Chris Ashton has broken his silence on his reasons for turning his back on English rugby next season, having given a ruthless display of his finishing prowess to his future employers, Toulon.

It was Ashton’s try in the second half of this titanic struggle that proved the decisive blow as Saracens extended their unbeaten run in Europe to 15 games with a 10-3 victory and secured a home quarter-final in the Champions’ Cup as winners of Pool 3.

It was the 29-year-old’s fourth try in just three starts for Saracens since returning from the 13-week ban for biting Northampton prop Alex Waller.

It was during his suspension, his second long-term ban of last year, that Ashton decided to end his association with Saracens at the end of the season and join Toulon, a move that will also effectively end his England career.

Ashton had originally been named in Eddie Jones’s first Six Nation squad last year but ever since his 10-week ban for making contact with the eye of Ulster centre Luke Marshall last January he has been overlooked by the England coach.