Richard Hill says Jonny Wilkinson is the hardest hitting tackler - Rugby
While talking to reporters on December 13, Richard Hill, who shared the field with Jonny Wilkinson, praised the player's contributions to the world of rugby. He also said that in his view the player is one of the hardest hitting tackler.
The 32-year-old English fly-half confirmed his retirement from International platform where he has made a huge name for himself. However, the player will continue playing at the club level in the French side, Toulon, which he joined in 2009.
Expressing his views about one of the rugby union greats, who is famous for his splendid last minute drop goal in a World Cup 2003 win, Hill said, “People always say Jonny is the hardest hitting No 10 there has ever been but having been at the end of a few
Jonny tackles myself I rate him as the hardest tackler I have ever encountered end of story. I’ve been lucky knowing Jonny as a team-mate and a friend and have talked a few things through over the years and I am convinced his appetite for tackling came as
a direct consequence of that miserable 1998 tour when an inexperienced England team got battered from pillar to post in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.”
Hill said that Wilkinson was a motivated player who was well known for his unwavering dedication and straightforwardness which has taken him to the heights level in the rugby world.
Hill further shared that Wilkinson’s real talent revolved around his day in and day out persistent struggle to achieve the best, a glimpse of what was witnessed during the 2003 World Cup final. He not only motivated himself but his presence was inspiration
for those around him.
He was not only liked by the fellow players but was also branded by English coach Sir Clive Woodward as the David Beckham of rugby union. It was further shared by the coach that the void left by the players departure is hard to fill easily as the bar left
behind by the player is too high. Woodward also shared that he himself felt lucky coaching the player.
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