Brian O'Driscoll was on BT Sport's Rugby Tonight, where he showered praise upon Saracens and England winger Chris Ashton. The swan-diving winger was not part of England's Grand-Slam winning team this year, but remains a critical player for Saracens, and it was he who crossed for the critical try in the weekend's Champions Cup quarter-final victory over Northampton.
O'Driscoll was effusive in his praise for Ashton:
He is the most selfless player I know. He may not be hugely popular in parts of this country, but he would be very popular amongst his team-mates.
The country O'Driscoll refers to is England, although we suspect that it is not an inaccurate summation of Irish attitudes towards Ashton, either.
BT then used both the conversation and their capacious studio to have O'Driscoll copy Ashton's trademark swan-dive:
Are you watching @ChrisAshton1? @BrianODriscoll recreates the 'Ash Splash' in the #RugbyTonight studio. pic.twitter.com/nxE0AXeY2Q
— Rugby Tonight (@RugbyTonight) April 11, 2016
A fine effort, although the Serge Betsen approach to ball handling skills as the try line approaches leaves something to be desired. The swan
The swan-dive has now been trademarked as the 'Ash Splash', and Ashton brought it out before touching down against Northampton. He told Sky Sports afterwards that "honestly, I have no idea why I do it. Why am I doing that there? I just get so excited. I've ran a long way, and you run that line quite a few times without getting anything back from it, but the one time that gap does open up in front of you, there's nothing better. I never have any intention of doing it. As long as I keep scoring, I think I'll be fine".
