Misconception of influence of Jonny Wilkinson?

Question

There has been a lot said about England only having 1 player, ie JW. But is this really true?

Against the Wallabies he had a very poor game. the English forwards won the game and therefore won a number of penalties. JW didn't kick well and his percentages were only average. Any kicker would have got 4 penalties.

Just because his name is on the scoresheet does not mean he won it singlehanded!

English forwards are better than the Wallaby forwards whereas visa-versa re backs. Therefore England played a tactical game to play to their strengths. JW simply kicked a few penalties.

If England are to beat France, it is likely to be the forwards again who contribute most. having said that, the french forwards are better that the Wallabies so will be tighter.

Anyway, gonig back to original point, the English forwards are the match winners not JW?

Answer 1

Well they say the facts speak for themselves.

I don't know the exact figures but England win over 80% of their games with Wilkinson and about 50% without Wilkinson.

England's winning percentage with Wilkinson playing clearly shows the impact that he makes.

You do raise a good point though, the English forwards did play well and they would not of won without them. I don't know why but the whole team seems to play better with him.

Wilkinson is a great player, not just for his goal kicking etc but for his defence. He is the best tackling fly half/first five in the world. I truely believe his defensive efforts are as influencial as his kicking.

Anyone who doesn't think Wilko is great player is another victim of tall poppy syndrome and clearly is an idiot.

Answer 2

Rugby is a team game. I think it wrong to praise any one indiviual. The others give JW the chances - he takes them and good on him for that but without the others he would be a nothing.

Answer 3

JW is a great kicker and an average professional firstfive.

He does not win games through his playmaking abilitys but he is a safe bet with the boot.He does help the english team with their confidence but i can think of at least 6 better firstfives in world rugby (not just current internationals) who demonstrate a better allround game.He is a long way short of Larkham , Carter, Evans etc.

Answer 4

OK JW is a very good kicker, without him England would have lost the quarter final, but I will disagree with you on another point. The forwards had a great game but the backs were also superb. They were only stopped by desperate Aussie tackling. I have great hopes for them against the French. Should be a great game of rugby whoever wins.

Answer 5

Do the Newcastle Falcons win every game they play because of Jonny W,no they don't.

I totally agree with you ,the forwards played briliantly and made the Wallaby's look unfit.JW wasn't having a good day,come to think of it neither was the Aussie kicker.

Only a 100% rugby follower would recognise that JW isn't a one man band.

Answer 6

ok

Answer 7

The English media like to talk about - and more often than not - overstate the importance of Wilkinson since he is the marquee name in English rugby union, the name that gets the non-rugby playing public interested in rugby. It is a position that Wilkinson himself is occasionally embarrassed about, but it goes with the territory.

Of course England do not have only 1 player. Against OZ, the forward effort was immense, and in restricting them to the 9 points it is obvious that throughout the team England's defence was excellent.

Wilkinson's kicking hasn't been at it's best, but then again the vast majority of kickers have struggled at this World Cup, and this has been heavily reported on. Forget about Patersons 100% record since he lacks the ambition in range of other kickers.

The important thing Wilkinson brings to England is game management. Most non-rugby players/coaches (and indeed many people who do play/coach) will not have a deep understanding of game management, and so will not fully be able to understand the contribution Wilkinson makes to the side. But ask anyone who does understand, and they will tell you Wilkinson is the best in the business at pulling the strings. It is for this reason that Wilkinson is so important to the side.

I'd also like to point out that Gomarsall has also been outstanding in the last few games, and has also made a valuable contribution to the way England have played.

Against Australia, England played the percentages and went for territory, playing towards their strong forwards strengths. Had for example Perry and Farrell been at 9 and 10, this would not have been the case.

So, in response, it is a bit of a loop - Wilkinson is important because he gives the forwards the territory they need, while Wilkinson needs the forwards to provide the necessary possession. When all this comes together, games are won.

Answer 8

The team wins, but having a kicker who is so deadly, (and he will be back on form now they have sorted out the wrongly inflated balls), is a great incentive to the opposing team not to give away any penalties.

Answer 9

lets put it this was if he hadnt kicked those penaltys then australia would have been through to the semies,coz they sure didnt score any tries,but i will say that the forwards played well enough to say they sort of played as a team