Why Wilkinson is the main man (188)
- 18 Oct 07, 10:44 AM
Thursday morning, Paris - Former Middlesex and Durham seamer Simon Hughes tells a great story about an ageing bowling to the touring Australians at Chester-le-Street.
Botham, Hughes maintains, wasn鈥檛 doing anything with the ball at all, simply padding up to the crease and sending it down at a gentle military medium.
But to the Australian players, who were huddled in the pavilion, glued to the action and talking in reverential tones, every delivery was a potential hand-grenade.
It鈥檚 what sports people often refer to as 鈥減resence鈥, a word that has been used repeatedly in connection with Jonny Wilkinson ahead of Saturday鈥檚 World Cup final...
South Africa may have played England once already in this World Cup, but they will walk out at the Stade de France not knowing England at all.
Springboks coach Jake White knows as much, claiming that England were 鈥渨ithout a fly-half鈥 during last month鈥檚 defeat in the group stage.
In fact, at the news conference that followed South Africa鈥檚 comfortable semi-final defeat of Argentina, the talk was of little else.
鈥淗e just gives them enormous confidence,鈥 said Springboks advisor Eddie Jones, whose Australia side was cut down by the boots of Wilkinson in the 2003 World Cup final.
鈥淗e鈥檚 probably not as dominant a player as he was in 2003, but you can see guys play better when he is out there.鈥
Springboks centre Francois Steyn has spoken of the 鈥渃almness鈥 Wilkinson brings to the England team, and this is perhaps the key difference between England鈥檚 lucky number 10 and a man like Botham.
While Botham was anything but serene on a cricket pitch, bullying opponents into submission and cajoling his team-mates to greater heights, the Wilkinson effect is far more subtle.
As Wallaby centre Matt Giteau explained before his side鈥檚 quarter-final defeat in Marseille: 鈥淭hey have lots of confidence with Jonny back in the side.
鈥淎nd not just in terms of his kicking. Once he is in the team, the whole side seems to grow in confidence.鈥
Giteau was then asked, do Australia fear Wilkinson? 鈥淣o, not really,鈥 he fired back with a nonchalant shrug.
I wonder what he thinks now?
There has never been a more influential sportsperson than Wilkinson in the history of English team sports.
England have won 50 of the 64 Tests Wilkinson has played in, a 78% success rate, and lost 25 of the 50 Tests they have played without him.
Since the World Cup final in 2003, England have won seven out of 12 Tests with him in the side and only 14 of the 34 matches without him.
His form with the boot, remarkably, hasn鈥檛 been great in France, with a 61% place-kicking success in his four games to date.
But that only makes his transformation of the England side even more extraordinary.
Of course, many would argue there have been other factors in England鈥檚 mind-boggling turnaround: the rediscovery of Jason Robinson鈥檚 mojo on the biggest stage, the -like rise of Andy Gomarsall, the rampaging form of Lewis Moody and England鈥檚 bullocking front row.
But would England be anywhere near a World Cup final without Wilkinson? Of course not. Without Wilkinson, his team-mates would be contemplating a Premiership clash at a frosty ground in the back end of nowhere.
For all Botham鈥檚 heroics, he was unable to turn a mediocre England side into world-beaters. Yes, Botham鈥檚 England slapped the Aussies about a bit, but they were a very distant second to the best side in the world at the time, the West Indies.
Wilkinson, on the other hand, is on the verge of leading a limited England side to a second consecutive world title. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what is known as 鈥減resence鈥.
Ben Dirs is a 主播大秀 Sport journalist travelling around France in a camper van with Tom Fordyce.
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Wilkinson is indeed hugely influential. But I think some credit must go to others, including for one the man who has backed him for a long time at Newcastle and may well have served as an important role model: Rob Andrew!!
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Although I agree he does give something to the team, his effect isn't so great from the stats - i.e. 41% without him, 58% with him. But then you have to take into account which of those 12 games he took part in at 100% fitness. I suspect not very many!
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Stand by for "boring England" comments everyone...
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Granted Johnnys presence in the match day lineup does seem to have transformed results but lets not forget that rugby is a team game and the turnaround in fortune is as much down to the power of the england pack as the return of the talismanic Wilkinson.
Reaching this stage is a wonderful achievement and i just feel that the whole team should take credit for it. Im sure that johnny would be the first to make this point.
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What utter rubbish...
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Fantastic piece Ben, as you say you can't really disagree with the facts. I also feel that playing without Wilkinson for that 36 nil group game will give our boys confidence, knowing they weren't at full strength.
However, are we putting a bit too much pressure on Jonny?
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He may have presence but the no.1 kicker in the world is in the Scotland camp - Mr Chris Paterson! In fact, I think the English are getting carried away with Wilkinson (as usual)- he had a very lucklustre game against France. So he may have had an influence but I think it's been taken out of proportion. Due credit must be given to the other players in the England team instead. As a Scot, let me say congratulations to England because they simply got stuck in and got the results. I would have loved to have seen Scotland where they are now (although I think we didn't play to our potential and I'm hopeful for the future).
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I've been trying to put this into words for my Irish/Austrailian/south african and scottish freinds, who have all come up with the phrase "you'd be nothing without Johnny." Quite possibly i say, but it's not like he's scored all the points or made all the vital plays. Agreed his kicks are what have counted in our wins over Aus and France but, who setup and scored the try against france? Without those vital points it would be us going home instead of heading to the final. The team play as a cohesive unit when he is on the field. this "Presence" is real, its a state of mind that exists amoung the players when our man Jonny is in the starting line up. He's our talisman. Its a plus that he's quite talented to boot.
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Have to disagree, 4 years ago it was Robinson who saved England in the quarters against Wales (and won the penalty against France this year), and the pack won the game against France in the semi final. True he got the drop goal to win the final but again you have to look at the forwards who got them into that position.
This world cup England's pack started off very poorly, particulary against SA at the breakdown and the pack never got past the gain line. You can be the best fly half in the world (and that is Dan Parker by a country mile) but if your pack aren't going forward you won't make any impact. Wilko is the best fly half we have and has lots of bottle at the right time but he rarely makes a break and his distribution is what you would expect from an international number 10, his return to the team and it's success coincides with the England pack dominating the opposition- if they do this again on Saturday no doubt he will the hero again- if they don't he will be incidental to the proceedings.
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Fantastic piece Ben, as you say you can't really disagree with the facts. I also feel that playing without Wilkinson for that 36 nil group game will give our boys confidence, knowing they weren't at full strength.
However, are we putting a bit too much pressure on Jonny?
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Good article - though you failed to mention Jonny's key weapon, Blue Steel (something else that was beyond Sir Beefy). If you look closely enough you'll see that before ever kick he squats, clamps, then *ting* - Blue Steel - right between the posts. They don't stand a chance.
I've heard that after this WC he's planning on opening the Jonny Wilkinson School for Ridiculously Good Looking People That Don't Kick Good....
Pampers/Tena Lady Hybrid Pants fitted and ready for action - Bring on Saturday night!!
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im fed up of people saying that jonny gets us to all these finals, there is another 14 players on the pitch, i go to jonny's old school at the moment lord wandsworth and i find it funny that cameras keep arriving at the school talking how he used to play here and how he is englands savouir when he hasnt even done that well this world cup. when the real credit goes to the team and brian ashton who hve shocked the world like they said they would.
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Jonny is undoubtedly a match winner. However, as Jonny said after the match against France, it is the forwards that get him the chances and everytime he missed, they got him another chance. Let's not forget the 2003 final where missed a number of drop kicks and then finally landed that last one, again due to the forwards getting him the chances. The same can be said of the semi final the other day.
If England are to win the final this weekend, then the whole team needs to be on top form. If just Jonny turns up and plays unbelievably well, it still won't be enough to win. Its the wonder of the team game that is Rugby!
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And what a presence he has! If only our footballers had such a tallisman.
Not that i can really fein much interest in the round ball sport at the moment.
Rugby exemplifies everything great about our country. The British bulldog, our 'rule britannia', our 'we shall never surrender'... everything red blooded about our nation which is instilled in everyone of us and coarses through our veins when that little oval ball is contested by our goliaths.
I wish i could say i ever felt the same about our Rooney, Owen and Gerards. Perhaps their pampered,primadona exisitence has taken the edge off their desire. Or perhaps the cynical, cheating nature of the game bears no comparison with the great game of Rugby and it's modest down to earth ambassadors such as Wilkinson.
We will be noble, valiant and gracious in defeat and victory.
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Er, Lewis Moody placys in the BACK row. Or maybe you were talking about Andy Sheridan...
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I agree totally with Matt. Great player though Jonny is, he has always played behind great packs which create huge amount of time and space for him. Look at the drop against France, he had time to go walkabout to find the perfect angle. I would not have been surprised if he had taken out a measuring tape, to make certain of the distance, and then strolled back to his favoured position, where the ball would have arrived dutifully in his hands, exactly on cue.
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Wilko's kicking at goal, admittedly, has not been to the standard of 4 years ago. However the rest of his game has been absolutely awsome! The mere presence of his name on the team sheet gives the fans and the rest of the team a massive lift.
Also it's no fluke that performances and results have improved over the last few games since he reappeared.
But don't forget the rest, the pack are becoming once again immense, Lewis Moody, a man with no fear, outstanding and insperational since his return. Andy Gormarsall, where did he get those performances from?
Sherridan and Easter, Massive performances. To name but a few.
But the answer is, yes Wilko is the main man!
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Can I ask what would have happened if Habana had got eaten by the cheetah!
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Jonny's not the issue right now - Fordyce needs a ticket!
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Peter Grant is spot on. If you were to think of an expression that personified being British, 'never say die' would just about hit the nail on the head. England have demonstrated this in abundance the last 4 weeks. From 80 - 1 outsiders (anyone have a punt at ridiculous odds?) to a place in the final reflects on the whole team. Their desire and cohesion has been remarkable. The return of the belief though, has coincided with Jonny's fitness. That is why Dirsy is absolutely correct.
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Jonny Wilkinson will be captaining the England squad in 2011! Why...because on Saturday evening as not only the greatest ever English Rugby player but also his country's finest ever sportsman and there have been many... Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, David Beckham, Henry Cooper, Steve Redgrave, Seb Coe, Martin Johnson, Ian Botham to name a but a few. He performs under pressure like no other, reads the game intelligently, immensely courageous and at the same carries the qualities in an unpretentious manner. Jonny's team-mates who are themselves riding on the crest of a wave appreciate all this and South Africa will be paying him so much close attention that it will allow England to exploit areas of the opposition that have so far in this competition gone untested.
Sunday 21 Oct will be the first full day of England's new reign as World Champions, Jonny, even if he does not his best day with the boot, will have again won England the RWC!
Come on England, arise Sir Jonny!
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Johnny is by far the most influential player in the world, not just because what he bring to the England team, but the potential fear he imposes on the opposition. Its this fear that causes opposition to make mistakes at crucial times.
Mark Ewart no7. i can understand the scots being very proud of Mr. Patterson for his goal kicking but he has nothing else in the locker, hense why he is on the wing and not playing 10. 10 requires more composure and rugby intellect of which Paterson has none. Paterson is just the rugby equivalent of and NFL kicker that runs on the pitch when he has to score you some points.
Darren Precious no.9 you are very wrong about Robinson being the reason for the victory againts Wales 4 years ago it was infact Mike Catt whos kicking desplay starved Wales of the ball. Obviously your a big rugby fan beacuse I agree too that the Canterbury and New Zealand fly half Dan Parker? is the best in the world (sure you don't mean Carter though?)
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Peter Grant - ur an idiot;
Yes the rugby team is playing well. What that has to do with Rule Britannia and No Surrender (to the IRA? or Al-Quaeda?) I have no idea.
Another one of the Rugby bandwagon jumpers...I'll be glad when the world cup is over so ur sort can go back to cheering on Tim Henman and discussing asylum seekers.
Ben dirs,
I enjoyed ur cricket commentary but u clearly have no idea about Rugby.
Simon Shaw and Jason Robinson have been the stand-out peformers in this England team in the last few games. Followed closely by Easter, Sheridan & Gommassell. Moody, Wilkinson, Kay, Vickery & Corry have also played v.well
The nature of the game means the kicker stands out when converting his TEAM's chances. Just like Beckham was the poster boy of the football team,
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Peter Grant - ur an idiot;
Yes the rugby team is playing well. What that has to do with Rule Britannia and No Surrender (to the IRA? or Al-Quaeda?) I have no idea.
Another one of the Rugby bandwagon jumpers...I'll be glad when the world cup is over so ur sort can go back to cheering on Tim Henman and discussing asylum seekers.
Ben dirs,
I enjoyed ur cricket commentary but u clearly have no idea about Rugby.
Simon Shaw and Jason Robinson have been the stand-out peformers in this England team in the last few games. Followed closely by Easter, Sheridan & Gommassell. Moody, Wilkinson, Kay, Vickery & Corry have also played v.well
The nature of the game means the kicker stands out when converting his TEAM's chances. Just like Beckham was the poster boy of the football team, Wilko is for Rugby. I'd expect my mum to think he was the main man but I was hoping for more from someone who is paid to comment. V. disappointing.
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Great article. Having watched Newcastle Falcon's for year's it often amazes me how others perceive JW as a player. He is total quality and when doesn't play you realise very quickly how good he actually is and his value to a team. His is a great organiser, defender, kicker and communicator and his running play and distribution skills are often underplayed especially by fatty Barnes. Okay he may not be having the greatest time with his place kicking but considering he's been out for a while and when playing quite often ends up having to fill in for others then it's hardle suprising. Cris Paterson and others may be more proficient at the moment but their all round game in no way compares to Jonny's and that's why unlike him they should never be classed as "great".
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Even if it means increasing the License Fee, get Fordyce a ticket.
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Ben
I am not sure the last time you went to a Guinness Premiership match but the back end of nowhere seems a bit harsh.
Perhaps the Bloggernaut can continue its journey to Bristol, Sale and Newcastle over the next few months to watch some of the World Cup squad at their day jobs.
Tom - tickets are much easier to come by....
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i' supporting england in the final and i'm happy for them because they did grind out good results against the french and australians. however if u say jonny w wasnt the sole reason for these wins, it's a complete lie. granted their was a try v the french but if jonny had missed his drop goal and that penalty before it, england would have lost by 1 point. england scored no tries against australia and jonny did the scoring so sorry but this wc it is mostly down to jonny. it can't be denied. i am supporting england v sa though but i hope jonny's kicking is as good as montgomery's
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Jonny is hugely influencial to the England squad. True his kicking has been off this tournament. The pack has been truly awesome - back to basics indeed.
What Jonny is more than anything to the squad is their lucky charm. Rightly or wrongly the squad believe they are immortal when he plays.
Thats good enough for me.
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Dear Mr D. Precious. Is Dan Parker ('the best fly-half in the world by a country mile') some kind of hybrid of Dan Parks and Dan Carter? This person is not real. Perhaps Dan Parker is a member of your local rugby club, in which case, release him onto the global stage. He sounds pretty good...
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What a load of tosh.
He's a one-trick pony who is fortunate enough to be in a sport that can carry players.
Can you imagine a football team being able to carry a specialist penalty taker? Or a rugby league team carrying players like this?
He's a good (but not the best) kicker. He can barely tackle without injuring himself and his positional play is suspect. Fortunately, he's good looking which is all the newspapers (and hence the band wagon jumpers) care about.
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Jonny is a great Rugby player but he isn't as great as Brian Habana and when you can acknowledge that you'll see why we Brits over-rate our atheletes. Prince Naseem Hamed is probably the greatest British sportsman of modern times along with Steve Redgrave (though rowing isn't a seriously competitive sport) the reason being that not only was he a 3 "TIME" world champion (and the first ever undisputed Featherweight as he KO'd Wilfredo Vasquez who was stripped of the WBO belt) but Prince Naseem had an aura of invincibility like no British athelete before him, until that is when he lost to Mexico's Marco Antonio Barrera by which time he had aged as a boxer.
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I came into this blog expecting witty banter and in-jokes and all I get is something about rugby?! This isn't what I pay my licence fee for.
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In assessing Wilkinson's effectiveness people tend to focus on his kicking, which is understandable but ignores his all round contribution and, above all,the fact that he doesn't panic. He can pass off either hand, he can step and he isn't afraid to take the ball into contact but it is his defence that puts him, in my view, ahead of the rest. One of the key moments of the semi final was the injury to Pelous, caused by a tackle from one J Wilkinson. It's difficult to imagine many stand offs even making the tackle, let alone knocking a second row forward backwards and forcing him to leave the field with damaged ribs.
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Spot on! Wilkinson has a presence that brings the best out of those around him.
But this world cup has been about every single one of those 30 lads who put their hands up after the SA group game and said, "Let's go on a wrecking rampage and p*** off everyone along the way!!!!!"
So it's not ALL about him.
I think that what Jonny will also bring to the fold is an incorrect focus in the SA defense...
For me they will be thinking, "Don't let the forwards work hard in our 22, and don't let Jonny get easy place or drop kicks" and in doing so could let our backs finally get a bit of flair...
Well, one can dream you know!!!!!
I would've loved to have seen the cheetah eat Habanna. Wipe that stupid smirk off his FACE!!!!!
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Interesting points ...
I was initially a bit doubtful, but those statistics are revealing.
Maybe he has, Michael-Jordan-style, turned us into a team that wins when it needs to.
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Beefy beats Wilkinson hands down I'm afraid. Beefy could do it all. And did it all, repeatedly. Wilkinson might have once been handy with a dead ball, but he's turned into David Beckham totally. He can miss umpteen chances and play like pap, but so long as he pops one over in the dying seconds he's crowned God.
Wilkinson didn't win the RWC in 2003, the England pack did. The amount of time they afford Wilkinson; he could put his feet up, smoke a pipe, read the Sunday papers and still have time to slot the ball over.
I still say that Barkley is the better fly half for all round game, and that's not just because of the name. I think England need to get over the psychological thing with Wilkinson. They have players who can more than take his place. They just need to believe it.
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#15 - Ben meant: "..., the rampaging form of Lewis Moody and England鈥檚 bullocking front row."
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Biggest load of uninformed drivel. The word "hero" or "heroic" should onlt be reserved for our service men and women, not overpaid, over-hyped and over-rated sports personalities.
You are to broadcast media or journalism what Herod was to childcare.
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Rugby is a team game, possibly more than any other, and all players make valuable contributions to a winning team but the single biggest reason England are contesting the RWC final is J Wilkinson. That isn't a criticism or a failure to appreciate anyone. It's just a recognition that Jonny raises the performance level of everyone else in the team. And the forwards getting the ball in the right positions in the last few minutes of massive pressure cooker situations doesn't mean that everyone can kick the penalties and drop goals to keep their team in the tournament.
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I am afraid you are all wrong...
Old White steel (more appropriate me thinks post 11) JW may not be the main man, rather due to some weird intergalactic phenomenon it comes down to main men i.e. the Scots. Please let me explain such a bold statement...
Whenever we (the Scots) hope, pray, plead, grovel that another team will soundly thrash England we are inevitably handed an astounding English win....
Thus according to scientific reasoning the opposite must be true. In order to counter such phenomena, I shall be encouraging all Scots to be rooting for England.... Ha ha (evil laugh) then we shall see shan't we.
(this posting is not meant to be taken seriously, nor cause offence. Best of luck to England and an exceptionally big pat on the back for showing guts and determination when it matters.)
BTW. I was thinking the same thing Post 18.
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Jonny is talismanic, pure and simple. His team are helped by his mere presence, and the opposition are distracted by it. BTW didn't realise Lewis Moody was a front row...... ;- )
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Kudos to the guy who analysed Johnny's performance through the prism of Zoolander. Laugh out loud stuff.
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Granted he may play behind a domminant scrum but even with that scrum other english fly-halves don't seem to be able to do what he can do and thts win.
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Influence and the ability to control a game are needed an johnny has both of these. He did have plenty of time to find the perfect spot againts france but its was his influence, the confidence he gives the england team that does it, the england pack give him the space to do it but isn't it a coincidence that our pack mainly performs when he's there to reap the rewards? Plus many of the fly halfs out there would not have picked their spot as carefull as johnny did in that semi even if the hd the time. Johnny may need the time and space but its his presence that pushes the england to do it, most of our fly halfs have the abiltiy to perform with that kind of space but only johnny gets it all the time!
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I think Jonny's presence as a talisman is essential, and as the England team's confidence has improved over the course of this tournament, so has his. To come back from the ball coming off the post in the France match to put England through with his kicks takes a lot of bottle. He is the key to retaining the Webb Ellis trophy and I'll be praying to every deity I can his kicking stays true for the final. I'm not the only one either - anyone else here been to that BlessTheBoot.com website yet?
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I just wish journalist would stop writing articles that could just add unnecessary pressure on any of our players, let alone our place kicker, just before this, the most important of games.
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Ollie at 01:06 pm, that is precisely the difference, they don't believe because they know they don't have the ability.
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As a very proud Welshman I will be cheering for England on Saturday, but I must say I'm amazed at the bickering already about Jonny Wilkinson, can he do this, can he do that, stats with him, stats without him. The bottom line is quite simple, without him England would be home. I have seen the English pack destroy teams and lose, because of a lack of direction and control at half back. This is what he gives you. One thing that no one mentions is he is probably one of the best readers of a game playing today.
Be grateful, talent and dedication like that comes along once in a generation if you are lucky.
Allez les blancs!!!
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Mark Ewart. Chris Patterson, no 1 kicker my foot. Anyone can be no 1 if you only take kicks inside 40m. The reason why he was 100% is because he is only kicking way inside his comfort zone. Anything longer and he has to pass on to Dan Parks so as not to affect his averages.
Being English I would like to say Johnny is No 1, but not at the moment. Unfortunately Monty has that accolade as far as the world cup is concerned IMHO.
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A genuine superstar... Under the most pressure, when it truly, truly counts, he's the only person you would trust in world rugby. Carter hasn't proved it, neither has Montgomery. Even the superhuman Jonah Lomu couldn't do the job on the biggest stage in International Rugby.
This guy IS the difference. In 2003 he had a far more complete team around him, this time round he's made an uncertain and unorganised team a proud, feared unit of potential (in my opinion probable) world beaters. Dirsy is spot on. GO JONNY!!
But Gareth's comment presents a good point. Fordyce needs a ticket... NOW!!
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Darren Precious - Who is Dan Parker?
Wilkinson is the most influential sportsman England has ever produced. There is no argument here.
Like always, we in England fail to appreciate how good someone in front of our very eyes is. Only in 20 years time when we are still waiting for someone worthy of lacing his boots will we appreciate how good he is / was...
Bring on the Boks and lets finish the job. Come on the boys! Warriers to the end. Class.
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Dear Kevin Singh (#24),
I was extremely sorry to read that you found my blog "very disappointing". I apologise for taking an opposing view to your own, athough I am glad I have similar qualities to your mother. However, I must give you a word of advice: as you go through life, lots and lots of people will have contrary beliefs to your own, but you must try very hard not to let that get you down. Chin up Kev, and here's hoping everyone you meet this weekend agrees with absolutely everything you say.
Peace out, Dirs
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An easy test to see if people know their rugby.
When asked "Who won the world cup for England in 2003", all non-rugby folk will say Johny, but all real rugby folk who know their sport will always say Jonno.
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I do not know a person dislikes Jonny he is the most down to earth, selfless man ever and he does bring a calmig presence to the England team. Although he has missed some kicks he has come back at the end of the games to get the real important ones! That shows the true character of him! He is always the first person to aknowledge the impact of the people around him and never laps up praise!! i think the football team should take a note from this spirit that the rugby team has! unlike the football team who look wonderful in the group stages of big tournaments then bottle it in the quarters the rugby team are the opposite looking horrible in the pool then turning it on for the business end of the tournament!!this rugby team has given us reason to be proud again and boy does it feel good! although i would dearly love to win the final on sat just being there is an achievement in itself we have beaten 2 of the fancied teams for the tournament so why not a 3rd!!
if England win on saturday it will be one of the greatest sporting turnarounds in history!!
I believe
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i think it's a big mistake not having andy farrell on the bench for the final.Mike Catt is 36 years old and just been through 2 tough games [and not played particualy very well either].I dont think Catt will last much more then 20 minutes , and if johnny gets targetted as well Farrells strenght and big left boot could be just what we need.Anyhow, if we lose i can still say ' i told you so '.
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Is it just me, or would it be fair to say that some people seem to have misinterpretted the article? The way I read it takes nothing away from the way that the forwards have been playing, in fact it even praises them, but suggests, quite rightly in my opinion, tat Jonny's presence is the reason for this.
Whereas before the Forwards may have subconsciously felt that their good work was going to waste, in that no points were being registered after sustained periods of pressure, they can now rest assured that should they gain territory and field position. Jonny will do the rest... He provides them with this extra confidence, through his presence alone. Jonny Wilkinson has a positve effect on the team in general, and not just through the points that he puts on the board.
Also, with regard to comment #38: of course the term 'hero' in its truest form must be reserved for those who carry out acts far greater than those on a sports field, but it is abundently clear that in this context the term refers to a 'sporting hero'. To be honest I really can't see why you bothered to comment on an article that clearly doesn't appeal to you.
Come on boys... bring it home and you really will be heroes, in every sense of the word!
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If Wilkinson were an Aussie, All Black or South African he would be absolutely lorded in his homeland. Its a bit of a shame that Jonny only really gets the recognition he deserves as a truly great sporting icon in this country every four years.
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Darren Precious is clearly a huge rugby fan with an immense amount of knowledge on all things rugby...
"You can be the best fly half in the world (and that is Dan Parker by a country mile)"
Would this 'Dan Parker' be comprable to the classy New Zealand 10 Dan Carter? Please know a bit about rugby before you try talking about it. Clearly the All Black's are even more of a one man team than England, look how lost and directionless they were without Mr Par... I mean Carter.
As for our Scottish friend Mark Ewart. This article doesn't at any stage imply Jonny is the best kicker in the world. I would agree with you that Chris Patterson is the best kicker around at the moment... shame the rest of his games isn't any good. Please stop looking for reasons to have a dig at England.
Jonny does indeed lift this team, it must be a huge lift to the team, and the pack in particular, to know their hard work and graft up-front isn't going to be wasted by a shanked kick wide from Charlie Hodgson, and they have to start all over again - it's got to be a psychological boost when it all counts for something, when there is a tangible reward. That said, the pack has been immesne and he couldn't do it on his own - Newcastle look far from world beaters even with Jonny in the side, such is the inadequacy of their pack.
All arguments over Englands tactics, Jonny's goal kicking percentages and the role of the pack to one side, there is no doubting that this is a man of true sporting 'presence'. A man who every team talks about in their press conferences prior to playing England. A man who they all think about and plan for in their training. A man, who despite hardly playing any rugby for 4 years is on the verge of inspiring a very ordinary team to a truly great feat. That is the 'presence' and belief he brings to England, and I don't belive there's another rugby player on this planet who could do that.
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There are quite a few posters here who haven't understod what you have written. Jonny doesn't necesarily score all the points nor is he the NO 1 kicker (at goal), it is all about him being the talisman or rather the catalyst for others to feed-off. Chabal is the same for France - particularly when they actually start with him. As is/was Gregan for Aus, Charvis for Wales (and Henson for a couple of games) etc, etc. Just about every team sportsman will have played with somebody similar at some point. It is intagible and maybe even just a mental thing, but if it works then go for it. My concern with this sort of thing (especially for Engalnd now) is that when he is not available then it can have a negative effect. Is this article an effort for Ben to get one of Wilko's friends & family tickets????
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Well said Ben. Jonny has "presence" like no other no 10. But what I belive you fail to mention, along with all the responses, is his strength in defence. He gives his own players confidence and he saps the confidence of his opponents.
Most forwards will make a tackle and then get up and saunter back into position. Jonny makes a tackle and is back in position before you can say "Dan Carter" however big the opponent. The opposition have to commit two or three players to Jonny instead of one and this creates space for our back row. Teams change their whole approach to a game that Jonny plays in - hence the results.
I don't think I EVER saw Naas Botha make a tackle for fear of hurting himself. In my opion, JW is the best defensive no 10 ever.
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I am worried about the game. What I see is an English pack that are in the ascendency and will get confidence from a JW on form.
'If' in the first five mins of the game, his kicks go precisely where they are meant to the pack will get the boost of confidence and things will roll from there. On the other hand - should the SA pack get at JW, I can see things going badly.
This game is going to be decided on one thing - which pack gets AT the number opposition number 10 first.
Forget Habana - he is more of a one trick poney than anything I have seen in sport - yes he is fast, but that is it!
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Sorry to change the subject (again) but I have just watched your latest video.
It is absolutely brilliant and I have just had to wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes. Well done! It deserves La Palme d'Or.
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to whoever said jonny w isnt a good tackler. that's clearly wrong. i'm irish and even i can see jonny is a huge hitter and that's why he can get injured so much.
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I think Jonah DID the job on the biggest stage, he always had 3 people taackling him - it was his team that chocked by not taking advantage.
Jonny is not the best player around but is essential to the England team. Most insporational ever? Not Sure. Very Important? Certainly!
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Completely agree with this blog, maybe he read my one (v similar!!!) yesterday.
/dna/606/A28054686
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England was not doing to well when JW was not playing. Now that he is back things has changed. If was going to a fight I want my best fighters with me and with JW in the team the player feel that they can win. Its going to take a very strong coach to make this team belief they can beat the boks. They don鈥檛 stand a chance if JW was not there. And with him there I still think it鈥檚 a big ask
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Lorenzo,
I agree with the defense comment. I thought a key point in the France game was when Wilkinson put Pelous into the middle of next week forcing Chabal to come on earlier than they had planned. In terms of 'presence' it must give the whole team a lift to know that they don't have to look after the no.10 instead he's more likely to be leading the charge into the opposition.
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Fascinating to see how many people have completely misread this article. The central point is that Jonny's very presence is a transforming factor. So any discussion about who the outstanding performers have been, or who the best 10 in the world is or was, is completely irrelevant. Btw I got 70/1 - never saw 80.
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I am a kiwi and I really can't believe questioning the brilliance of Johnny Wilkinson. No other player in the world makes such a huge difference to his team than he does.
Sure he misses a few kicks but so what.
He must be the most impactful player in world rugby.
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Dan Parker - brilliant!! ;-)
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Habana is clearly overrated - all he can do is run fast and score points.
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Wilkinson is world class, yes he has helped England get to the world cup, we've only scored one try since the group stages, so if it wasn't for him dragging us to the final with his left boot we would be home a long time ago, but it shouldn't be forgotten that there are other players, that without their efforts, we wouldn't be in the final.
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Ben the camper has obviously forgotten about the English getting whacked twice by SA earlier this year WITH Wilkinson in the side. He is good though. I rather think it's been good defence that has got England this far in the last few games. SA are going to whack England again.
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Why not just deify him . I despair at the over the top comments about Saint Jonny and his football equivalent Lord Brand Beckham .Lets put things into perspective here .Rugby Union has 8-10 teams of any note ,football has as many as that in Europe,and frankly,as a Scot,neither of them are fit to be mentioned in the same breath as Bobby Moore.
Both are disposable celebs,neither would feature in a world best team,and in St.Jonny`s case , the competition is hardly fierce.
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I think the point has been made by a few people but it comes down to 1 word, "presence". His presence lifts his team mates and also gives the opposition a slight fear due to what he has been capable of regardless of whether he is still capable of doing it.
Jonny being in the team means that teams fear giving away penalties in their own half (something teams playing Scotland will now start to fear) which then alters their tactics when they play you.
Secondly as Eddie Jones pointed out this week, he is so strong defensively so you don't go down the 10 channel, how many sides in the world have that strength and a guy that sets the tone for the defence as well as the attack.
In my opinion he's played pretty well but not as well as he has in the past but he is the talisman if only for the hoardes of fans.
Simply with Jonny in the team we have a chance, without him we feel less confident.
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Kevin Singh, I find your comments offensive and unecessarily aggressive. You clearly have a small man complex, and your mother understands rugby better than you!
I for one agree with Peter Grant's comments that our rugby team currently personify what it is to be British. For me is to be the under-dogs who come through to achieve great things, as the rugby team are currently demonstrating.
Wilkinson leads that charge as not only a strong place kicking presence (though perhaps not on top form at the moment), but as a master tactician, kicker, defender and leader on the field. Yes, there have been other stand out players for England, including Robinson, Shaw and Gomarsall to name but a few, but you only have to listen to the comments of the other players on the team to understand what Wilko brings to the side in terms of confidence and self-belief. The forwards offer such gargantuan performances with the motivation of knowing they have someone behind them who isn't able capitalise on the ball they win and won't crumble under pressure, as he will no doubt demonstrate on Saturday
Roll on South Africa.
PS Anyone else think Hipkiss should start instead of Tait though?
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Whoops Iv'e lost all credibility with my typo Carter not Parker, I was looking at my coat just before I went for lunch
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Kevin Singh, I find your comments offensive and unecessarily aggressive. You clearly have a small man complex, and your mother understands rugby better than you!
I for one agree with Peter Grant's comments that our rugby team currently personify what it is to be British. For me is to be the under-dogs who come through to achieve great things, as the rugby team are currently demonstrating.
Wilkinson leads that charge as not only a strong place kicking presence (though perhaps not on top form at the moment), but as a master tactician, kicker, defender and leader on the field. Yes, there have been other stand out players for England, including Robinson, Shaw and Gomarsall to name but a few, but you only have to listen to the comments of the other players on the team to understand what Wilko brings to the side in terms of confidence and self-belief. The forwards offer such gargantuan performances with the motivation of knowing they have someone behind them who isn't able capitalise on the ball they win and won't crumble under pressure, as he will no doubt demonstrate on Saturday
Roll on South Africa.
PS Anyone else think Hipkiss should start instead of Tait though?
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At this point in time, it is difficult to remain objective but I'll give it my best shot. We here in the far south, LOVE Rugby! For us Afrikaners it is, apart from cricket, the sport that we start playing from primary school. We did not play soccer as it was considered a "sissy boy" sport. Rugby is our passion and you have no idea of the SPIRIT currently present among us. You will notice that we are humble about our achievements during press interviews, but never , never underestimate our character nor our commitment to give our absolute best. Jonny Wilkinson deserves respect... he has earned it, but we are not overawed. The English team will not be underestimated nor given too much respect as we know full well about your tenacity. Do not compare the Boks to the Wallabies, we have their measure up front and we will match you well. The Boks have not yet played to their potential and if they peak Saturday next, I say we'll have a match on! Go Bokke!!
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A lot is been made of Wilkinson's low successful kicking rate of 61%. If you consider the laws of statistics the critics are right, this is poor.
However, many seem to be missing the unquantifiable; Wilkinson attempts shots that others wouldn鈥檛 dream of. Unlike other kickers who attempt shots they believe have a 90% chance, he takes shots he believes have a 70% chance. This may seem like a dangerous attitude on the pitch, but to coin a commonly used Terrorist expression (one which refers to bomb attacks) "I only have to be successful once, you have to be successful every time" 3 out of 5 is still better than 2 out of 2 when it comes to drop goals regardless of the "success percentile"!
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When you consider the resources available to England to promote sport in general (including rugby) the English is the most underperforming sporting nation on the planet!! You name it - tennis (pathetic), cricket (poor), rugby (poor for the last four years), footbal (ultimate under achievers - oh sorry 1966), etc. - so please stop this 'never say die' rubbish!
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What a brilliant Article
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Not normally being one prone to over-excitement, showy emotion, and therefore, the need to become actively involved in blogs and the like - as if I can add anything more that any other vaguely intelligent furry tailed beast can muster - I must admit to feeling rather emotional after reading the excellent article.
Having enjoyed Dirs's work during the cricket, I have never failed to read the work filed under 'Rugger' by both Tom and Phil [Collins].
Hope Tom gets his ticket for the game, and we all get the ticket to paradise come Saturday.
Yours, un-emotionally, never really liked sport anyway - not 'arf.
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In response to ANDY "Can I ask what would have happened if Habana had got eaten by the Cheetah!"
I'm not sure the Cheetah's teeth would have got through his body armour! Although if it had managed, it would have made life a little easier for England. Maybe we can borrow the Cheetah and use it on the wing instead of Mark Cueto. Need to check if it has an English grandmother or grandfather ;-)
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What is it with JW and great French players. I still remember with fondness the tackle he made on Ntamack a few years back. I dont think Ntamack played international rugby again after that.
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no 14
Isn't it time you walked your labrador?
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it is as most people say...not his kicking that wins englands game, in fact in terms of stats we would be better with someone like monetgomery or patterson kicking, but there is something else about wilkinson, something that makes him dangerous
for one...he gets the kicks that count...even if he misses earlier ones he'll get the later ones that clinch games...and usually this is why people call england a "one man team" and the fact that johnny won the game for us (usually ignorant sports "journalists" who have no idea about rugby). In reality, johnny has the composure to slot these kicks despite everything else that has gone on in the game, and your spot on dirsy....he brings a calmness to the game of rugby
secondly, fear. Players wont admit to it but its more afraid that if england are still in the game, around 10-12 points behind with 20 minutes left....he could win the game with his boot!!! This is what usually brings the mistakes around or more importantly...in their attempt to stop wilkinson scoring a drop goal, 2/3 defenders rush to him. No better example of this than in his first six nations game back from injury, where 2/3 defenders rushed out to meet johnny...worried about the damage he would cause which left a huge gap outside to which a few passes were strung to et voila...a try
This worry can with the right decisions made by the english back line be devastating. People seem to forget that we have 14 other rather good players that can run with the ball (and in some cases kick!!) and if too much focus is put on stopping johnny...then you leave the rest of the team susceptible
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having watch the highlights of the french game over and over again. It strickes me that , althought Jonny didn't kick as many points as we would have liked ,on most occasions he was very much closer to scoring than in other recent games .
Hitting the post , and just shading it on another 2 occasions.
he's to a bit of good luck on saturday !
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Re #62 and #72
Habana is overrated as a RUGBY player. He is a very fast one-dimensional sprinter. You can admire his speed but not his incomplete rugby skills. His interceptions on Sunday were successful because he was standing offside when he took the ball but he was so fast that the referee did not notice.
Jonny Wilkinson is essential to the morale of the team. They know he can win matches. Let us hope that SA do not ominously do what Eddie Jones has described as 'neutralise him'.
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re: min,
brilliant comment you were joking right.........also i was gonna make the excact same point as cynic. the whole article was about how he lifts players around him. if so little was down to him then why have england been so terrible in the last four years when he's been injured.
i cannot believe there was so many ridiculous comments, i'm looking at you silive and your rant about naseem hamed in particular.
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having watch the highlights of the french game over and over again. It strickes me that , althought Jonny didn't kick as many points as we would have liked ,on most occasions he was very much closer to scoring than in other recent games .
Hitting the post , and just shading it on another 2 occasions.
he's to a bit of good luck on saturday !
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NO PRESSURE then , best defensive fly half by a street.
Shame about the injuries otherwise would have broken all kicking records.
I still think ,if the rest of the team see this, one leg will be a foot longer than the other.
Also the case, that his presence is vital, not just to inspire ENGLAND but to make other teams think, see france.
Hopefully radar and kicking boots on for saturday.
Comparisons with Beckham odious ,good a player that he was ,Jonny is world class.
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It's funny when people get angry writing on this blog. Really funny, I like it, makes me chuckle. But I do like well tended grass as well I might add.
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number 82 i agree to an extent but we have reached the most world cup finals joint with australia, we could become the most sucessfull team in world cup history. are footballers i agree are a bunch of useless overpaid players. we are rowing world champions sailing world champions came 4th in world athletics. our cricketers have jsut won a series in the sub continent. and all these resources we have are wasted because we train so many foreigners and not our home grown talent.
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I agree with Mark Ewart that Chris Paterson is a fine kicker. What he fails to recognise though is that, in his entire career, Paterson has never made a single kick under anything like the kind of pressure that Wilkinson has succeeded (v Australia 2003 & v France 2007).
For that reason Chris Paterson can not, and probably will not, ever be a truly great kicker.
No sane person can say that Wilkinson is not a great kicker.
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Thank you Mr K Singh for your witty contribution to this generally well mannered Blog.
When i am not on henman hill being 'all patriotic' i generally enjoy supporting my national team.
Its just the differences between our 2 national sports which stand out a country mile in recent times - not the nature of our patriotic songs, as you suggest, which some ignorant and ill informed people take to be political calls for agression.
Obviously my lack of rugby knowledge is of some concern to you - I must say the standout performances have been tactical in the last 2 games rather than individual as you point out.
Against Australia i thought the numbers we committed to the breakdown overpowered the Australians and created good turnover ball.
We recognised their weakness.
The marked difference against France was that we didn't do this, recognising that a tight defensive line around the edges was more important than a violent and probably fruitless contest at the breakdown.
We obviously conceded possesion with this tactic but then strangled them when they had it, often forcing them into kicking.
We recognised their weakness.
What we do against the Boks will be interesting and i can't see us following this tactic again - afterall we spent the last game against them watching them kick us deep into our 22 and out of the park!
We may take some guidance from the ARgentinian pack who succesfully contested hard for possesion at the breakdown and with some composure they would have done better.
The lineouts concern me with Matt littlefield the standout 2nd row of the tournament and extremeley disruptive.
So to rely on a kicking game or to allow them a kicking game, which could allow them to turnover our lineouts, is a dangerous call.
This is what Ashton now gets paid for - working out their weakness and exploiting it. lets hope he does it!!
Enjoy the game Mr K Singh.
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I am compelled to write to all those - he doesn't add all that much merchants, or he hasn't scored all the point punters - the 'presence' thing is all about how he organises, how he makes more often than not the right decisions, and especially what he adds in defence. Others who have been there is his place have not done these thing consistently - Hodgson, Goode, Barkley et al. They may offer other things, and be slightly more exciting, i.e. Gergahty,Flood, but Wilkinson remains a more rounded player at the moment
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Yet again an example of the media misreading the game of rugby. Granted, Wilkinson is the most reliable man to kick goals and slot the drop kicks in an England shirt at the moment but, as many people in this blog have stated, rugby is a team game.
Joe Worsley produced an amazing tap tackle to prevent what seemed a certain french try - that in my mind was the defining moment of the win against France. France had at least two 5 yard scrums that they were unable to produce any points from - England may not have produced an outstanding offence but the defence was fatal for France.
I think Jonny missed at least three kicks in that game - had they gone over Englands victory would have been a smoother journey in the last quarter.
However, Jonny is a great tactician and the kick for Sackey's try against Tonga was a touch of genius - not sure there is another fly-half in the world who could pull that off so precisely.
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Seems to me quite a few people are getting carried away here.
Wilkinson has lifted a mediocre England team on his shoulders and while they stifle the life out of the game he wins it with his boot. It's been very successful so well done for that.
But to say "There has never been a more influential sportsperson than Wilkinson in the history of English team sports." is stretching the writer's credibility to breaking point.
It's impossible to judge such a thing at such a close distance. Wait a few years before crowning him that. There are plenty of other stars in more widely-played sports that are at least as deserving of the title.
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No doubt Jonny hasn't got us here single handedly but he does bring presence and control to the team. Let's be honest the pack were useless in the first two games partly due to a poor work rate and partly because forwards by nature are big bulking idiots with the foresight of a goldfish. Perry and Barkley aren't nearly experienced or good enough to control a Test match.
Enter Gomarsall and Wilkinson two extremely experienced half backs who harness all the huffing and puffing of the forwards into something useful.
All of a sudden we have forwards running off 9 and 10 at pace getting across the gain line allowing England quick ball. Now Catt, tait etc are able to attack a retreating and disorganised defence with go forward ball. All this pressure causes penalties and with some better execution... TRY TIME!!!
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Its unfair to say that we have won games purely off Jonny's left foot...
he can kick off both ;)
Wouldn't swap him for anyone. Carter included.
It's coming home...
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Arghhhhhh! Fingers crossed
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I think speaking as a NZer (albeit one who's been here for years) that NZ would be happy to have Wilkinson (and Robinson) in their team - not sure about any of the others. Wilkinson may not be the greatest running fly half around (compared to players like Lynagh, Carter, Larkham, etc.) but his defensive qualities and kicking reliability would make him an asset to any team.
I'm old enough to remember when NZ last won the RWC. In 87 they had a fly half called Grant Fox who as the Ozzies said would "kick his Grandma for 3 points". Good tactical kicker too - remember NZ's opener vs England in 1991 - successfully pinned England in their own half
most of the 2nd half.
Such a player is always an asset - not beautiful to watch but I bet most Kiwis would rather have Wilkinson or Fox in their team when you're two points down in the last 10 minutes!
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Yeah to be honest this World Cup, Jonnys place kicking has been down - 61% as mentioned - but not only that, his kicking out of the hand has often been pretty poor!!
nevertheless, there is something about his name and his "presence" that does seem to lift the spirits of englands players and more importantly, to the opposition, wilkinson IN the team makesa massive difference to their confidence than when he is OUT.
I think the reality is quite far fro the myth to be honest! but the english media and pundits have used the myth too good effect. I think its all mind games to be honest, keep working away at the jonny factor and watch the opposition get even twitchier by the day! and I think its worked.
COME ON ENGLAND!
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He's a good rugby player (which he should be - he's an international).
He's a world class goal kicker, which is great. (but so are many others).
He'a a good bloke by the sound of it.
But who wins the penalties he kicks, who gets him up the field to have a go at a drop goal.
Jason Robinson scored a try in the last world cup final and Martin Johnson inspired the team. The rest of the team were hardly mediocre either
The praise of Wilkinson is a bit like the praise of Beckham.
Over the top.
If he was that good then any opposing team would just flatten him and put him out of the game.
England are so much more than one player and I wish that the media reported it that way.
As for the most influential sportsperson in English team sports - Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Shaun Edwards, Ellery Hanley, Martin Johnson, Jason Robinson, Ian Botham, Mike Atherton, Sean Kerly?, Stanley Matthews, Rhona Martin, Faye White and many more have been as influential at one time or another.
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Laugh out loud at number 62! habana only got speed? you haven't seen him play then. Speed can't get you interceptions only help you to score. Speed can't chip and regather. Speed can't make tackles on big s14 wings. Speed can't side-step or spot a gap. To see the true habana with not just speed go to rugbydump.com and search his name. He is truly the wing to have in your side. Then jonno is truly a great player but james will rough him up and percy would kick more and steyn would take shots jonno only dreams about. And he can drop from the half line.
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The effect Johnny has is rather difficult to get to grips with- but the fact is- when the chips are down, he wins big games for England. Habana is a great finisher, but how many important games has he turned on their heads when probably no-one else can? Intruiged by those already boasting a SA trouncing. I'd say they are rightly favourites- but then so were Australia and France. Also- most of us English think it's hilarious we've got this far. If England should win- we'd have beaten 3 of the 4 favourite teams- and it'll go down as one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time. If SA should win, it'll go down as the easiest cake walk to a final of all time and something of a non achievement. Something to consider while chewing the dried beef?
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Being a scot i cant deny that i would love to have wilkinson on the scottish team. However at the moment i would prefer chris paterson to be the kicker. No doubt wilkinson is a much better all round player but i think points from the boot are so crucial in deciding matches at the moment. Despite Jonnys recent poor kicking record he can still be called the "main man" as he is an all round top player but crucially he is the number 10 which is such an important position, this is perhaps why he gets so much praise and attention. If you put wilkinson in a different position he would still be good but people wouldn't give him so much attention. Imagine scotland were in the final and pattersons kicking had got them there, he would almost certainly be called the "main man" but only because he scored the points not because he is world class. Put wilkinson in any other position and i doubt he would be called the "main man".
As for England, i hope come saturday that they dont rely soley on wilkinson and play to get him in kicking positions. People talk of the rest of the england teams contribution in the wins against Oz and France but i hope that they contribute to getting tries as well as feeding jonny. After all tries are meant to be the basis of Rugby. Or has it changed to a kicking game now?
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106.
"If he was that good then any opposing team would just flatten him and put him out of the game."
Many have tried and failed my friend.
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I hope this habit of sustituting blogs for real journalism dies after the world cup is over. It was the same last time with journalists who didn't know a ruck from a handsaw filling up the newspapers with uninformed drivel.
Johnny Wilkinson is a decent player. That's just about where the argument must stop. The uninformed blogger who has to fill in for someone who actually knows their onions can be spotted by his tendency to accord superlatives to whoever happens to be in the public eye at that moment. This explains why David Beckham made the top 100 of greatest Britons ever to have lived back in 2002, and it explains why people who don't have time to think are now arguing that Wilkinson is the most influential sportsman ever to hail from England.
The statistics referring to how often he has been on the winning side are irrelevant. There are dozens of England players who never ever played on a losing side. Any meaningful consideration of the question (which at the outset has to be acknowledged as unanswerable) would put W. G. Grace and C. B. Fry in pole position. But as there is no one alive today who saw these men at their greatest, today's poster boy is suggested as being their superior. Utter rubbish.
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Ben, there are x4 words I link to describe this phenomenon - namely Atmosphere; Charisma; Influence & Presence.
For individuals such as Ian Botham (with bat and ball) and a multitude of world class individuals across many sports, it is personal charisma and presence accompanying them onto the field, court, pitch or course on a given day that creates a psychological aura - that winning aura. How often have we seen Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie take an international title on the golfing circuit only to crash out as non starters the next? But the fact remains that world champions carry this 'je ne sais quoi' in their tool kit and when it gels......
For a team game such as rugby, the same principals still apply but atmosphere and influence play a huge part, I believe. The Haka, many reckon, has a bearing on charging the atmosphere to the benefit of the ABs but it is the players themselves that influence affairs during those vital minutes pre-kick off.
What personifies this phenomenon for me was when David Sole led out the Scottish XV at Murrayfield in 1990 to face a supposedly superior England. Sole was the pivot as skipper but the affect this unscripted intro from the Scottish XV had on the atmosphere and the game was legendary and the Scots sent Carling & Co packing down the A1 and the Calcutta Cup, well......!
Saturday for England in my view is about establishing everything in the above context that England failed to do in the 0-36 drubbing when they were'nt even on the park, mentally. Things have gelled for the team big time and the Eng squad for the RWC final needs to come out and take it to SA in every facet.
Interesting that the Pumas did exactly the same as we did in Pool A against the Boks in the Arg Vs SA game and kicked kicked kicked.... right down the middle - Xmas time for Percy & Brian!! If England do that again it will be another x36 points, so I trust we will build the power base up front (including competing on every ball Bokke available) drive and release our backs at pace with our tactical field kicking being super-skilled and going out / gaining ground without fail.
'Where's there's a will'........ now go and do the business for all x80 mins+ lads......
Best of luck.
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Comment 58:
If you believe that JW doesn't get sufficient coverage in the UK you probably dont have a television, read newspapers or have access to the internet (which i admit is odd as how the hell did you post your comment). As an avid rugby fan (albeit a Celtic one) i can assure you JW gets plenty of coverage. He is a good fly half who makes England a better team (though i personally dont think he has been performing as well as he might, and is possibly still a bit rusty) but the English medis is forever crying out for icons, is he really a hero?? I think not, just a modest (lets be honest not many of those in our team)hardworking lad with a great talent. I think as a team you have performed miracuously, but feel that SA provide better entertainment and are worthy of being RWC holders. Before the hordes dive in, i am not bitter and do not hate Englishman, im just calling it as i see it. Well done for getting where you have, the rest of the home nations have been quite frankly and embarrassment!
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Oh god, I feel another Sports Personality of the Year Award going his way. (sorry if someone's already said this- i'm not exactly going to check all 113 comments!)
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If the Bokke back row try to get to Jonny, then we have Catt - remember the way they played in the 2003 World Cup - and we may show that we can score tries.
I suspect it will be all in the front fives, trying to establish dominance. Given that SA have the ability to score tries, and Monty is the best dead ball kicker in the tournament, the best we can hope for is 21-20 (7 penalty / drop goals against 2 goals and 2 penalties) and that needs our scrum to excel themselves
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johmmy is a poser
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Wilkinson is elevated to super-hero status by the garbage press, TV channels that are increasingly headed the same way and obnoxious pundits and commentators. His treatment is no different from that of many other English sportsmen of very average standards. It is a sad reflection on our country that so many are fooled by this nonsence and swept along on a cringingly embarassing ego trip that makes us a laughingstock and much despised nation elsewhere. We should focus on the praising the few world-class sportsmen and women we do have and stop kidding ourselves about Wilkinson and others of average talent. Despite some of the adverse comments here and all the commercialism, I do believe that Beckham was a world-class footballer, perhaps our only world-class footballer of the last decade. In contrast our media would have you believe the whole team is world-class; but do we see any overseas clubs (big or small) trying to sign them? - NO. I have been thrilled this year following Lewis Hamiltons progress in F1 and regardless of the outcome of the final race he to will be a media-created super-hero. Is he worthy of the accolade? I'd like to think so and I would hope that the future will show him to be so but in truth we cannot tell because in F1 the car makes the man. Had Hamilton switched drives with somebody in one of the lesser teams it is very unlikely he would be receiving the accolades he receives now. Lets keep our hero-worhship for those sports men and women who truely deserve it, and whose status can be measured objectively against statistical yardsticks and world records. Steve Redgrave, Paula Radcliffe and Tanni Grey-Thompson are amongst those that readily come to mind. As for thjose with more modest talents that include Wilkinson, Rooney and Flintoff; we should rightly acknowledge their talent, praise their achievments and be grateful for the pleasure and entertainment they give us but it is time we stopped elevating them to the super-hero status they clearly do not deserve and which degrades the achievments of our few world-class stars.
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Glad to see all the "I hate England" Nations have been eliminated.As a supporter of all the British teams I have been amazed at some of the commentaries of our celtic friends not all I am pleased to say.
My best friend for a number of years was welshman and two of my recent friends have been Scots and Irish so whether they are reprentive or not I do not know.
However to get back to the Rugby I like many people never expected us to beat Australia then I never expected to beat France and I don't expect us beat South Africa - hope I'm wrong again. but what a great world cup, what a change from the dreary football,if not classic intense and dramatic.
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EBERG you are right in many ways, especially your point about SA providing better entertainment, but only for non English viewers. As an England fan, beating the all-blacks 7-6 was fun to watch and believe me if you think the way England play now is boring you should have seen them with Will Carling and Jack Rowell in charge!
For all of those above critising England, if you pay your annual 拢50 subs to the RFU as I do then you have a right to an opinion. If you don't, then please shut your gob (and that goes to the Glory Hunting English Wendyball fans who are suddenly Rugby experts).
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Bottoms!!
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Re: #114 James Brittain
"Oh god, I feel another Sports Personality of the Year Award going his way."
Fear not; if Lewis Hamilton wins the final GP of the season he's a shoo-in. England wiull get Team of the Year - and rightly because it will have been team performances that get them this far (arguably they deserve it even if they lose the final).
Which is not to discount the 'presence' factor that Jonny undoubtedly has.
Sadly I still think we'll come up short against South Africa because even in these recent great defensive performances our tactical kicking hasn't been good enough. Australia should have punished us but kept making silly errors (blew at least one if not two tries by choosing the wrong option or knocking on). We were lucky that France didn't punish us because the numpty Laporte told them to kick everything. South Africa have the kicking game to punish us, and Pietersen and Haban can be devastatign if our kicking is poor. And if we keep the ball in hand I just think we won't have enough to score enough points - and SA will get at least one try from a turnover.
But I'll be cheering them on, praying that I'm wrong. I was about the QF and SF ...
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If England keep Montgomery quiet and pressure his kicking game, England will still be in the game, if not leading going into the last 20 minutes, and as favourites to win, due to there consistency in the latter stages of the game.
Territory will be the key in this final, adn this time it won't come down to Wilkinson's goal kicking, but more his territory kicking.
Wilkinson V Montgomery who will win? whoever does will be world champions!
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I know this has been said before in the comments to these "blogs" but I am absolutely shocked that the 主播大秀 is involved with these guys living it up in France. I don't blame them at all, in the same situation I would grab the opportunity with both hands and spend six weeks of incredulous enjoyment. It also wouldn't be a problem if there was any genuine humour, local colour or God forbid insight in regards to the tournament but it's basically just a hastily written diary and Samuel Pepes these guys aint. Telling us for the fiftieth time that there was "a great atmosphere" at a world cup rugby game doesn't really tell us anything we didn't know. I'm sure Fordyce and Dirs are both jolly good chaps and all but they are having an experience of a time and a place that people would kill for and the very least that should be required is that they document that in some way. Why did they pursue journalism otherwise? I'm sure there are probably some excellent bloggers out there, getting to the heart of France, rugby and competition but unlike our good friends Dirs and Fordyce they don't get limitless advertising from the 主播大秀. I understand I'll get criticised for this post, just hopefully not in as glib and mediocre style as a 主播大秀 blogger.
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Just got back from an 'apero' with my French mates who say that Les Roses will win by 9 points. Why?
The English forwards are 'incroyable'.
The 'esprit des Anglais'.
'Jonny' who is not merely a kicker but a defender who put Pelous out of the game with a perfectly fair tackle and organises both attack and defence with quiet, but supreme confidence.I asked if they would swap him for Michalak.Yes,most certainly,but Les Anglais would never allow such a treasure to be traded. Allez les Blancs
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It has been to the benefit of the team that Mr Wilkinson should return, fully fit or not. But it is the whole team that makes the player.
You must realise every team plays to its strengths and for England that means utilising our fantastic pack to drive opponenets back and get into range for kicking pens and dropping goals.
We didnt play this way when Johnny was not in the team.
We are blessed to have such a player but without the rest of them he cannot shine. Good luck Saturday boys.
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Your blog is understandable, but please. Don't make such sweeping statement. "There has never been such an influential person as Wilkinson in English team sports". You clearly haven't got a good memory nor done your research properly. Of course, you are going to be hide behind the fact that Great Britain team sports are not English team sports. However, on the basis that there wasn't a single Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish bloke involved at any time, wouldn't you agree that Steve Redgrave maybe deserves that accolade in spades over and above Jonny (without taking anything away from his genius and importance)? Arguably so does Matthew Pinsent. If Jonny kicks England to five consecutive World Cups, then you can have your statement deemed credible.
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Mike Catt is the forgotten hero of English rugby,in the early part of his International career he was always the scapegoat,I admire his resilience for sticking it out,well done you are a true sporting great.
The final,it will be a tight one,may it be played fairly and hopefully the result is fair and not tainted by poor officialling.I'm rooting for my home team,Springboks.
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Aw come on K Singh. The quote was 'we shall never surrender', not 'No Surrender'. Google 'Churchill' for the context you're lacking.
Back to the rugby, imho, not a coincidence that JW is back in a 2nd RWC final. Can't wait for Saturday. Enjoy it everyone.
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Only one question.
With the exception of New Zealand's ask any international coach if JW would be their 1st choice number 10 - even considering he's spent much of the last 4 years injured and is still rusty, by his very own high standards.
You can't say that any one aspect of his game is better than the rest, but his all-round game is sound and many opposing players do talk about his "presence".
That doesn't mean they are worried or scared but they do have the utmost respect for him.
To me, that is the ultimate accolade in sports, respect from your peers.
Amongst the things that I've won in my albeit mediocre career (in many sports) the players' player of the year always made me most proud. And humble, especially in team sports, another trait that many players can learn from JW.
His dedication may be equalled, not surpassed, but his lack of fear - e.g. that tackle on Fabian Pelous - knows no bounds. How can you not respect someone when he puts his body on the line for his team, time after time?
England as a squad have shown that "Band of Brothers" mentality ever since the 36-0.
Not saying he's the only reason for this but it must help when your girlie-fly-half-golden-boy would rather spend hours in practice and knock over every opponent that charges at him, than model underwear!
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Hahah you English are so funny! People may say that Sa would have had a cakewalk into the final if they win on saturday, but doesn't that mean that if sa beat england twice, that they would beat other nations aswell? And i think you must really be mentally challenged if you think Habana is only a showpony, If you watch clips of him on youtube, you'll see he's word class and ofcourse his record speaks for itself!
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no 118 raymond. as an irish fan (from the republic) i'm supporting england but im a bit peeved to see my nation classed as british. i'm not anti british or anti english but please remeber that people from the rep of ireland are not british. also your comments were quite petty- glad all the england hating nations were eliminated. comments like thaty are as bad as the anti english ones so before you preach to others about what they say, maybe you should watch what you say. it's equally offensive esp to irish fans such as myself who are supporting engladn in the final and have no problem with england at all. and there are plenty of them on these blogs.
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while i agree Wilkinson is important the pack have fronted up since the SA match, and its given jonny the dominant position he needs to slot the goals when it counts. Te pack decides who wins and the backs decide how many...
Although a little harsh to suggest the guinnes premiership involves teams playing in the middle of no where, it is a top class league that keeps growing...
C'mon England!!!
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I am sorry but anybody who describes Jonny Wilkinson as an 'average player' must be quite mad...or simply not have a clue about the game. I am a Kiwi and yet it is quite obvious to me that there isn't a fellow rugby player of international standard who would describe him as such. The teams who oppose him will try and 'neutralise' him (as already stated by Eddie Jones)...why would you bother with one so average?
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Firstly, all the team is playing well and bravo but Johnny is the heart of the team. When any team has recuperated their main kicker a sense of stability and balance comes back to the team - we've seen this with the English XV - the confidence is back and we're firing on all cylinders!
During this WC, he has received criticism for his kicking rate but it seems most have been having problems with ball. Johnny is much more than a kicker, he's the complete player who despite his modest size (for today's expectations), is an excellent tackler and a superb reader of the game. Ask the French!
For me, Johnny is already a national hero for his exploits in 2003. In fact, he should be Sir Johnny and I sincerely hope he has the same impact in Saturday's final as he did in 2003. Let's not forget he's overtaken Gavin Hasting's record for points scored in the WC!
He's our equivalent to football's Zidane for France.
C'MON ENGLAND! YOU CAN DO IT!
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Wilkinson is an iconic player. He's got that big match temperament and he's totally committed. Not only can he snipe at the opposition with drop goals, convert penalties and tries - he'll tackle anyone. It's sometime forgotten that he's got to be one of best tacklers around - few, whatever their size - get out of his clutches.
He also a great passer of the ball athough latterly we haven't seen too much of this side of game. He's also a proven try scorer but again since the spate of injuries, we haven't seen too much of that either. Maybe we will on Saturday. He'll definitely be belting the ball into touch but I reckon he'll be chip the ball over the Boks' backs for Sackey, Cueto, Tait and co. He's great reader of the game.
The man is a star. Would England be in this position without him? Purrgh, what do you think?
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Rugby is a team game, and there is no doubt that the 'team' has played better since Jonny has returned.
But I think a hand in this should go to the pack for a better platform and also Andy Gommersall, who has been excellent and provided a very solid and exciting half back combination.
At the end of the day Jonny brings an air of confidence both in attack and defence for England. He also has the ability to score points at will, which is rare in the modern game.
Having someone who you know is solid defensively, an attacking running threat (an area of his game much improved since 2003) and someone who you know can kick points with either foot is priceless.
England to win at the weekend, maybe only just thoough.
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Stop saying JW! i keep thinking this post is about another person. Ever heard of Jake White?
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Paterson? Never seen him take a kick further than 35 yards out, nor under the pressure of a WORLD stage in a game with a lot resting on it e.g. Six Nations decider or World Cup knockout stage etc... Wilkinson's average is low due to him taking kicks from everywhere and in all conditions (Including Marseille's infamous swirling 'Mistral'). Paterson would throw the ball to Parks to protect his average.
Good luck England - you have brought a lot of pleasure to a lot of people (English obviously) just by getting this far against rather large odds. It has been hard being English this last four years of hurt.
Will gladly trade four years of hurt for another World Cup (I would even tolerate having that idiot Robinson as coach again)
Whatever happens, we should rest Johnny after the game and roll him out at the next World Cup in NZ.
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"There has never been a more influential sportsperson than Wilkinson in the history of English team sports."
Rubbish - how about Martin Johnson? There was also Bobby Moore, Ian Botham, Mike Brearley..
oh and Carling was pretty successful as a captain
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Well said corkonian (131) - glad to hear that another Irishman will be supporting us on Saturday. Also, you're quite right to have a go at those of us who continue to generalise and blame entire nations for the unfair criticisms that are sometimes leveled against us (and I say that as a proud Englishman myself).
Ben, keep up the good work and enjoy the rest of your 'holiday'. It's truly amazing how many people seem to have misunderstood the point of your blog. Personally, the only thing I would take issue with was your querying of Matt Giteau's response to the question "do Australia fear Wilkinson?". What did you expect him to do - cower in the corner and say "Yes, we're all scared s**tless of him!"?
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Go England!!! But please no ticket tape parade or Knighthoods Lets take the win and with a wry grin just move on quietly.(Maybe a couple of fist pumps!)
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To be honest, i think that if Bryan Habana Continues to play like has so far, he will be considered the best flyhalf of all time when he retires! Wilkinson Will also be known as one of the greats of the game, the man is asewome!
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Jonny is a huge influence. Like Deano, or Beaumont before him he has a presence. But he is PART of a team. And that team is a group of world beaters who have not performed as a team for a long while. But they are starting to show their potential. Jonny seems to be the catalyst to making them gestalt. (I've swallowed a dictionary - sorry about that) But it's true - keystone, linchpin, driver, whatever you call it, he has that "je ne sais quoi" (sorry Raphael). Also, my wife thinks he's gorgeous, which means we can increase support by a full 33.3% in our house on Saturday - extrapolate that!
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no 118 raymond. as an irish fan (from the republic) i'm supporting england but im a bit peeved to see my nation classed as british. i'm not anti british or anti english but please remeber that people from the rep of ireland are not british.
Fine - So 3/4s of the rugby nation known as Ireland are from the republic but you can't deny that the 1/4 from Ulster are British. In other words Raymond has a 25% of chance of being correct when referring to you as British so you could argue that you should not be as peeved off as you are - it is possible to see why he got it wrong.
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hey number 118 - could it be that your celtic friends just don't like you?
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I'm another a kiwi. I think Jonny would be the 1st name on the teamsheet of any of the teams who've been at this worldcup.
I also think you could not say this about any other player in any position.
This does not denigrate any of the other 21 players in the team or ignore all of the other factors required to win enough games to win the World Cup but most of these tend to be balanced in the closest contests.
Jonny has bought the X-factor to england and the whole team has gone from strength to strength.
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Wilkinson is a better player than I thought he was. But thats it. Hes a good player. He kicks well but no better than many other kickers in this tournament. He does the odd run and the odd tackle. and that makes him a god? England might win cos theres been bigger upsets already so why not. But what will that say about the cup. Play the worst you ever have for 4 years, lose a pool match 36-0 and win the world cup? I hope England are well and truly thrashed because that would finally be truly reflective of their form. guts, passion, motivation- all unmeasurable reasons people have attributed to them being there. What about class, talent, consistency things you see on the field- not to mention well constructed tries all missing in this team. South Africa deserve to win because of that. They deserve it.
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My posting was maliscious? Funny how you let the most outrageous of put downs to the SH teams go through and reject simple critiscism about one of your so called heroes. Unbelievable. Well. I'll post a few more then at least your biased staff or its equally biased IT blocking feature will have to deal with the comment paying them at the same time. Hypocrites.
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POST 123 ,Your comments on the waste of monet! are off the mark.Fact even if the beeb had put Tom and Dirsy
or is it jerry,in a 5 star hotel for 6 weeks it would be pea nuts .
ITV have paid shed loads of money for the coverage and have not been as entertaining as this.
Where else can you moan ,put your views across and banter complain as you have and it hasn`t even cost you the price of a stamp.
Instant comment et al , now I realise it is not pepys or Alistair Cook but it is better than the will stuart and jim show aka 3 stooges.
The whole blog thing is about interacting almost realtime, . CHEAP AT HALF THE PRICE.
INSIGHTS MAY BE IN THE BOOK WHEN THEY HAVE MORE TIME consultants fee in beer units.
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As a kiwi I would have to agree with 54. You guy鈥檚 give to much credit to JW, he is good but can't turn things around in a game if your forwards aren't there to back up the kick down field.
I鈥檇 have to say that your hooker, locks and 8 have given JW the plat form to work with. Haskett doesn't seem to bad either. The current England team seems to be a nice lot and aren鈥檛 big headed but will be cheering for SA (that hurt) as some of the England fans and media just piss me off. i.e. pouching etc etc. The other thing is this is the World Cup not the World Championship so the winner will be the World cup holder not World champs.
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138.
I'm sorry to hear you have never seen paterson kick from further than 35 yards, you must have missed the drop goal he scored from his OWN half in 2004 for Scotland, not sure if it was in the world cup or 6 nations but i would class both those tournaments as being on the WORLD stage, and any game of that class carries pressure. His stats prove him to be the number 1 kicker in WORLD rugby. Enough said.
I think Sir Clive Woodward summed up Wilkinsons impact when he said that if you take him out and replace him, england dont look like winning.
I think this is perhaps more to do with his personna rather than his recent kicking abilities. Lets not forget that wilinson is a senior player now and has a lot of experience.
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Sorry for not getting fully on the Wilkinson bandwagon, very good sportsman but in terms of sportsman no way is he more influencial then Steve Redgrave. Wilkinson has a long way to go to be as highly regarded as that.
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I just saw on the 主播大秀 website that Clive Woodward says that Johnny Wilkinson is "key" to the match.
I wonder if he worked that one out all on his own, my 2 year old even knows that.
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99 Ail Williams the Kiwi lock did it this year.
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Typical of the British media, place a man on a pedestal whilst chipping away at its foundations, so that they can claim they envisaged his success/fall from grace.
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Please let SA win, because the press (mostly based in London) will be insufferable and we'll never hear the end of the fact that England won 2 world cups back to back. If Johnny gets another "last minute" drop goal we'll just see the two in montages for years to come. It's not Johnny or the teams fault that most non-English people on the British Isles don't like them, it's the press's. I would far rather have Wilko on the team than O'Gara (who cannot kick from hand!) but then I've always prefered Humphrey's to both.
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Jonny may not be the best attacking stand off in the world but he is the best tackling back we have ever had, as South Africa and Butch James in particular will find out on Saturday. Come on the Lads!!
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I have got to admire your attempts at talking up your team, however the fact remains that JW is half the player he was and even then he was pretty limited. Dont forget that in the last world cup, timely DG aside he played terribly, and he hasn't done anything yet this time round. Great attempt at a collective bluff, but I dont think South Africa are that gullible.
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Boys, this is the Boer War all over again, and beware the snipers of Magersfontein. Don't try a frontal assault, you'll be mown down like ninepins.Watch your lines of communication, the commandos are creating havoc in the rear. Stay mobile,you need strong top of the ground runners. Does a Black Week lie just ahead? Don't get bottled up and assaulted like at Ladysmith or Kimberley or Mafeking. We don't want the sovereign to turn her head to the wall in grief. What will Kitchener demand? And Bob's your uncle. This is no Maginot Line assault boys. This is the sons of the veld, bred to battle. Who will scorch the earth and where will the concentration camps be? Take no prisoners, give 'em cold steel. "Be Prepared!" Scouting,foragers and Cossack posts. This is the moment of truth. Come the Bitter End. Backs to the wall. Who will burn the lines & blaze a trail? Habana the scorcher!!! Who will Victor's be? The opposition to be Smit 'en. Fourie's a jolly good fellow, the elusive pump 'em 'ell and Schulk's in ambush on the border. There'll be no Steyn on this team. The Butch 'er 'll see to that. Ox will trample 'n gore 'em, Hurrah! Charge! To the victor the spoils.
From an English Boer in Vietnam
{England is my second team,but no divided loyalties here)
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Would like to wish England good luck for the final. ( from a die hard Scot north of the border)
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bill no 144- seeing as the irish rugby team is made up of players from the north and they obviously class themselves as iriash. it's a dicey situation. there are also people in the north of ireland who have irish passports so you can't call them british either.
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i am getting tired of all the comments about Jonny simply being the poster boy, all flashy smiles but no trousers. I think anyone who has watched some serious rugby would all agree that not only is he a stunning kicker at times, he is one of Englands hardest working players. the reason he is injured so much is because he puts his body on the line in every game. See some of the tackles he put in 2003, and you will understand. This tournament, it has all been about Moody, Robinson and Gomersall, however.
but more importantly, has anyone put out a thought for Lewis Moody's mother? Her son has a blatent disregard for his own safety, and the woman must suffer terribly during every game! I hope she is ok...
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There's little doubt that Jonny is the talisman of the side. It's been a fantastic allround effort to make the final against what appeared insummountable odds , but they are there and deservedly so. As a rabid supporter and Jonny-ophile I have to say that I'd give England no chance whatsoever tomorrow if the lad wasn't playing - as it is , he's fit and whilst not firing on all cylinders (kicking wise) I expect a huge game from him tomorrow. What that'll do is catalyse the rest of the side and I won't be at all surprised if they upset the applecart yet again and retain the trophy.
South Africa are a quality side , but they're Jonnyless and that could well be the difference come fulltime tomorrow!
Goooooooooo England !!!!
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To me it is simple, with Jonnhy in the side the opposition has to play a different game where (1) They cannot afford to give away penalties (2) Cannot afford to commit too many players to the rucks but are eventually forced to do so (3) Must not give Jonny too much space (4) Cannot attack through the number 10 channel (5) Allows our back row to get to the breakdown quicker in the knowldge that (4) will not happen. The upshot is that this provides a much cleaner and better platform for the pack to gain yards and be quicker at the breakdown.
Jonny himself is not the greatest fly half in the world (imho) generally he kicks well and astutely, tackles well, covers well and is tactically aware however his distribution is suspect most often passing the ball to the inside centre directly at his body, above his head or behind him thereby slowing the attack and the defence usually get to the England back line at around number 12 possibly 13, however the back row are there quicker and England can compete whereas earlier they did not.
Having said this, Jonny in the team has made difference but to my mind the single most important turning point (including Jonny) is Gommershall and the demise of the dreadful Perry. That's where we've improved beyond recognition. The game will not be the horrible affair (from an English POV) it was in the group stages but a much closer test. My head says SA but my heart is firmly behind the boys.
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Jonny's kicking is good, but it nowhere near the best part of his game, nor the most likley to influence a game. Jonny's greatest strength is in defence, both physically in the tackle and also in his unique ability to organise the defence, at which he is the best there has possibly ever been. Jonny's presence on the field puts a doubt into the other teams mind, and that is sometimes the differnce between winning the world cup and not, just ask the Aussie's.
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Everyone is, obviously, entitled to their opinions, but I doubt that you would find an international rugby player on earth who considers Wilkinson to be merely average, or to be someone who takes the odd kick and makes the odd tackle. The position of stand off is about managing the game, taking the right options and taking the pressure off his outside backs and in that department Wilkinson is, simply, world class.
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159 lovely post , but you seemed to have overlooked who actually WON the Boer War !
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Silvine (Comment 32),
"Rowing isn't a seriously competitive sport"....???!!!
Are you serious?! You obviously have no idea at all as to how incredibly hard a sportsman like Sir Steve Redgrave has worked to achieve what is frankly an incredible record of success in his chosen SPORT.
Stick to daytime TV in future.
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K.Singh,
Why is so hard for people like you to understand patriotism? I for one am proud to be English and like to show this through Rugby, Football, F1 whatever. This doesn't make me a bigot, racist, facist, sexist like some small minded people would have us believe. In all seriousness this country needs to learn how to be patriotic again without fear of being branded racist.
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138. That a little hostility there, possibly caused by a bit of insecurity?
I am a little surprised at some the Paterson bashing that has been going on here. I thought the article was supposed to be about JW as England's main man... Mr Ewart the article was never about placing kicking, so I think we can leave CP well out of it.
Although to those of you who are of some doubt as to how far CP can kick from, may I suggest you watch yet another Scottish drubbing at the hands of the Aussies (Yawn - boring I hear you say). I believe wee CP knocked a drop kick over from just in inside the half way line on his first attempt, something I have yet to see young JW do.
In answer to the question Mr Dirs, I believe a certain Mr Johnson answered this when he spoke to the rest of the England team four years ago, when JW went down injured in the final. "Don't you look at him, whether we win or lose does not depend on him". (or words to that effect) Strong words, from a strong man.
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I think I am peaking too early, I swear I have just started to weep!
Thanks Ben & Tom for a great blog, often insightful, very amusing and makes me jealous beyond belief.
I hope you adjust well to life back at home - or are you going on into the sunset with the Bloggernaut in full flight?
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No. 80. To the S. African, well said and as an Englishman I'm worried that we'll lose. However, I'll admit I thought we'd lose against Oz & France. Come the final I'll be ready for you Boks, confident the English power will win the day. Up until then I'll fret and bit my nails. Here's hoping.
As for Johnny, his kicking under pressure, tactical reading of the game and tackling prowess are his foremost skills. He is our talisman, we're proud of him. We're also proud of the whole team whether win or lose. Come on the boys, one more effort and you never know, we might just make RWC history. Not bad for a bunch of arrogant, over rated players who play boring rugby which is to the detriment to the game.
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Post 28
I think the phrase you're looking for is, "If my Aunty was my Uncle, she'd have bollocks."
And that's what you're talking!
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Several nails hit firmly on the head by Ben and some other posters. What Jonny brings is an air of calm and control not disseminated by other English 10's.
Disect each part of his game and you can find someone who runs/passes/kicks better. However the whole of Jonny's game is much greater than the sum of the parts and his influence on others around him is incalculable. Yes, Andy Sherridan, Simon Shaw, Lewis Moody and the rest have been excellent but they are better for his presence. They believe in him and he in them.
Mike Brearley was not the most gifted batsman ever to play for England but he got more out of his teammates than they ever thought they had. With Mike it was largely a conscious process. Jonny achieves much the same unconsciously. That is the 'presence' Ben refers to.
Who would the opposition least like to see lining up against them? Take a guess.
Too many times in various England teams, players have been over-hyped and over-rated only to be exposed. Jonny has maintained his aura - particularly in the minds of the opposition - for nearly ten years, something that few have ever achieved. Martin Johnson used to do it while he played and the mantle has fallen now on Jonny Wilkinson. That's not saying in any way that England are a one-man team. They are a XV and will need to play as one to beat South Africa.
I only hope that the more demented England fans behave with some grace, win or lose. It has been an amazing journey and one none of us would have believed possible. Without Jonny, it wouldn't have happened. Pretty amazing really for a guy not yet playing at the top of his game. Let's hope he's saved it all for Saturday evening.
It's not putting any additional pressure on him to acknowledge what he brings to the team. It would be to expect to him win games entirely through his personal performance. However, if the scores are close with 10 minutes to go, you can guess who the Saffies will be watching and dreading...
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I agree with alot of people......it is a team game! BUT without Johnny there is not much of a team unity!
Without Johnny = Ok team
With Johnny = Great team!
Come on Johnny, come on England! Also come on Lewis on Sunday!!!!!!!
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Wilkinson is the most over rated and over hyped sports person in the country (closely followed by Beckham). He cant pass, cant tackle, cant beat a man 1 on 1 and has no pace, in fact the only thing he can do is kick (and some of that tis world cup hasn't been very good.
I'm praying for a SA win if only to spare us from another 4 years of media fawning over Wilkinson and his snooty friends.
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I think the public trust Jonny - which is something the South Africans are weary of...
Does anyone know of the best place to watch the rugby in Nairobi tomorrow. I am thinking of heading to the Karen Blixen bar but it was full of Saffers last time I went. Any suggestions for the Brits out here? Thanks.
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#176. Wilkinson cant tackle......??!!
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re 176:
Can't pass? are you joking or just a complete idiot? can't tackle???????? OK he's defense is renowned the world over as being the best for any fly half, especially at destroying people twice his size, pace, i believe he runs the 100 sub 11 (ran 11.0 when 16 years old), fairly sprightly for a fly half as for beat a man one on one, HES A FLYHALF NOT A WING.........
dear god your dum
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re 176:
Can't pass? are you joking or just a complete idiot? can't tackle???????? OK he's defense is renowned the world over as being the best for any fly half, especially at destroying people twice his size, pace, i believe he runs the 100 sub 11 (ran 11.0 when 16 years old), fairly sprightly for a fly half as for beat a man one on one, HES A FLYHALF NOT A WING.........
dear god your dum
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dont get carried away- jonny is no match kicking wise this wc for montgomery. jonny's kicking has been quite poor, montgomery's has been sublime. montgomery is a huge threat to england wheras wilkinson really wont be causing the sa any sleepless nights due to his erractic form
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Jonny is the main man if he can convert 90% of penalty chances England will win, he just hasn't found the magic from 4 years ago-yet.
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i just love than jonny i have posters all over my wall i love him look what he done 4 years ago can any1 be more herotic? when that kick went over, jeeeeze i cryed in pride
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jonny for king big up the jonny hes our man if u cant love him oh my i can
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Just suck in the air and enjoy the moment. They are too few of them to waste.
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Just suck in the air and enjoy the moment. They are too few of them to waste.
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Jonny is the key to success. i have an incredible amount of love for him and what he does. He's just so talented, definately the one for me
COME ON ENGLAND
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to all the other fans out there who say we would be nothing without johnny, you are possibly right. but we do have him, and that's all that matters!
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