Relaxed Wilkinson still in search of perfection
When the England team to face Australia arrives back at their in the leafy, golden Surrey countryside after training, one man is noticeably later than all the rest.
There will be no harsh words from manager Martin Johnson, however, and no disciplinary action, for that man is Jonny Wilkinson, and he is late only because he has stayed behind at training for extra kicking practice.
A lot of talk around the team this week has been about . But in some ways, he is exactly as he has always been.
, the second of the World Cup 2003 comeback kids in Johnson's XV (Lewis Moody being the third), summed it up nicely.
"Me and Jonny sat down in a pub last week and had a quick beer after training," he said on Wednesday. "You can just tell from the way he is that he's so much more relaxed and happy-go-lucky. Obviously he's still got that focus, but he looks like he's got more of a balance."
There is an intake of breath from all within ear-shot. Jonny had a beer? "Well, I had a beer, he had a Coke," admits Thompson, laughing.
He is then asked which of them, four months into their revitalised continental careers, speaks the better French. "Jonny," he says resignedly. "Of course he does. You know what he's like - everything has to be perfect."
Wilkinson has not played a Test since the final game of the 2008 Six Nations against Ireland
When the man in question finally emerges, long after most of his team-mates have headed off for an afternoon kip, he looks eerily as he did on . Gone is the shaggy hair and hangdog expression of ; back is the short hair, a glowing tan and a sunnier disposition to match.
When he came on as sub at inside-centre against Ireland 18 months ago and found himself being lectured by , most assumed that his stellar if sadly stunted international career was coming to an end. That he has made it back, and healthy and in form to boot, has left him appreciating everything he is experiencing.
"When you set the goal to play sport at the highest level, these are the things it's all about," he says. "The opportunity to play against the best, put yourself to the test and ask where am I, where do I need to be - that's enormous."
Does he feel under less pressure than he used to?
"I've always tried to look at pressure in so many different ways, so I can understand what it really does. You desperately want to do well, but it can work against you if you let it.
"There's a way of looking at the game when you've had that experience, and the more that onus is put on you, the wider your view of the game and the bigger the picture in your head.
"When the whistle goes you have a little three-metre circumference around you during the game, and the ability to step out of that is huge.
"Most of the time you're dealing with what's happening in that little circle around you, but if you've got guys who can step back in the middle of the game, out of that frantic bubble, and see what's really happening, that can have a really big impact on the game."
as a key factor in his surprise comeback to international rugby, and thinks Wilkinson may have benefited from his own change of scenery in exactly the same way.
"He'd had all those injuries at Newcastle, he'd had all those pressures on his shoulders, and suddenly he's gone away and tried something completely different," says Thompson. "He looks so much happier now than he used to."
Wilkinson, as you'd expect, is more analytical, but it is clear that the old obsession with self-improvement remains.
"There will be hundreds of situations round the field at different times involving different players, some which you've prepared for and some you've never seen before," he explains.
"I guess that as you go along you try to fill your tool-box, so that when you face these circumstances you have more options to choose from.
"That's a big aim, and that's what makes me a spectator, watching rugby league or other sports at home on TV. You think - if I could add that to my repertoire...
"When you've done something a few times it starts to feel more natural. Eventually you do it more instinctively, but that's a slow process. Luckily I've had that a bit this season - I'm learning on the run, and I'm trying to learn from guys like Shane Geraghty and ."
He pauses and smiles. "About being much bigger and running much faster, for example."
From all accounts, Wilkinson has been throwing himself into training this week with the same intensity that he brought to sessions as a callow . There has been little thought about protecting his famously fragile body, so much so that the coaches have occasionally had to have a quiet word.
"Jonny is the best tackler in the squad, and that includes our back row," says assistant coach Mike Ford. "In his desire to cover every position and every scenario on the field, there are very few better than him in that regard.
"I caught him at training trying to cover the open-side and going back down the blind-side, and I said, 'Listen, we have got that covered'.
"I explained why and he bought into it and the next couple of plays he stayed where he was. It's like a jigsaw with Jonny - he needs to know where every piece fits. The more he gets confidence in the system, the more he will stay where he is."
Wilkinson nods when he is asked about it. "A lot of that is my natural competitive side when I'm on the field," he says.
"The game is full of goodness knows how many individual processes that you need to get right. When you break it down to that, you realise it's about performing as best you can second by second.
Wilkinson and Shane Geraghty will be paired together in midfield for the first time on Saturday
"It's funny - there's the outside view of things - the key factors, the enormous event. But from the inside it's about going out there prepared, taking it step by step, finding that buzz and intensity and looking to maintain the development through the game that will take you to the end result.
"You might talk about key players, but once the match starts, it's the players you've got round you. When I played with , there would be times when people would be saying I'd had a good game, but I'd thought I'd done nothing - all I'd done was listen to the guy outside me."
Wilkinson is clearly excited about his midfield pairing with this season.
"No-one had been through as much as Catty in rugby, and learned how to see the game so well, but Shane seems to have a lot of that instinctively," says Wilkinson.
"The way Shane's playing now shows that he has that bigger picture. Looking at what he's doing in training, and speaking to the guys at Northampton I was with at Newcastle, he's got the all-round game. Because he's so prominent in every attack that's launched, people might assume there might be a weakness elsewhere, but as far as I can see he's a solid guy."
And what of Australia? Wilkinson's first match against them might have been a horror-show - - but his last two defined his career, winning the 2003 World Cup in one and knocking the Wallabies out in the 2007 quarter-finals in the other.
"I could have woken up this morning not knowing where I was, but I knew from how I felt that there was something big going on this weekend," he says.
"It's always special because they're always up there at the top of the world game. When I think about Australia, I think of a certain professionalism, and a major strength in that tactically they can work better than any other team. You have to be 100% on your toes - as soon as you're not, they'll pull you apart."
And the drop-goal? He doesn't think about that?
Wilkinson looks surprised. "That might be the last thing I would think of," he says, seriously.
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Comment number 1.
At 4th Nov 2009, James Skinner wrote:With Wilkinson & Thompson having both clearly benefitted from a move to the Top 14 in France, I wonder how many more English players will consider moving across the Channel in due course? I was very sceptical at first but I have to say that I have now been won over - the lifestyle in France seems conducive to happy, healthy individuals which can only be good for the great game of rugby union. Time will tell.
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Comment number 2.
At 4th Nov 2009, Hookers_armpit wrote:All the French based contingent of players seem to be prospering. Why wouldn't they? As is generally accepted in life, moving to a new country and taking on a fresh challenge is a good thing.
I can only see benefit - players getting exposure to the way the french play the game and an increased pool of players for England to call on.
You don't hear the French football team moaning about too many players abroad and they haven't done to badly.
I can only assume the quiet response to this blog is due to the painful process of resigning in...
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Comment number 3.
At 4th Nov 2009, 0darroch wrote:It's been great to see JW playing with a new lease of life in France. One can't help but think that had he been playing in a side where he was given slightly more protection than the Newcastle pack could give him he'd be nearing 1500 test points by now.
He also seems far more happy with himself, and has apparently accepted that there is more to life than kicking a ball through the posts, which can only be healthy. He is enjoying his rugby, which by his own admission he never did in his early 20s.
The JW and SG midfield is exciting, Wilkinson has always been at his best with a playmaker outside him, a la Greenwood and Catt, and Geraghty could easily fill that role too. Geraghty can easily fill in at 10 too if Wilkinson finds himself at the bottom of a ruck.
Great blog Tom.
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Comment number 4.
At 5th Nov 2009, oadbywygg1 wrote:Agree with Odarroch.
Johnny is fit because he's not playing for Newcastle any more, doing what their back row should have been doing for years with their defensive duties.
Playing behind a pack that protects him, he's able to perform to what we all know he is capable of.
Same with Thompson, not stuck in a below average pack/team that Northampton have been in the professional era (yes you look better now but still not going to trouble the top teams I think).
The French don't play any better sort of rugby than the English clubs, I think both players would have benefitted from playing for a more successful outfit.
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Comment number 5.
At 5th Nov 2009, Philyio wrote:Good article but the links (highlighted in blue) are extremely poor - they don't point to relevant webpages
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Comment number 6.
At 5th Nov 2009, Hookers_armpit wrote:The Geraghty / Wilkinson partnership does hold out promise - however, lets not expect miracles in the first game. Flutey was allowed about 10 indifferent games before he started to perform well. Geraghty is much younger and equally good - he should be allowed a similar run to get into the swing of things.
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Comment number 7.
At 5th Nov 2009, Tom Fordyce wrote:James, Hookers, 0darroch, oadbywygg1 - the move across the Channel has indeed worked wonders for the players involved, not least Erinle. Remember Shaun Edwards raving about him at Wasps, but for him to go from occasional Prem starter to England bench like this is testament to what a new challenge and lifestyle can do.
Hookers_armpit - good point about Flutey. Leftfield pick this time last year, took a while to find his feet and now looks every inch an international centre. Hope the Twickenham crowd and MJ show patience this autumn with Geraghty.
Phylio - what's up with the links? Just double-checked 'em and they all seem to be working and relevent. Let me know what's up and I'll check again.
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Comment number 8.
At 5th Nov 2009, globescramble wrote:So glad to see Hipkiss starting, agree that he deserves his chance again.
I do not really understand how Monye is playing full back... Foden is unbelievably unlucky not to make it. Looking at the bench, not much excitment as far as the backs are concerned...
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Comment number 9.
At 5th Nov 2009, Chris wrote:Mike Ford's anecdote is a bit odd. Much as I like how it shows Jonny's character, I'd have thought he was pretty au fait with how a defensive system works by now.
p.s. I've just read We Could Be Heroes. It was great. Many congratulations Tom.
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Comment number 10.
At 5th Nov 2009, VillageCaptain wrote:What does it say about the Premiership that there are only 2 players in the match day squad from the top 2 teams in the table?
I recognise the fact that there are a lot of injuries out there but does this mean that the Premiership has too many foreign players?
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Comment number 11.
At 5th Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:4. At 10:07am on 05 Nov 2009, oadbywygg1 wrote:
Agree with Odarroch.
Johnny is fit because he's not playing for Newcastle any more, doing what their back row should have been doing for years with their defensive duties.
Playing behind a pack that protects him, he's able to perform to what we all know he is capable of.
might also be to do with having world class players outside him. SB Williams is twice the player Flutey is, and 1.5 times as good as Flutey and SG combined.
does this also back up the criticism of the Guiness Prem, the fact that the Top 14 is getting results with English players playing to a higher standard?
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Comment number 12.
At 5th Nov 2009, hermmy wrote:captainlazytim
Wilkinson has never played alongside Sonny Bill Williams, except perhaps in preseason. SBW has been injured since the start of the season and will be playing his first game of the season shortly.
oadbywygg1
The Brive team Thompson plays for is VERY below average, especially the pack. They are staring relegation in the face and would be no match for the Northampton of this season or a few years ago.
The fact that Steve has been picked is more testimony to his ability to rise above the mediocrity of his team (he is regularly their best player) than anything else.
Re Wilkinson, I don't know if this YouTube clip has been seen much in England, but take a look: it is JW's "wonder try" in a recent Top 14 match. Enjoy!
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Comment number 13.
At 5th Nov 2009, LeedsNick wrote:If Geraghty plays well this autumn... will Flutey get back into the team come the 6 nations? And how is Wilkinson better at French than Thompson? Thompson has been in France for years!
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Comment number 14.
At 5th Nov 2009, Josh wrote:That was a reall good creative try, he did get the luck of the bounce or was was that skill? I feel however Australia have the power to turn us over!
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Comment number 15.
At 5th Nov 2009, Tom Fordyce wrote:Nice linkage hermmy. Sent me looking for a clip of the chip 'n' chase v the All Blacks. And then Jonathan Davies' chip 'n' chase v Scotland '88. YouTube - I salute you and all your copyright infringements.
Chris10563 - glad you enjoyed it. I'd favour Brian Moore to beat me in a shin-kicking re-match. Although Victor Ubogu remains untouchable.
LeedsNick - as Jonny might say (but Thommo wouldn't), sais pas...
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Comment number 16.
At 5th Nov 2009, hermmy wrote:Josh
He probably did get the luck of the bounce, you always need it with grubber kicks, but the bit that was good was the step, real quality.
Regarding France based players, I have so far never criticised MJ but here I feel he's both wrong and inconsistent.
Inconsistent because he "warned" France based players earlier in the year that they would struggle to get into the squad, and then goes and picks Wilkinson, Goode, Haskell and Erinle (and would have picked Flutey if fit).
Wrong because Haskell needed another few months "out in the cold" for being such an egotistical twerp; Goode has been nothing short of appalling this year; and Erinle can barely even get into the Biarritz team and when he can, has done nothing.
Wilkinson is an exception I think we'll all agree on.
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Comment number 17.
At 6th Nov 2009, Toffa wrote:Everyone harps on about MJ introducing youth into the England team, but clearly this is only because it has been forced upon him. If Vickery, Shaw and Tindall were fit they'd be in the team. Maybe fate will help give some much needed exposure to the younger players.
And one other thing: Andy Goode - WHY?
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Comment number 18.
At 6th Nov 2009, Mark wrote:Don't get me wrong. I know it's not the same thing. But, having moved to southern Spain and having found a rugby club down here which still appreciates a 38 year old fly half/full back, a change of scenery really does make a difference.
I'm playing second team rugby here, when, just a year ago, I was struggling to hold my place down in my veterans' team. Yes, the intensity may not be the same, but when you play your rugby in 28* heat, even in "winter", I'd be surprised if Le Hask could maintain his notorious attitude.
One definitely has to make adjustments, regardless of level and intensity. I'm convinced Jonny is feeling the same way.
And if he's learned a new language, if only in rugby-speak, well, that has to be a good thing.
What's the French for "I'll be back in time for the Queen's Speech"?
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Comment number 19.
At 6th Nov 2009, GNSFs-TFC wrote:I think in theory it was a good idea from MJ to say that he would take preference to GP based players, but the best player should play...... On that note could anyone explain why Andy Goode has been picked I dont think Iv read one post that thinks this was a good selection??????
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Comment number 20.
At 6th Nov 2009, captainlazytim wrote:hermy wrote:
captainlazytim
Wilkinson has never played alongside Sonny Bill Williams, except perhaps in preseason. SBW has been injured since the start of the season and will be playing his first game of the season shortly.
apols, but the others (O'Connor, the Argie fella) still back up my point, as well as the quality in the forwards.
I don't think it makes sense to prefer GB based players if they are playing in an inferior league. Very few England footballers come from the lower league, and most come from the top of the Prem.
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Comment number 21.
At 6th Nov 2009, james wrote:I agree that Prem is not a classic vintage and the French based players all seem to have improved (i.e. being picked for England), when RFU all said it would damage their chances!! Wilko looks brand new, raring to go and as fit as he has ever been! He should have left Newcastle years ago!
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Comment number 22.
At 6th Nov 2009, steve wrote:Whilst the team looks pretty good it is still disappointing that MJ continues his tigers bias. Whilst Moody by all accounts dominated Armitage recently, Armitage for me has been the form 7 consistently in the last 12 months and needs time on the international scene. Moody whilst at his peak was world class is not an investment for the future. I cannot imagine more than 1:100 pundits opting for deacon to partner borthwick and I can only assume MJ knows something of the character of the guy that makes him valuable off the pitch or from a 'team bonding' perspective, as a player he simply doesnt cut it.
If Monye can withstand the high ball barrage he will get from Giteau it may be a masterstroke, the pace and power of the England back 3 looks formidable.
Nice to see Crane get a run at 8, he is a genuine player of the future and the potential of the wilko/shane axis looks mouth watering compared to goode/ a n other. This could be a cracking game, Aussie players to watch are giteau and robinson, he has single handedly turned a farce of a scrum into a real tough unit, also handy in the loose. Roll on saturday :o)
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Comment number 23.
At 6th Nov 2009, Josh wrote:Nobody has managed to answer why Goode is in the squad. The only thing i can think of is, MJ doesn't have 100% belief that Wilko will last the whole game? Do you think i am right in thinking this. I went to watch Newcastle against Harlequins a few weeks back and I think Alex Tait had an exellent game. He was fast on his feet, good tackles. I think Australia will have a good wise team they always do! If we use the wingers and kick over the top in the corners i think we could score some good tries. I know that for us will not be a good game to watch, but with wilkinsons kicking with a fast winger. TRY TIME!!
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