Jonny Wilkinson believes Brian Ashton should continue as England coach and praised him for taking the defending champions to the World Cup final under difficult circumstances.

England reached the final of the 2007 tournament in France despite Ashton (pictured) having just a matter of months to build a side capable of retaining the trophy.

Although they were disappointing in their warm-up games and early pool matches, they bounced back with victories over Samoa, Tonga, Australia and hosts France to reach the final, where they lost 15-6 to South Africa.

Ashton came in for some stinging criticism from England veterans Mike Catt and Lawrence Dallaglio soon after the tournament, but Wilkinson had nothing but praise for his coach.

"I am a big fan of Brian. I have been ever since I got involved with him around 1998-1999," Wilkinson said at the BBC Sports Personality awards on Sunday night, where England won the team award.

"He has always been a guy that can take the game forward.

"He can create an atmosphere and also release players into being fully ambitious and really daring to go out and play as opposed to fearing failure and that is so important nowadays.

"You can only go on what you've seen and the guy has taken us to the World Cup final and he has taken the game forward in what was a tiny, tiny space of preparation.

"We had a matter of a couple of months to get ready for the World Cup. If the guy can have that sort of affect in such a short period, then he is worth his salt."

Wilkinson was also confident the criticism would not prevent Ashton from making further progress with England if he is reinstated.

"I think Brian is capable of coming back from whatever. I can only speak for myself. We know what it took to get to that final," Wilkinson added.

"We also know that Brian, if his future is with us, will go straight to the next step and rugby, for me, is the truest team game of all.

"That's why you succeed, because you stick together, and, if Brian is there, I am sure that is exactly what will happen. What has happened will have helped him grow and the respect will have grown for him through that."

Ashton, a coach who does not look for the limelight, has been conspicuous by his silence since the World Cup but confirmed that he would like to stay at the helm of England.

"I want to continue in the job. I want to win the 2011 World Cup because I've got players coming through the game that can do that," said Ashton.

"Having failed this year, I'd like to be successful next time around. I've had a lot of communication with Rob Andrew at the RFU. My contract runs out December 31 and there will be a statement as to what is happening next."

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport