Toulon Not Releasing Wilkinson For England Camp

[TRF_Olyy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8886840.stm

Toulon aren't releasing Jonny Wilkinson for the England training camp, starting 8th August, as he's contracted to play on the 13th.

Wonder if this'll harm his chances for England this Autumn/if anyone will be called up to train in his place (Hodgson from Saxons, maybe?)

 

[SelimNiai]

Well that's gonna go down as well as a Steak Resturant in a Vegan Community.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Oddly enough, Haskell has been OKd by Stade Francais, despite all of that hooplah during the 6N

 

[Teh Mite]

TBF, the test squads should **** off instead of interfering with the various different pre-season preparations.

However, if this was any other player it would knacker his chances of playing for England in the Autumn. As it's [strike]Golden ********[/strike] Wilkinson, you can rest assured that he'll be shoehorned in (injured or not) into the 22, if not the 10 shirt itself.

 

[munstermuffin]

Agreed with Bullitt, the players should be left complete their pre-season at clubs and do it right instead of jumping from programe to programe

 

[Amobokoboko]

I also agree on that and as it is Wilkinson he will still have his spot in the squad.

 

[eot345]

i think fly half is one of the positions where england are weakest and yes johny could probalby break his neck and still make the 22

 

[Teh Mite]

England are weak at 10, however Flood, Myler, Geraghty, GOLLINGS, Hodgson, Goode, Goode or even some South African imports are more relevant at fly-half in the modern game then Wilkinson.

It's such a shame for the English game that the media and idiots like this guy on 606 say tripe like

"Wilkinson first walks in as an icon (it's the other guys, the new kids that would suddenly feel inadequate)..plus, he walks in and is greeted by an old warrior friend from the great days of yore, Johnson."

Too much stuck in the past. Too many idiots don't know what they're talking about.

 

[munstermuffin]

I'd like up see Myler get a go. I think he has a great nerve on him and is a good goal kicker and has always impressed me. Jonny is still decent but is living off reputation and well minute he kicked that last pen against Aus this summer he guaranteed himself another 2 years in squad.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Is this the same reason Bath didn't want to let Butch James go? Pity they did in the end. Do you guys not feel Wilko still has something to offer English rugby?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think he has a great nerve on him.

Didn't see the GP semis?
He fluffed the chance for a match winning dropgoal

 

[Teh Mite]

Do you guys not feel Wilko still has something to offer English rugby?

Do you honestly believe he offers rugby anything at all?

 

[munstermuffin]

Didn't see the GP semis?
He fluffed the chance for a match winning dropgoal

I wouldn't dismiss him over that and well I think he showed throughout last season he is capable. He will also improve with games at international level.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Do you honestly believe he offers rugby anything at all?

LOL. For me personally.. he is a link to old school rugby. Seriously, there aren't many who played in the 2003 RWC still around. I guess sentiment isn't what I would want if I were in your shoes, though. Personally I would sack John Smit if it were up to me.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Seriously, there aren't many who played in the 2003 RWC still around.

From England alone theres: Wilkinson, Vickery, Tindall, White, Moody, Cohen, Balshaw and Thompson (with four of them still in the England squad)

 

[MichaelBoard]

I sympathise with him but I think its a bit dull on Johnny's part or his agent that they didn't ask for some sort of clause in his contract saying that he would be released for all international training cams and matches. Thought they may have tried to negotiate this because french clubs have a tendency occasionally not ot release players for such things as was shown with Haskell and Stade Francais a while back and I'm sure when Alfie Thomas was at Toulouse, on one occasion they were not willing to release him for international duty, not 100% sure on that one though

 

[tinchy17]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8886840.stm

Toulon aren't releasing Jonny Wilkinson for the England training camp, starting 8th August, as he's contracted to play on the 13th.

Wonder if this'll harm his chances for England this Autumn/if anyone will be called up to train in his place (Hodgson from Saxons, maybe?)

Maybe even David Strettle?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Why would they call up a wing to replace a flyhalf?

 

[munstermuffin]

But sure the funny thing is there will be others that aren't in EPS that will get selected too. Like I don't think these camps are great.

 

[Teh Mite]

The theory is that if an EPS player is injured, the "training squad" Saxons players are called up. However, we all know that the RFU ignore these rules if it suits them. Backdoor central contracts so **** the clubs and their season preparations or the fans who buy their tickets.

Part of the reason I will always cheer my club ahead of my country.