From the Touchlines: Is it the end for Jonny?

This morning's newspapers are awash with Wilkinson stories, deeming it a case of Gone Jonny Gone after he was axed by Brian Ashton, and every pundit worth his salt has weighed in with their opinion on the matter.

The general consensus is that Wilkinson's international career is over after 69 caps but that's utter nonsense. For starters, he's not been dropped from the squad - he's on the bench for Saturday's game against Ireland - and secondly he's as driven as ever, which is typified by the two hours he spent in the gym on Sunday morning despite nursing aches and pains from the Scotland game.

Ashton's decision might just be what's needed for Wilkinson as he tries to lift his game to another level and it also might expose the lack of decision making by those around him. Richard Wigglesworth and Toby Flood are both superb players but neither man has rushed to make the big decisions in the game. That's been left to Wilkinson and the inexperienced Danny Cipriani could, like Jonny, be left out on a limb this weekend if Messrs Flood and Wigglesworth fail to step up. It might be a fear factor - with Jonny held so high on a pedestal for so long - that's held that pair back and, with a fly-half as green as Cipriani running the show, they know they'll have to take greater responsibility.

So, it might just prove a midas touch by Ashton and it might bring the very best out of Wilkinson for future seasons. He may be a little out of the limelight for now but has every aim of being at the 2011 World Cup and I for one wouldn't bet against him.

Do you expect Wilko to bounce back or is this the end of his international career. We want to hear your comments...

Comments

[JonnyFan]

LOVE YOU JONNY

[Berkshire Taff]

Glad to see the back of Wilkinson - never rated him as a Fly half. His boot and nostalgia kept him in the side for far too long. Time to give some real outside halves a chance.

[HereComesTheEggMan]

No one seems to be talking about Olly Barkley who's been tearing it up for Bath in recent weeks. He's absolutely flying but doesn't get a sniff. I assume it's because he's one of the players who had strong words to say to Brian Ashton when it all fell apart in the earlier stages of the World Cup in France. Ashton needs to grow up and bring him back into the fold as he's a better kicker, game breaker and cool head than Toby Flood at inside centre. Him alongside Jonny Wilkinson would have sorted out much of the detritus we've seen from England so far in the Six Nations. All a bit too late but thought I'd mention it.

[the craigo]

Simple fact. The best fly half available to england on form is danny cipriani. The only problem is that this should be his fifth start at 10 for england not his first. Wilkinson has been playing too deep since his return from injury, and cipriani has proven his talents time and time again in the heineken cup, which is quite possibly a tougher environment than international rugby. It's the right decision, just too late. Wilkinson has it within him to come back, but it should be earned not on the basis of former glories.

[Hatty]

If Wilko goes from the team after the Murrayfield mayhem, then why don't half the rest of the team. I don't have a bloody clue what Ashton's thinking. First he ditches the form player of the squad for nightclub shenanigans and now this. He won't have any confident fly-halves left if he's not careful. If I was Charlie Hodgson, I'd be nervous something was coming my way from him.

[shady]

"You can't put that responsibility on one player's shoulders."
Brian Ashton's words in a recent interview. but thats what he's done to jonny. he's always had bad days but the difference between now and 02/03 is the rest of the team. 02/03 was full of leaders, if jonny made a mistake the rest of the team could pick up and put it right. now, if a mistake is made they all point their fingers ad look lost!! jonny is still world class so he'll be back to prove people wrong.
if he needed a scapegoat he should have picked balshaw!! never performed for england and probably never will!!!!

[John Sturgess]

i'm loathe to wish for a player to get injured but i'd like it if danny cipriani picked up a really minor knock at the start of the game against the Irish, Jonny had to come on and pick up the man-of-the match plaudits.

It's amazing how quickly people can turn on a legend after all he's done. the media are a nasty bunch.

[Ellie]

Wilko will come back no problem at all as thats the sort of player he is.

But people need to stop talking about just him. There's a lot more wrong besides that.

The RFU needs to sit down and have a big overhaul, plotting how to go forward from here. Things are not working and whether that's Ashton's fault or not I don't know but things have to change asap.

[jgriffin]

The Cipriani thing is a red herring. England need a huge shake up starting with sacking R Andrew at least and moving down. Cipriani is great going forward and like most fly-halves in UK avergae when on back foot at best. He is being bulled up - there are a lot of talented players in the GP and D1 who could do the job - Croft is an example, best on the park on Saturday for England. England has been a disaster for a few years, yet they have so many good players either in the Saxons or elsewhere. Why not try them?

[Hatty]

OLD RUBBER JONNY WILL BOUNCE BACK!

[SimonS]

Unless Wilkinson learns how to play rugby in a different way altogether I don't see how he's going to get rid of Danny Cipriani. I've not seen a player that young be that accomplished for as long as I can remember. He's much more a natural talent than Jonny and he's going to clearly get better with experience.

[Brian Simpson]

No chance. HIs time's up.