By now you’ve heard the earth-shaking news – Jonno has bitten the bullet and dropped Jonny Wilkinson for the French game Saturday. (The Times headline included the words ‘England turn to youth’ but probably should have read ‘England turn to stone.’)
Is this the last of Wilko?
I don’t believe so. Not unless England picks somebody for the June tests in Perth and Sydney who shows that he can consistently kick penalties and droppies for 3 points.
Will it be Toby Flood? Maybe, if he’s still in the team, and if he can perform with the boot in internationals. Or somebody else if they look like becoming a Matt Burke or an Andrew Mehrtens.
Failing that, England will take Wilko because they’ll put up with his poor punting, own-head-banging tackles and trouble running the line in exchange for grabbing those penalty points.
Coaches and selectors are never more conservative than they are when they’re ramping up for a RWC.
In my honest opinion, Wilko will make the squad and the quarters if England can get out of their pool without drowning.
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