“Too big, too heavy, too slow.”

Former England winger Chris Ashton has launched an absolutely scathing attack on Ireland winger James Lowe – dubbing the Leinster star, “too big, too heavy and too slow.”

Lowe impressed in his debut for Ireland against Wales, scoring a try in the final minute. But his chances were limited against England on Saturday as he faced a much sterner test.

Ashton, who has 43 caps for England, and scored 20 tries for his country, reckons Lowe should have done a lot better to stop Jonny May’s wonder-try.

May broke from inside his own 22-metre line and beat several Ireland defenders with flanker Peter O’Mahony the close man to him having sprinted almost the length of the pitch to stay with his man.

“Jonny’s was a really good try. Even the shanked kick, he managed to outsprint seven players across the pitch,” he said.

“That probably says something about the (Ireland) team.

“If I was a winger on the opposite side of the pitch from Jonny; Say I was James Lowe on the Ireland team… when Jonny shanks that kick across the pitch my job is to go across the pitch and get the ball.

“Where was James Lowe? He’s dragging a dresser back there. He’s too big. He’s dragging a tractor, mate, turning. I watched him during the game. He is too big, too heavy, too slow.”

Ashton also didn’t hold back on Ireland’s game plan.

“From Ireland’s point of view, they spoke before the game about what they needed to do. Matching England’s physicality,” he added.

“Watching the game, apart from a couple of intelligent kicks which I thought they did a lot of, they just played into England’s hands.

“Easy reading attack, running straight into people… if you’re going to run straight into (Sam) Underhill, Tom Curry, Mako (Vunipola) you’re just going to get banged.”