'It's what needed to happen': Wilkinson's message to bruised England side
England’s legendary flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson has offered a philosophical view of the 53-10 defeat at the hands of defending Grand Slam champions France.
The World Cup-winning No 10s perspective comes from personal experience after Wilkinson was involved in previous heavy defeats, suffering a 76-0 loss to Australia in 1998 and a 58-10 loss to South Africa in 2007.
In both cases England rebounded from the losses to have success, winning one World Cup in 2003 and making the final in the other 2007.
Wilkinson believed that the defeat will help the side reach the bottom from which they can shed themselves of false beliefs, allowing for a re-birth to occur following a mindset change.
His personal experience from the defeat to the Wallabies ended up as a ‘cleansing opportunity’ which enabled him to experience growth as a player.
“It’s really interesting because it’s what needs to happen, there is no other way around it,” Wilkinson explained to the ITV post-game show.
“It’s not a wrong turn, it’s not the end of the path, this is the path.
“In that 1998 game for me it was a real cleansing opportunity to realise the story of who I thought I was could no longer carry on.
“It was almost forced to change. And in that change I found brand new possibility.”
The former England flyhalf also didn’t think this meant that success is years away, pointing to his experience in 2007 leading to his second World Cup final appearance.
England were heavily beaten in the summer by the Springboks in South Africa and returned to face them at that year’s World Cup.
“In Bloemfontein in 2007, yes in the summer there we lost a game by 50 points, within three months we were in a World Cup final,” he recalled.
“It doesn’t mean ‘oh this means years and years of this’, it has to happen. It’s a massive humility check in all kinds of ways.
“Not that those guys are arrogant but it is realising that an evolution needs to take place and it is a huge learning experience.
“If there is that desire and intention to push on, it will turn into something bigger and better.
“However long that takes, I don’t know. Which players will be there and which won’t, I don’t know.”
It doesn’t get any easier for England who have to face Ireland next week, the world’s current number one ranked side and favourites to complete a Grand Slam.
They will travel to Dublin to face Andy Farrell’s side at home which could be a ceremonious occasion should Ireland defeat Scotland on Sunday.
Despite the result against France, Wilkinson believed the team will feel less burdened now that the worst has happened.
“I think that team will come out lighter next time on the field,” he said.
“They’ll feel more bouncy on their feet. They won’t feel heavier because of this defeat.
“In that Ireland game I think there will be a freshness in the team.
“They can say ‘yeah okay let’s stop pretending’ and give it a crack.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
41 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
41 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
41 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
41 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
41 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
41 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
41 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments