Wilkinson contemplated retirement
Source: Agencies |
November 9, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
JONNY Wilkinson was so upset with criticism of his performances for England that he contemplated retiring from international rugby a year before the World Cup.
The flyhalf said he met with manager Martin Johnson for four hours in October 2010 to discuss the possibility of quitting after 12 years with the national side. "With England, my confidence had just disappeared," Wilkinson said. "I feel lower than I have ever felt before. The thought of not playing for England again makes me sick, but I simply do not know if I can carry on."
Wilkinson was widely cited in British media as a key reason for England's often dour performances under Johnson, with critics referring to his deep positioning, kicking game and supposed tactical inflexibility.
Toby Flood replaced Wilkinson for the final game of England's 2010 Six Nations campaign and was lauded for his role in a narrow defeat to eventual champion France in Paris.
"In the media, I became a scapegoat for our performances in the Six Nations," Wilkinson said. "And it seemed to me that people were happy enough for it to be that way."
Johnson persuaded Wilkinson to carry on and he began the World Cup in September this year as first-choice flyhalf. But England slumped badly and was eliminated from the quarterfinals by France, with Wilkinson's usually metronomically accurate place kicking hindered by what he still maintains were substandard match balls.
The flyhalf said he met with manager Martin Johnson for four hours in October 2010 to discuss the possibility of quitting after 12 years with the national side. "With England, my confidence had just disappeared," Wilkinson said. "I feel lower than I have ever felt before. The thought of not playing for England again makes me sick, but I simply do not know if I can carry on."
Wilkinson was widely cited in British media as a key reason for England's often dour performances under Johnson, with critics referring to his deep positioning, kicking game and supposed tactical inflexibility.
Toby Flood replaced Wilkinson for the final game of England's 2010 Six Nations campaign and was lauded for his role in a narrow defeat to eventual champion France in Paris.
"In the media, I became a scapegoat for our performances in the Six Nations," Wilkinson said. "And it seemed to me that people were happy enough for it to be that way."
Johnson persuaded Wilkinson to carry on and he began the World Cup in September this year as first-choice flyhalf. But England slumped badly and was eliminated from the quarterfinals by France, with Wilkinson's usually metronomically accurate place kicking hindered by what he still maintains were substandard match balls.
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