Why Wilkinson is still integral to England's rugby fortunes

Jonny Wilkinson will not be going anywhere in the short term – as long as his notorious shaky body holds up.

With a litany of injury history, Wilkinson was conspicuously absent for most of the horrific championship reign of the England team. This absence has allowed young up-and-comers to move through the international ranks.

Wilkinson's representative career began in Newcastle, initially playing at inside centre. He was not an assured fixture in the mighty Falcons team that boasted internationals such as the fearsome Inha Tuigamala and Alan Tait. The black and whites won the Premiership title that season and in 1998 Wilkinson earned his first international call-up – being idle on the bench for his first official game.  He came from the bench against Ireland in April of 1998, aged 18.

His first international tour was disastrous - the Australasia campaign saw England destroyed by the All Blacks and Wallabies. Fans of English rugby would argue that this was the catalyst for their eventual climb to world supremacy.

By 1999 Wilkinson was a starter in the England team, playing all of their matches in the Five Nations, but he couldn’t prevent Scotland’s breakthrough in 1999.

He figured in England’s failed 1999 World Cup campaign, but was not a regular starter, being rested for some pool games and being benched for the 44-21 drubbing against the Springboks to exit in the quarter-finals. Many blamed Clive Woodward’s selection policies, lack of consistency and Wilkinson for their ultimate demise.

In 2000 Wilko and England had come of age, with the loss to Scotland denying England a Six Nations Grand Slam.  In England’s tour of South Africa, Wilkinson effectively won the second Test, kicking all of their points in a landmark 27-22 win.  At the end of the year he was instrumental in England claiming the scalps of the Pumas, Wallabies and again the Boks.

2001 was a mixed year for Wilkinson, with England claiming the Six Nations and recording the Five/Six Nations record for the most individual points in a match with 35 against Italy. Wilkinson was selected for his British Lions against world champions Australia, and was blamed by many for the Lions' second Test loss with a poor performance.

The 2002 season saw Wilkinson’s England miss out on a third consecutive Six Nations title, being denied by France who recorded a Grand Slam by defeating England in Paris.  The End of 2002 saw England and Wilkinson confirmed as world powers, claiming a Trifecta over the South Hemisphere giants, defeating the Wallabies, All Blacks, and annihilating the Springboks 53-3.

Of course 2003 was the apex of the Wilkinson and England era. They claimed a Six Nations Grand Slam, defeated the All Blacks and Wallabies in their own backyards, and won the World Cup, with Wilkinson kicking the winning drop goal.

It is this proud history that will ensure that Wilko will remain a fixture in the England team.  Martin Johnson, the new England rugby supremo recognises Jonny's importance and the impact he can have on the team’s performances.

There is competition for the No.10 position, with Wasps prodigy Danny Cipriani coming to prominence, and Charlie Hodgson having an impressive injury comeback with Sale Sharks. 

But Wilkinson, the charming lad from Surrey, is now an integral part of England folklore and will not be consigned to the scrapheap. He would be an attractive option for inside centre, at the least for his ability to guide the young players and his defensive work.

It will be a while before we see the back of the current record points scorer in Test match history.  With England’s upcoming tour to New Zealand, it is crucial that he be involved at some level - as untested fly-halves should not be exposed to the cauldron.