When Brian Ashton was handed the role of English rugby coach, there seemed to be something of a quantum leap in the way in which the team played their rugby. It was as if suddenly the entire forward pack looked across the field and saw for the first time a couple of well groomed chaps in clean uniforms similar to their own standing away from the maul and thought ‘you know what, we could use those blokes’.
All of a sudden England found that not only did they produce backs but some reasonably handy ones too. In less than a year Ashton took the ball away from the forwards and put it in the hands of some youngsters like Matthew Tait and Toby Flood, both of whom possess the essentially non-English trait of flair.
Since the departure of the dutiful but limited Andy Robinson, Ashton’s men began playing with more than just pride. The coach’s love of a complete game was starting to shine through as the clouds of the 2003 world cup hangover began to lift.
Young players were trialled. Some passed, some failed but an overall sense of invigoration filled the team and England’s rugby press. Then Jonny Wilkinson came back.
Wilkinson is today without the forward dominance which previously allowed him to play at the highest level whilst not excelling in the primary skill sets that defined his international opponents – the ability to use the ball in hand in such a way as to evade the defence of the opposition team. Be it via running with the ball or passing it to players in such a way that improves their position.
In England’s loss to France on Saturday Wilkinson was a man lost. He passes well without drawing his man or opening the field for his receiver. He tackles well but without the devastating impact of Brian Lima, Nathan Grey or any of South Africa’s midfielders.
Rugby has moved on since 2003 and a modern fly half cannot simply provide the team with a good kicking option. If Wilkinson can play with the ball in hand it is time for him to do so. England no longer have the forward pack to carry him if he doesn’t.
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