Chris Ashton to save his swallow dive for spectacular tries

Chris Ashton

England winger Chris Ashton is unlikely to repeat his trademark swallow dive against South Africa following talks with boss Stuart Lancaster.

Ashton has courted controversy with his 'Ash splash' celebration when scoring tries for England.

But he will only mark exceptional tries with the flamboyant dive in future.

The Saracens-bound winger told BBC Radio 5 live: "Maybe if I score a full length of the pitch try this weekend and it was the match winner... maybe."

"I had a conversation with Stuart right at the start. His opinion was right time, right place.

"I did it in my last game for Northampton. It was my last game ever for Northampton and I managed to score a try."

Ashton is expected to be named in Lancaster's team for the first Test against South Africa in Durban on Saturday.

And he is hoping for a less painful encounter than his last clash against the Springboks, when he was knocked out in a first-half collision with Victor Matfield during a 27-11 defeat at Twickenham in 2010.

"I got knocked out in about the eighth minute,'' he recounts. "I did play on but I didn't have much of an effect. I didn't play well and I didn't really know what was going on.

"I am thankful for the experience though. I do know what to expect now. It was a hard day at the office."

Ashton could be handed the daunting task of trying to keep 74 cap winger Bryan Habana quiet in Durban.

He views the challenge as a way of judging how well his defensive game has developed on the international stage.

"He is the best winger in the world. He has been for so long," Ashton said.

"It is the perfect test for me to prove myself in defence as well as attack.

"I will have my work cut out against him in defence and under the high ball because that is how they like to play the game."