Is Jonny Wilkinson back to his best?
Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 26 October 2009 - 16:28
Author: Michael Hodge
There can be few better sights for English rugby supporters than seeing Jonny Wilkinson back on the rugby pitch. The England talisman has endured a torrid time since helping his country lift the rugby world cup 6 years ago, suffering injury after injury and spending most of his time in and out of different physiotherapy rooms. Now playing in the south of France and managing to string a few games together for his new club side, sport.co.uk asks if Jonny Wilkinson is back to his best?
The 22nd November 2003 must seem like a lifetime ago for Jonny Wilkinson. With the clock almost at 11pm in Sydney, Wilkinson dropped the goal that won England the world cup. Prior to that point Wilkinson had been touted as the best fly half on the planet. Magical performances against the northern and southern hemisphere giants, combined with an unerring boot made him feared at the highest level of the game.
Wilkinson, then in his early twenties, was a dominating fly half but capable of brilliance. Before the English backline seized up during the 2003 rugby world cup, Wilkinson managed to unleash them to score some wonderful tries, chipping in with a few himself.
One of the other aspects that Wilkinson was famed for was his tackling. Monster hits against the likes of Emile N’Tamack, Justin Bishop and Matt Giteau saw Wilkinson’s reputation grow all over the world. Unfortunately, it was this aspect of his game, along with some extraordinary bad luck that caused Wilkinson to spend so long on the sidelines.
Despite a number of “comebacks”, Wilkinson now seems to have settled into his new lifestyle and home in Toulon and the change from the North East of England looks to have done him the world of good. The slower pace of life suits the fly half, now that he enters the latter stages of his career.
Wilkinson has already admitted that he harbours some regret about his previous lifestyle. The relentless training and 100% exposure to the sport turned him into one of the greatest players of all time, but also meant that he almost forgot how to enjoy the game. Although remaining fiercely competitive, Wilkinson has sought to find that work/life balance that we all seek. Still a passionate player, Wilkinson has re-learnt that rugby is one facet of life, surrounded by many others, whereas in the past he became over-occupied with perfection, to the point of obsession.
So "Wilko" is now a much more relaxed player enjoying the autumn of his playing career in the pleasant surroundings of southern France, but is he back to his best?
The Jonny Wilkinson of 1999 to 2003 is long gone and will never return. The physical differences between a 23 year old and a 30 year old are obvious. Wilkinson’s eye for the gap may not have left him, but the legs that took him through that gap are no longer there.
However much England will miss a youthful Wilkinson, an experienced Wilkinson offers new benefits. Wilkinson has adapted his game since moving to Toulon. Previously he was a frantic fly half looking everywhere for space. Now he is much more relaxed, even playing with a smile, something that was rarely seen at Newcastle. Wilkinson looks much more at trying to control games and create for his outside backs, than at himself now too, something that Martin Johnson would have noticed.
The Jonny Wilkinson of 2003 must be treated as a memory. However, the new, experienced and relaxed Wilkinson is something that could bring a breath of fresh air to England’s struggling back line. He still kicks his goals and he still makes his monster tackles, but now he plays without the world on his shoulders.
When he pulls on the England shirt against Australia on 7th November it will be Wilkinson’s 71st cap, but to Jonny Wilkinson it will be like making his debut all over again.