

Weaknesses: Nowell is by far the most inexperienced name in this list, and as such he has plenty to prove in terms of consistency. It will not be a surprise if more weaknesses emerge the more games he plays.

Charlie Sharples

Strengths: At his best, Sharples is very fast and a natural try scorer. He also seems blessed with a fine rugby brain, and looks secure in most aspects of wing play.

Weaknesses: Sharples has not been at his best in some time. He's not the strongest man either, as shown in his game against Australia, which both detracts from his finishing and helps explain a 1 in 6 missed tackle rate in the Premiership. I wouldn't rule out a return, and he's clearly been rated by England coaches for some time, but as things stand Sharples looks a long way away from being an international quality winger.

James Simpson-Daniel

Strengths: Still arguably the most naturally talented winger in English rugby, Sinbad is as much creator as scorer; only 2 tries in his eight matches, but 3 assists. He's also become a very reliable man as he has aged, missing only 1 in 14 tackles and conceding only 2 turnovers.

Weaknesses: His age must count against him by now, and his record for being injury prone is something else. I also wonder if there's something else; English coaches are happy to persist with the injury prone, but Simpson-Daniel has rarely had much of a look in. Is there doubt over his desire? Certainly Lancaster has shown little desire to even have a look at the Glaws man.

David Strettle

Strengths: Long characterised as a cut-price Simpson-Daniel - same lines popping up in the centre, same evasive qualities, just a little less quality and a lot less tries - Strettle is really flourishing at Saracens. Five tries and three assists in 14 games is a useful return and he chases well too.

Weaknesses: Just over 1 in 6 tackles missed; we can talk about Saracens' aggressive defence and abnormally high number of missed tackles as part of the reason, but the other part is that he simply isn't the best tackler. Also, like Monye, there are whiffs of tried and failed; he has rarely carried his attacking threat up the next level.

Matthew Tait

Strengths: More international experience than any other candidate, albeit in a chequered career, Tait looked a high quality player against Toulon. Secure under the high ball, a potent running threat and a reasonable boot, Tait looked like ticking most of the boxes Lancaster wants. He is also one of the most versatile players available to England.

Weaknesses: Tait is currently being used as a full-back at Leicester - ironically, probably his weakest position - and he's taken time to adapt. The last month or so has seen him sparkle, but not long ago he looked a bit of a liability. Throw in his injury record and he looks a bit of a gamble.

Adam Thompstone

Strengths: Big and quick - Thompstone has a very consistent 1 in 3 try scoring record, both with London Irish and now Leicester, and has looked solid in defence. His try saving tackle on Bastareud in particular was one for the highlights reel.

Weaknesses: I would have to question whether he'd still look as quick, as strong, and as likely to score tries at the next level up, where he'd no longer be a stand-out specimen.

Manu Tuilagi

Strengths: I don't think I need to tell anyone reading this about Tuilagi's ability as a ball carrier. In a one on one with some momentum, he's one of the hardest men to stop around. Both Lancaster and Gatland have publicly mentioned the possibility of playing him there.

Weaknesses: I don't think he's played on the wing since he was 18, and it's not like he's been picking up his back three skills at full back either. Although possessed of plenty of toe, it would be interesting and slightly worrying to see what happened the first time he had to turn and chase, and likewise if he then needed to kick in a hurry.

Tom Varndell

Strengths: The fastest man in the Premiership, perhaps in NH rugby - not many would score this try - Varndell is simply an incredibly dangerous out and out try scorer. He picks great lines, he works in support, has the power and know-how to work tight spaces when needed and the pace to ensure he doesn't need to most of the time. 72 tries in 148 premiership games is a phenomenal return; he seems a safe bet to become the first man to score 100 Premiership tries. 3 from his 4 England caps, those against serious opposition. This is not a finer finisher available to England, or arguably any Six Nations team.

Weaknesses: For much of his career, the assertion that he is simply a bit of a coward has followed Varndell. Right or wrong, I do not know, but 26 tackles made, 8 missed - roughly 1 in 4 - does nothing to dispel the image. Varndell's conceded 19 turnovers as well. Apparently Lancaster has been speaking to Varndell, but it would be interested to hear his unvarnished opinion on the winger's shortcomings.

Christian Wade

Strengths: The best sidestep in English rugby since Jason Robinson. Silly amounts of gas. The only man remotely close to Varndell's 12 tries this season; Wade has 10. And, despite being small, there's no shortage of courage either. Watching him shunt Tony Buckley into touch to save a certain try is probably my favourite memory of this season.

Weaknesses: Prone to rushing up to stop players accelerating and exposing his lack of mass, which often gets him exposed. Although he's taken some good high balls, eventually you're going to get done when you're 5'8" at best. No particular shakes with his boot either. If Wade nails these issues, you can virtually guarantee Lancaster will cap him.

Marland Yarde

Strengths: Pace, power and good footwork, the most exceptional thing about Yarde's season is the 90 tackles he's put in - incredible for a winger, albeit one covering for some of the more frail fly-halves in the sport. He's only missed 12 of them as well. Yarde is the sort of winger who's willing to muck in doing the dirty stuff, something that might endear him to Lancaster.

Weaknesses: 24 turnovers conceded won't. Also, for all his skill ball in hand, he's not dotting down too many tries. In fairness, he is playing for London Irish, where chances are difficult to come by, but it doesn't help.

And the rest...

Josh Bassett, who played for the England U20s last year, will go to Wasps next season. The move does look slightly coals to Newcastle, but given the lack of cover for Wade and Varndell, and the opportunities Wasps creates, it could make sense. Anthony Watson at London Irish was a little too callow to be included in this list, but he is an incredible talent who is likely to hit the England radar in the next couple of years, while his current team mate Jon Joseph might find himself back on the wing for Bath next season, and his rock solid defence and incisive running have already won him caps from outside centre. If Sale ever return to sanity, then Rob Miller is the sort of full-back with the genuine pace and try scoring ability of a winger, while the likes of Tom Brady and Will Addison show promise. Finally, Ross Chisholm at Quins is another very quick full-back, and its not like Tom Williams would be that difficult a man to oust from a wing spot

So who is it then?

Say what you like about Chris Ashton, he remains the closest thing England have to a top international wing. But he is not a top international wing. To be such a thing, in my eyes, a player must be either an absolute try machine, or he must rate highly in two of the following three - finishing, creating opportunities, defence. Ashton is no longer a try machine, and only his finishing rates highly on the international scene, and that when on form. However, Lancaster likes him, and seems to rate him as an all-round consistent player with the right attitude, and he is an international class finisher, so we simply have to accept that hope he starts delivering. Given what he can do, that's probably ok, as it would be premature to completely dump him. That said, in some countries, Ashton simply wouldn't get a sniff; the challenge for Lancaster should be to find four wingers who fit his desires for all round play whose attacking play can really put the pressure on Ashton to evolve or die.

In light of who's got what Lancaster wants now, and it surprises me to say this, I'd like to see Strettle being given more chances to place more pressure on his Saracens colleague. Strettle is in excellent form, just as solid as Ashton, and more likely to create something. It seems the more valuable addition to England at the moment. Simpson-Daniel, futile as it is to wish it, would also be an interesting addition in this role. If Lancaster was placing an emphasis on this solidity, and this alone, Ugo Monye would be an obvious addition. I'd go so far as to say that if he played for Saracens, he would be in. That's not an accusation of bias so much as acknowledging the similarity of defensive DNA between them and England; Saracens push the qualities Lancaster looks for more than any other club. I can't help but feel Lancaster and Farrell should trust themselves to coach the same things to other players more though. That aside, neither Monye or Strettle seem likely to be top class attacking wings anytime soon. Selecting them might help England win games, but it won't help them win World Cups. My personal bet for a player who looks like he'd fulfil the all-round criteria with only a bit of encouragement while having the attacking potential is Jack Nowell - he might only be an U20, but he has looked a revelation for Exeter and I am expecting big things.

However, if we're honest, the converted full-backs do seem a better chance of getting the all round players that Lancaster wants. To a certain extent, that's simply because many of the stand-out wingers in the Premiership are young men, but the joke that Lancaster would pick a back-line of full-backs if he could does not seem too far fetched. However, there certainly seem better suited players than Mike Brown! Ben Foden's return to form would be greatly appreciated and should ease Brown out of wing, but I'll admit to being more interested in Elliot Daly. It's possibly a season too early to start talking about him, as he's still settling into full-back, but Daly is quicker with better feet than many of the other options here and therefore seems a more natural potential winger.

What people really want to see are the attackers given full rein though and here, most people are talking about three men; Tom Varndell, Christian Wade and Jonny May. In some ways I am the most hopeful about May. Injury has prevented him from carving as magnificent a path through the season as the Wasps men, but he seems closer to Lancaster's ideal than either. He also seems a better bet to create something in the heavy traffic, which is where England are doing most of their work at the moment. However, how could I not want Wade to play for England? The kid is simply magic and his attitude looks spot on. I've got a bad feeling there could be a few iffy games, and I hope people stick with him when he is given a chance, as I think it's coming in the next year. Varndell, well, there's no doubt he'd be a useful man to have but I'll trust Lancaster on how big the negative list about him is. There's a fourth man I'd add though; should Miles Benjamin return unharmed for his season out, I would back him to start running up a large tally at Leicester.

Ashton, May, Wade and Benjamin - if that were England's 2015 wing selection, I would probably be a happy man.