England in No Hurry to Keep Ashton As Head Coach

Brian Ashton will have to wait several weeks to learn if he is to remain as England's head coach, despite steering his country to a Rugby World Cup final within 10 months of taking the job.

Ashton confirmed in the wake of England's 15-6 defeat by South Africa that he would like to stay on and build a side capable of winning the Webb Ellis Cup in New Zealand in 2011. But Rob Andrew, the Rugby Football Union's director of elite rugby, stressed yesterday that he would not be "rushed" into a decision before the completion of a full tournament review.

"Brian's made his position very clear to me and we will work over the next few weeks to sort out where we're going in the future," said Andrew, suggesting that the credit for England's thrilling recovery in France should be shared by players and management alike. "Everyone needs to go home and reflect on what has been a phenomenal World Cup campaign. We are doing it properly and I think Brian's comfortable with what's going on."

The 61-year-old Ashton, having also paid tribute to "a special group of players", is keen to continue and, as the former head of the RFU's national academy, is well aware England have a host of promising young players who will be jostling for selection at the next World Cup. "I'll be 65 in four years' time and that's a pretty good retirement age," he said cryptically.

England's dramatic reversal of fortune at this World Cup has certainly done Ashton's cause no harm and Andrew acknowledged that he had done a good job in awkward circumstances. "Everyone understands the difficulties since Brian took over . . . Nine months out from the World Cup we were in complete disarray. All of the guys - the players, Brian as head coach - have worked incredibly hard."

The England captain, Phil Vickery, was also supportive. "Brian's input has been huge and made me very happy to go out and wear the England shirt," said Vickery, one of several players nursing injuries after a savagely tough tournament. As well as Vickery's sore neck, Jason Robinson dislocated a shoulder, Joe Worsley tore a hamstring, Mike Catt injured his left calf and Nick Easter strained knee ligaments.

"To get so close and not be able to pick up the trophy is a stab in the heart. It bloody hurts," said Vickery. "Ultimately you're not going to be remembered for being a World Cup finalist. I wanted to be remembered as a double World Cup-winning player but it wasn't to be. I am proud of the players, proud of everyone."

So far Robinson is the only member of the squad to have confirmed his retirement but several of the squad, including Catt and Lawrence Dallaglio, have almost certainly played their last games for England.

"My initial goal was to get in the England team and hopefully do well," Robinson said. "I hoped to play in the World Cup but I never imagined playing in two World Cup finals. I was lucky to win one of them. It's been an amazing seven years, an amazing 16 years. I achieved far more than I imagined I would.

"It was a sad way to finish. I wanted to play the 80 minutes and try to make a difference."