Go Jonny Go - He's Nearly Gone

I HAVE nothing against Jonny Wilkinson, in fact, I admire the man greatly. It could, with justification, be argued that he has been the outstanding, most-professional rugby player of the professional era - even if, in terms of his ability to raise a packed stadium with a moment of brilliance, he is some way behind the likes of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter or Brian O'Driscall.

 

Anyone who has read even one of the several books written by or about him, will know he is an absolute perfectionist, who suffers, surprisingly, moments of self-doubt and an intense fear of failure. He must be hell to live with.

 

Wilkinson played well for Toulon in their Heineken Cup Final defeat of Saracens on Saturday. He gave his usual four-and-a-half-out-of-five-stars display; kicked his kicks, had the vision to bring the best out of his outside backs and gave a captain's performance in the galactico-filled "French" side retaining the big silver pot.

 

Also, given the final was his final game on British soil, the overwhelmingly English media we are saddled with on this island were always going to give him the Man of the Match award and eulogise his performance.

 

BOD got the MOM award for his final international match in Dublin, probably underservedly; at least, in Cardiff on Saturday, Wilkinson had more right to his. Regardless of national or club ties, we can be sure, these two megastars will be sadly missed.

 

However, sport is like that - one generation of big names departs, to make room for the next. In time, we will be able to better evaluate their performances. Sure, given the English media bias, Wilkinson will always be up there, but, on the top step in the pantheon of stand-offs? Not so sure about that one.

 

I would put him behind (in no particular order) Jackie Kyle, Cliff Morgan, Barry John, Phil Bennett, Mark Ella and Dan Carter. I also reckon, albeit they played in the amateur era, Dai Watkins, Richard Sharp and John Rutherford, although not in the Wilkinson class as place kickers, were better match managers.

 

But, none of them kicked a World Cup-winning dropped goal for England.

 

That's the great thing about sport, opinion is free. Wilkinson is in my top ten tens, but, I don't think he's the number one.