Wilkinson - World Cup Balls a Joke

[TNT88]

England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has revealed his anger at the match balls used during the 2011 World Cup and has hit out at the tournament organisers in the process.

Wilkinson suffered from some of the poorest kicking form of his career during the World Cup in New Zealand and pinpointed the unpredictable behaviour of the match balls as the root of the problem.
...
Wilkinson revealed in his autobiography, which is being serialised in The Times, that the match balls were a "joke" due to their inconsistent movement - something that could not be blamed on the weather as England played three of their pool games in the enclosed Otago Stadium.
...
"It's not exactly surprising that I wouldn't want a ball that flies miles from where it's supposed to," he added. "I'm sick to my stomach of thinking about how hard I've practised kicking over all those years and what little good it has done me at such an important time. "It angers me."

Full article: http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/153803.html

Interesting perspective. He says the balls worked alright in the warm-up, but not in the game. However, I always thought the teams get to choose the match balls?

Maybe the balls were designed badly and each one flew differently, depending on how worn-in it is. Which would be a bad mistake from the IRB.

 

[centurion]

Different situations in warm up and during a game i guess. Im sure the ball manufacturer would've checked each ball

 

[nickdnz]

Weird how there were plenty of other players that didn't have the same problem.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

he's got more excuses than springbok fans

 

[Teh Mite]

No Jonny, you'r just a 60% kicker who once upon a time (many many years ago) played in a good team. STFU, delusional twat.

 

[Nielsch]

A lot of other players had problems kicking with the ball. Did you see Weepu in the semi and quarter final? Wilkinson seems to be kicking just fine with Toulon. Last match he kicked all of Toulon's 18 points against Brive.

 

[McTallshort]

Weird how there were plenty of other players that didn't have the same problem.

But there were plenty of players that did. Something was not right, JW is not the kind of player who moans for no reason.

 

[nickdnz]

A lot of other players had problems kicking with the ball. Did you see Weepu in the semi and quarter final? Wilkinson seems to be kicking just fine with Toulon. Last match he kicked all of Toulon's 18 points against Brive.

Weepu kicked something like 7/8 in the Quarter Final and did pretty well in the semi scoring 15 points. In the final Weepu was a bit off because of a groin injury.

Clearly something was wrong with his goal kicking, but I doubt it was the ball fault. There were plenty of consistent kickers through out the tornement like Bai, Yachvilli, Steyn, Carter, O'Connor etc. Maybe Wilkinson is venting his frustration at kicking poorly. Interestingly, Paul Greyson tested the balls before they came out and he didn't seem to have an issue with it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

But there were plenty of players that did. Something was not right, JW is not the kind of player who moans for no reason.

Thought the same

However there were players who were knocking them over from everywhere (Theuns Kotzee getting them from 60m for example)
It's an odd situation, maybe he just happened to have the select few balls that were a bit faulty

He's well known to be a bit OCD about his kicking, he could just be looking for a reason somewhere

 

[Teh Mite]

But there were plenty of players that did. Something was not right, JW is not the kind of player who moans for no reason.

No, he's "pragmatic" I.E. He forces a smile and says he supports being dropped etc. while subtly forcing the media to sing his praises.

Also:http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/185715/rugby-cooper-backs-wilkinson-world-cup-ball-claims

Gilbert international brand manager Andy Challis told Britain'sDaily Telegraph

: "I'm not going to get into a war of words with Jonny, but I will defend our World Cup ball to the hilt."It was extensively used last season in the November internationals and Six Nations and Jonny was given a chance to test it personally more than a year ago. We couldn't have done more and many kickers in New Zealand seemed to thrive using the same ball."In addition to the match testing, a large selection of all of the balls used in the pool stages were sent to Paul Grayson down at Northampton, where he coaches, to test kick for us and to bin any ball he wasn't happy with. Paul also tested every single ball involved in the knockout stages before they were sent to New Zealand.''​

Graysons kicking > Wilkinsons kicking​

 

[cimbomjubi82]

There could be some truth in it, but a bad workman blames his tools.

 

[LomuLegend]

Given that he must (surely?!) have practised with the RWC balls after their release, months before the WC, it is odd how such a studious bloke kicker had such problems. If the balls worked ok in the warm-up then that can only be head issue can't it??

I went to S. France with a cousin of mine to watch the Toulon-Perpignan match in October. Although Johnny started on the bench when he came on he made a really positive impact and tries were scored. That said the game was more or less wrapped up shorlty after he came on. Perpignan are way off the pace atm!

He didn't seem to be struggling too much with his kicking in this match either!

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

The most hilarious thing is that Wilkinson kicked his penalties mainly in Dunedin, in a closed stadium. If ever there were superb conditions for kicking, it was in those matches. I didn't hear Morne Steyn, Morgan Parra, James O'Connor, James Arlidge or even Theuns Kotze complain... It's all Wilko being the source of the missed kicks

 

[psychic duck]

I don't think Wilkinson should be moaning as even if he was playing with a giant melon it's the same for both teams

No Jonny, you'r just a 60% kicker who once upon a time (many many years ago) played in a good team. STFU, delusional twat.

That is false, even though Wilkinson hasn't done well since RWC 2007 for England

that is an extremely harsh way of looking back at his best years, his kicking stats at that time were phenomenal and yes you're right he did look a lot better behind arguably one of the greatest back row combinations and alongside a very good inside centre in Greenwood, but you've got to give a bit more credit to a guy who played such a big role in England's best ever period

 

[Nielsch]

Weepu kicked something like 7/8 in the Quarter Final and did pretty well in the semi scoring 15 points. In the final Weepu was a bit off because of a groin injury.

My bad, i meant the final and semi final. Weepu didn't do very well in the semi final (4 out of 7). Like I said; Wilkinson kicked 6 penalties in his first match back for Toulon. It's not like he can't kick.

 

[Nielsch]

And maybe it's because of the Otago Stadium. England isn't the only team with a bad track record over there. Some might say the conditions are perfect, but maybe the very absence of outside interference is interfering with the kicking of penalties.

First match; England - Argentina. England missed 5 of their 7 penalties, Argentina also missed 5 of their 7 penalties.
Second match: England - Georgia. Georgia missed 5 of their 6 penalties.
Third match: England - Romania. Romania missed 4 of their 5 penalties.
Fourth match: Ireland - Italy. Both teams missed 1 penalty (looks average).

 

[TRF_Olyy]

They did say on the pre-match things for the matches at Otago that kickers find it harder in there than elsewhere - however I don't know if it plays a significant amount towards their poor performances there
Millenium Stadium doesn't seem to affect people either

 

[Gavin]

They did say on the pre-match things for the matches at Otago that kickers find it harder in there than elsewhere - however I don't know if it plays a significant amount towards their poor performances there
Millenium Stadium doesn't seem to affect people either

I heard it was due to the different air pockets which travel around the Otago stadium that puts of kickers.

 

[JW.]

No Jonny, you'r just a 60% kicker who once upon a time (many many years ago) played in a good team. STFU, delusional twat.

Anything Jonny Wilkinson says is the truth and nothing but the truth! *The bad word you used*, cynical git.

*EDIT* Before people go of on a rant, that may have contained a bit of sarcasm.

But JW is a great kicker, one of the better ones we have seen in Rugby his International points are a testament to that. You don't become a bad kicker for a couple of weeks and then go back to being good. But whatever it is, I don't care really as it's over and I shall not remember Wilko for this WC. He has the right to put how he feels in his auto. as that's what it's about. He's not a hater/blamer type of person all he expressed was how he felt that all those hours of practice dissapeared into nothing.

On a slightly different note he isn't giving up his England carreer, but should England give him up? Nobody can judge how we will be in 4 years time but I'd but a bet on it that he won't be world class as aged catches up with everyone (except S.Shaw ofcourse), should England let him go? What if he goes on to play Worldclass rugby at Toulon?
Me personally I'd keep him in the squad IF he's playing very very good for Toulon he's a positive asset in any team, for his experience and general knowledge.

 

[nickdnz]

I'd say it's time to call it a day for Wilkinson's international career. At 32 years old, it's possible he could make it, but doubtful. Fact is,Wilkinson has essentially blocked any development of world class 10's in England since 2003. Every player who has got a chance in the England shirt during Wilkinson's many injuries, has essentially been ditched for when Wilkinson returns (and rarely in 100%). England have enough young talent who would be worth investing in that it's worth looking for the new Wilkinson, rather than churning out the old.