posted Nov 21, 2008

Jonny Wilkinson is the greatest outside half of all time because of one simple fact. He is the biggest point gatherer the game has ever seen. England won so many marginal games because he was there to either land the 3 points or to engineer the team into a scoring position. We must remember rugby is about winning, to win you have to score more points than the oposition and no player in history could influence the score board like Jonny Wilkinson.

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posted Nov 21, 2008

He said last night to reporters he isn't interested in trying to win back his england spot. Said it isn't in him anymore and he wouldn't enjoy it. Also said Cipriani is the one to take the job and best for it

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posted Nov 21, 2008

"Jonny Wilkinson is the greatest outside half of all time because of one simple fact. He is the biggest point gatherer the game has ever seen."

Sorry I don't agree.

1) Being the greatest points gatherer does not necessarily make you the best FH of all time.

2) Wilkinson amassed the highest number of points but that does not make him the greatets points gatherer.

It depends how many matches he played and who he was playing with.

Hugo Porta was a great FH but played behind a poor Argentinian team. Does that make him a worse player becuase his team was poor?

Neil Jenkins is the second highest points gatherer. Does that make him the 2nd best FH of all time?

Much as I think Jenks's overall play was under-rated I would never put him above Lynagh, Davies, Bennett, Fox, John, Watkins, Ward, etc.

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posted Nov 21, 2008

I hope most of you will agree with me on the following:

1 JW is greatest RWC 10 the world has ever seen
2 JW is the one of the best place kickers ever if not the best
3 JW is THE GREATEST exponent of the drop goal
4 In terms of pure talent Carlos Spencer is on his own, even ahead of Carter and JW
5 JW is the best tackling 10 we have ever seen
6 Cipriani is young and needs time

I have said it. Enough jabbering from me, let's look forward to the games!

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posted Nov 21, 2008

comment by handy-legend (U6618796)
posted 17 Minutes Ago

I hope most of you will agree with me on the following:

1 JW is greatest RWC 10 the world has ever seen

No way. He is one of the best but certainly not he greatest ever seen. i would rate carter better and Andrew Mehrtens

2 JW is the one of the best place kickers ever if not the best

Certainly NOT. He is an outstanding drop kicker of the ball i will give him that and he went through one purple patch but certainly not the best ever place kicker. Simon Culhane, Grant Fox Neil jenkins, Don Clarke I could go on


3 JW is THE GREATEST exponent of the drop goal

Agreed.

4 In terms of pure talent Carlos Spencer is on his own, even ahead of Carter and JW

Agreed but only in terms of running the ball and pure skill.

5 JW is the best tackling 10 we have ever seen

No way. Butch james is easily the best tackling flyhalf the world has ever seen and one of the best tackling backs PERIOD

6 Cipriani is young and needs time

Agreed. he is the one to fill the shoes and has potential to be great

I have said it. Enough jabbering from me,

Agreed

let's look forward to the games!

Agreed

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posted Nov 21, 2008

Just to respond to point 3 about drop gosls:

England got stuffed by 5 drop goals from SA in the RWC.
Bob Hiller scored two drop goals from near the half way line in England's 9-3 defeat of SA in 1969ish

I think JW being the greatest ever exponent of drop goals is arguable.

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posted Nov 21, 2008

well it is quite hard to argue with it when he kicks a RIGHT footed droppy to win the rugby world cup in extra time...I was going to argue but thought better of it... I will give him that!

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posted Nov 21, 2008

My point about Jonny Wilkinson is this really. All players have strengths and weaknesses, but overall the way he takes the points, gets his teams on the front foot in terms of tactical excellence outweighs, the contributions of say 1 or 2 jinking runs by a Phil Bennett or Carlos Spencer. Also the way he closed off his channel with his defence limited the oppositions attacking avenues. I will admit their have been more exciting outside halfs, but in reality if your team was playing a must win game who would you like to see in the number 10 shirt?

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posted Nov 21, 2008

Although if anyone remembers Janie De Beer from South Afica, I don't even know if he EVER missed a droppy, and who could forget thsat priik Joel Stranksy?! I can't! Joking, he was brilliant also

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posted Nov 23, 2008

How can JW and Cipriani be compared? JW has had a career, which may or may not be near its end, and DC is just beginning.

The problem for Danny is the England team, media, and supporters are looking for another superstar/winner/best-in-the-world at 10, which is a terrific burden. He may end up being very good, but to expect that is probably unrealistic. Perhaps this is contributing to his incredible error count when playing at the higher levels. Not just England, but was terrible for Wasps against Munster last season, another high level occasion. I don't think I have ever seen so many kicks blocked, many returned for Trys, by any player at any level. And these errors are mostly mental, which can be corrected, but take time.

I think the best thing for Danny is to go back to Wasps and work on these basics. Forget England and without question forget Lions. It might even be worth looking at him at 15, where he played a season ago at Wasps. He obviously has a lot of talent. But is young and should not be rushed.

Fo JW, I just hope he is not rushed back just so England can have a world class 10 in the Lions squad. Let him take the time to get healthy, for once.

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