Jonny Wilkinson retires from England duty

[Seaton]

Sure, I agree. But I wanted to say he wasn't only his kicking, as some seem to think. I was pointing out that his trycount is not low when compared to other very highly regarded flyhalves, nor is the amount of tries his teammates scored. And that he didn't score as many dropgoals as paople say (I mean, he did score a lot, but certainly his gameplan was not to "enter the 22m line and attempt a dropkick"). He certainly couldn't run a backline as Cater or Larkham could (I was never a fan of Mehrtens tbh), but many fans and journalists are too extreme in their categorising of Jonny's game.

Just for the record, I wasn't criticising Wilkinson's try scoring record, merely my surprise at how he has so few, so the complete opposite in fact.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I was surprised at his win stats: 70.1%
Not bad considering England for the past 8 years ain't been great.
Looking at players with around the same number of caps as him, it's one of the highest non-All Black players around (Stirling Mortlock at around 65%, Matt Giteau 56%, Percy Montgomery 66%, Stephen Larkham 68%, Stephen Jones 41% - Dan Carter is 80+%)

 

[powerfulduck]

As an Englishman I find it hard to say a bad word against a guy that's scored 1179 international points in 91 caps. Regarless of recent form he's been great for English rugby

 

[JW.]

Some great things being said by alot of people around the world about Jonny. (People who know what they're talking about) People saying he didn't deserve to be at the RWC11 are plain blind or stupid he was the second best flyhalf England had during the 6nations and leading up to the WC he was nr.1 as Flood's form slipped. People saying he can only kick just need to look at some of his games, now for Toulon and some back in the golden era.

JG:

What you saw is what you got with Jonny. I can't imagine anyone would have anything unfavourable to say about him.

 

[Melhor Time]

That must be your first posts where not announcing Argentina as the moral winners of every competition. Ever. Bravo.

Would the moderators actually stand up and sort out this problem child please.

He refuses to address the post another poster made - yet calls the guy a dick. Now he´s wasting my time.

 

[Groundhog]

come on everyone less arguing .Arguing on the internet is like playing football even if you win you're still a twat

 

[JW.]

come on everyone less arguing .Arguing on the internet is like playing football even if you win you're still a twat

Hahaha, never heard that one before. CLASSIC!

 

[UilamOsa]

No Arguments from Me.

He was a fantastic player and imo if Dan Carter weren't around, he'd be my pick of the best 1st Five in Rugby in the last 30years (yep I'm calling it). His try against the All Blacks where he got the ball from the Ruck, and chipped over the top of Mehrts was only an indication of the class he possessed.

That said - at least he can retire knowing that for the Red Rose he's done practically everything. 6nations/RWC's. It also says alot that (from Memory) he may be one of the very few players to have ever beaten All Blacks and Australia at home in the same year, which I think is a rarity even during the tri-nations.

 

[RAWWeyman]

You can say anything you like about the way Jonny played, but the fact of the matter is that he will go down as one of the greats, and quite rightly too. Yes, he may have lacked flair, creativity and the ability to unleash backlines like the likes of Larkham, Carter and Cooper, but Jonny Wilikinson was a courageous and inspirational player who does not deserve people rejoicing at his departure.

 

[Darwin]

Personally I was delighted that Wilkinson made it to this years Rugby World Cup so I got a chance to see him play live.... and miss easy kick after easy kick at the Dunedin stadium. It was probably the highlight of the Rugby World Cup for me. I jest of-course......... the highlight for me involved a different team in black, but this came a close second

I think Wilkinson's decision to retire from international rugby was good one. He played ok in the Rugby World Cup (goal-kicking aside), but not much more than that. The problem is because of his past deeds I'm sure coaches felt almost compelled to pick him regardless of his form - while he may have justified his position in the Rugby World Cup squad (though I would have preferred to see Flood starting at 10), there seem to be plenty of youngsters coming through that deserve a chance to prove themselves at test level.

 

[lucky number 7]

Would the moderators actually stand up and sort out this problem child please.

He refuses to address the post another poster made - yet calls the guy a dick. Now he´s wasting my time.

This is the internet bro...that's what it's here for

 

[William18]

Andrew Mehrtens stats I'd say are more impressive considering he scored more points per game, the same number of tries and conversions (exactly the same, not less...) and he did it in 28 less tests. Wilkinson scored many more drop goals and penalties, which wouldn't indicate he set up many tries. Daniel Carter, Grant Fox, Andrew Mehrtens and Diego Dominguez scored more points on average than Wilkinson.

My thoughts on Wilkinson are pretty simple. He was exactly what England needed in 2003. With a great forward pack and creative inside and outside options in Dawson, Greenwood and Catt, he had the accuracy, defense and composure to be very good. He's much like Morne Steyn was in 2009, extremely accurate and could control a game going forward. The problem with Wilkinson however, is that he just isn't a creative player. I thought he was overhyped by the English media to no end. I don't think he could run a backline like Larkham, Mehrtens could and Daniel Carter can, which is why I think England have struggled so much, as their forward pack hasn't been the same monster it was in 2003 and their backline was never going to be unleashed under Wilkinson (not that this was all his fault).

I think this post basically sums up what every New Zealander thinks about Wilkinson. He was good at what he did (kicking, tackling etc) but if you want to be known as truly a great of the game you have to be the complete package. I'll remember him as a very good player who spear headed England to victory in 2003. I don't think he fulfills the definition of a great player though.

 

[dullonien]

I think it's a bit unfar to slag off Wilkinson. He had a few years where he was very good and complemented the team he was a part of. Inuries all but ruined his career after that, and tbh he did well to return to rugby atall. I've never been his biggest admirers, and don't understand how people can think of him as one of the best ever, when he simply wasn't in my books, mainly due to a lack of longetivity and all round game.

 

[Seaton]

I can't understand why people are saying he shouldn't be criticised.

No one is beyond reproach, not JFK, not Mother Teresa, not Nelson Mandela and most certainly not Wilkinson.

He was a very good player, a true pro who worked very hard to get back to fitness after countless injuries, but that doesn't mean that poor performances or deficiencies in his game can't be picked upon.

 

[no-1-rugby-fan]

Ok so who should have gone in his place, given his form leading up to the WC was very good.

Toby Flood without a doubt.

 

[JW.]

Toby Flood without a doubt.

Coming 6nations maybe, but Flood hasen't been great so far. And even at topform he isn't worldclass. Have Burns on the bench and see how he can translate his skills over to international rugby. One hell of a prospect, who could be very good come 2015.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Toby Flood went to the WC anyway, not as if Wilkinson kept him off the plane.

I, too, hope that Burns is next in line. Owen Farrell is likely to be ahead of him, unfortunately, though.

 

[Nielsch]

Just for the record, I wasn't criticising Wilkinson's try scoring record, merely my surprise at how he has so few, so the complete opposite in fact.

And the try against Scotland in his return match in 2007 should have been disallowed to be honest. However I was there that day at Twickers and it was a great day. I remember everyone being so excited to see Wilkinson back in action for England. It was a great moment him scoring that try.



And this one is still awesome of course.

 

[big ginger 8]

Very solid very professional player. Not my type of player but the best 10 England have ever had

 

[nickdnz]

And this one is still awesome of course.

When ever I see this try, I think "Ok, it was a pretty good chip, but how has James Simpson-Daniel been so neglected by England". Some of the most beautiful slight of hands I've ever seen from any player. He did a similar thing against the Barbarians foolling Jonah Lomu and went around him to score in the corner with Christian Cullen almost pushing him out. It was magic.