Quest for perfection still drives Wilkinson

thanks a lot wilkins-on. I'm french but I would want that Johnny win against the france cause the story of use of DNA with immigrant family. After the message of James Watson, discovered of DNA, in USA, I thought that the life get round. But I think that was a message for the france. In final, johnny wilkinson have loose : but it was just for say to the french president sarkosy : " C'est la vie", with ironical smile! That, it's the perfection! For me, wilkins(on) have win!

I an Aussie and consequently have been crushed at least once by the boot of Jonny. I do not agree that he is the absolute best player going around, nor do I agree with Brad that Larkham and Carter are simply "easy on the eye", but he is by no means just a boot, and is easily in the top handful of international fly halves. He may not have the attacking running game of Dan Carter, Larkham, Hernandez or Michalak, but he nonetheless possesses some skill in this area. He also is one of the best defenders of all international number 10s, both in hard hitting and round-the-legs tackles. He passes well, and is usually selective with his choice of pass. Enough has been said about his kicking, regardless of its inconsistency at this RWC. You cannot claim that his form has been patchy in France without at least noticing the same for Larkham and Carter. He has more experience under the pressure of these knockout matches than Butch James, or Lionel Bauxis for example. He is a solid, experienced, attentive player with an all-round game and he is naturally integral to a successful campaign for England.

Jonny Wilkinson will go down as one of the gretest champions of rugby union. He can change the course of a game and of his team. If we were all in a single club compettion and all players are equal and we are given the freedom to pick only 1 special player, who would you pick? Jonny wilkinson will be on most peoples list REMEMBER its about winning the competition. Dan Carter and Larkham are easy on the eyes just like a can of pepsi cola but wilkinson is that rare red that true rugby union (Not fast food league) supporters enjoy. Jonny wilkinson should be Knighted if he wins the gold again.

Had NZ had Jonny in the QF they would have won. Ditto Australia (although we may well have with a fit Larkham as well). Ditto 03 Final. Ditto for France last weekend. Simply the first man picked in any team

Sorry I don't buy it. You've given me two examples amongst, what, 60 Tests he's played. I reckon you could package the tries he's created over 8 years into about 5 minutes on video. I simply can't remember him setting sail on a memorable run, stepping around a defender or breaking a tackle. Similar to Percy Montgomery. In 90-odd Tests, he's brought little excitement to the game, especially over the last 5 years. He's the equivalent to a "special teams" kicker in NFL. He's shown mental strength to kick some crucial goals over the years, but sorry, that just doesn't float my boat. At least Wilkinson is tough and brave in defence.

Wilbur, Wilbur, get some videos out and watch the man before making these i'll informed comments. JW is so much more than a kicker or motivator / lifter of the team. He was involved in the running move the produced to Jason Robinson's try in RWC 2003, he's chipped New Zealand to score under the posts (I know that involved his foot but there was running there and a try) on his return to England he scored a try on the wing. These are just a few examples of what is clearly a rare talant. He is not in the same mold as Carter who is a unique player and one with a great future but to dismiss Wilkinson as a kicker is very short sighted indeed. As for Larkham he is another great player who tried to stay at the party too long.

Wilkinsons kicking game seems off target, the execution underdone.Anything to do with the new balls? Keep in mind, Steve Larkham genius that he once was, played rugby in virtual summer conditions compared with the UK grounds. Furthermore Super 14 rugby has different rules to UK that encourage attacking rugby, rewarded with bonus points. Often irrelevant in the trench warfare that is test rugby. As an aside, a mate of mine played rugby in Canada.Sometimes It was so cold, and the grounds were that hard and icey, the team wore plastic bags under their strip to stop freezing. My point is ,when comparing players keep in mind the vastly different playing conditions they are weaned on. Brisbane vs Christchurch for example Back to Jonny: most Australian players would really struggle in cold,wet , muddy, English sludge .Conditions not at all condusive to expansive rugby, but conditions neverthe less in which J W mastered his craft..

Do you remember his try against the All Blacks in summer 2003? A chip over the back line and a dart through to collect his kick and a try under the posts? Genius. And of course, he converted.

Wilbur.....it's not just a running game....it's strategy and tactics....some teams have a bigger percentile running game V tactical kicking....and that comes back to playing to strength etc etc.....at least we may agree it's definately a game played in heaven..

Maybe - but hopefully coaches of young players around the world don't talk of Wilkinson as a great player to be followed - IT'S A RUNNING GAME! Players move quite freely between rugby union and rugby league these days, but Jonny is perhaps the only player that may be signed by an English Premier League club...

You are right, he is not your modern running outhalf.....but you should not be upset if he is remembered as a great player, frankly cos he will be.....and rightly so, he has steered England to one world cup and possibly another...just because he is not your style of player does not mean he is not great. He is a classical Northern Hemisphere flyhalf. We play a different game to you guys.....haveing said that I am Irish and not sure what the hell game we played this world cup

Yeah points well made Mick. He does a very good job given his side's (apparent) limitations. But I get upset when people talk about Wilkinson in the same breath as Larkham and Carter. He has no running game or passing game, but yes, his defence is brilliant. He's tough and of exceptional temperament, and for that I admire him and he justifiably gets respect from teammates and opponents. Yet I'll be disappointed if he's revered in history as a "great" player. He's a hard-tackling kicker, really. Rugby is a running game, and that's essentially what separates it from soccer (from where the game evolved). Hence, runners like O'Driscoll, Mortlock, Larkham, Habana etc should be given due credit.

A little error Pelous in semi fianl not Qtr

Wilbur, Jonny adds so much to a team, which has clearly been evident in this world cup. Since his return to the team England are a different outfit, Now I am not saying he is back to his best, but he is still a great player.....Why?? 1. When he is selected fit in the team he gives the other 14 players added belief and they all raise their standards and expectations 2. He is a great student of the game, his own team and opposite teams strengths and weakenesses, and thefore understands the game to play to exploit and gain victory 3. With his exceptional kicking game he is able to move his team into postions around the park from where they can stike and keep the score board ticking over 4.When the heat is on he can drop into the pocket and add points from his trusty left ( and right if need be) to win matches 5. And if you want to talk about defense ask Pelous how he felt limpiing of the field in the Qtr final after running down jonnys channel. Now I do think that winning the final will be a bridge too far for this English team but without Jonny they would have played and lost in the Quaters at best. He plays a game that is suited to his team.....lets not forget its about winning the world cup, not the style you play

Wilko, meet Butch... He tackles very hard on rush defense. Dont forget to pass the ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who cares Jonny. I still don't rate him. The only thing he does well is, really, the most boring part of the game - kicking. It's an admirable skill, but one that doesn't get me overly excited. Let me use Shane Warne as an analogy. If he hit a good length on middle to off stump nearly every ball, then he'd be a skilful bowler and probably perform reasonably well. But Warney drifts the ball in the air, gets it to fizz out of the rough outside leg stump, ripping it across the batsman's off stump. Now that's awesome and gripping to watch. Dan Carter and Stephen Larkham picking out slow forwards in defence, organising runners outside them, running angles then slicing through the opposition is, similarly, awesome and gripping. I didn't think I'd get to this conclusion when I embarked on this analogy, but basically: Wilkinson would be a good international medium-pacer in the cricket world, with the admirable talent to bowl a good line and length, chip away consistently and make a solid contribution, but he's not going to rip through many top orders and get the crowd to its feet nudging eachother saying "how did he do that?!?!?"