Six Nations - Wilkinson targets Six Nations return

Eurosport - Thu, 04 Dec 18:21:00 2008

Jonny Wilkinson has refused to rule out a return to action during the Six Nations.

1103 news wilkinson - 0

The England fly-half has suffered a string of serious injuries since his winning kick in the 2003 World Cup final, the latest being a dislocated knee he sustained at the end of September.

The 29-year-old has been out since and will shortly undergo surgery to assess his recovery.

When asked if he could return for the Six Nations, Wilkinson said: "I'm not sure.

"At the moment I'm still waiting to get on my feet, properly move around (which) should be around January time and after that I'd like to think I could come back.

"I hope so, I'm always positive."

England have endured a miserable autumn under new manager Martin Johnson which has seen them lose heavily to Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

Johnson and the team have come in for a great deal of criticism but Wilkinson has total faith in his former team-mate.

He added to the BBC: "I believe he will be (successful). I don't say that as helping out someone I know, I genuinely believe it.

"To think someone is going to achieve straight away without going through a period of learning and adjustment is ridiculous.

"Johnno is such a clever, astute guy that he will pick up on that learning very quickly.

"I trust the system, I trust Martin Johnson, I trust the coaches and the players."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 2 - 21 of 21

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  1. was the best flyhalf in rugby but not anymore sorry to­ say .
    he`s going to say that johnsons the right man for­ the job cos he wants to play for england again . on­ saying that what els have england got at flyhalf only­ cips and he`s not there yet by a long way

    From alan, on Sat 6 Dec 12:29AM
  2. he should he should

    From jason b, on Fri 5 Dec 11:33PM
  3. I have all the respect for jonny staying at newcastle­ and his tremendous loyalty,but.

    If he is to make a­ comeback he should he should have a fresh start with a­ new club.

    A NEW CLUB AND A NEW START. A complete new­ begining. or retire. The former for me!

    From jason b, on Fri 5 Dec 11:32PM
  4. I have all the

    From jason b, on Fri 5 Dec 11:23PM
  5. I think Wales are doing really well and it would be fab­ to see them up there with the southern hemisphere big­ boys but I fear that they have traits of the "All­ Blacks" syndrome and just peak at the wrong time­ and somehow it all goes to pieces come the World Cup.­ However don't forget how long it took for England­ to build to that win and honestly they did not even­ play well to win the World Cup. I am a huge and proud­ England fan though, don't forget we gave Rugby to­ the world and its always fab to see a strong England­ team. I think they have a lot of work to do before they­ even resemble a formidable team, but I am excited to­ see the quality of the young players coming through. If­ Johnno can't get them to start firing nobody can. I­ am pretty confident things will come good soon. Lets­ just stay behind them and never give up. I hope the­ best for Wilko - when he gets it right he is truly­ wonderful to watch.

    From First, on Fri 5 Dec 2:21PM
  6. TJ, Dont really give 2 hoots about what you think!! im­ proud to be English wether they win or lose. and you­ just wait till the six nations, we'll see!!

    From Louise P, on Fri 5 Dec 1:20PM
  7. Trufftastic....some things for you to consider....of­ the six world cups in history england have contested 3­ of those finals....winning one....wales have never and­ will never contest a final, let alone win one. Who­ knocked them out last year? Figi? HAHAHAHA. Come the­ next world cup. i know, you know, everybody knows that­ england will do better than wales, you can go on about­ current form all you like, but the fact remains that­ sooner or later england will again be stronger than­ wales, and i wouildn't be suprised if it happens as­ soon as the six nations.

    From mark, on Fri 5 Dec 12:12PM
  8. He definitely needs to leave Newcastle. Maybe a move­ similar to the one David Coulthard made when he went­ from McLaren to Red Bull? Big fish in a small pond­ scenario. He deserves it.

    From Donald D, on Fri 5 Dec 11:46AM
  9. Jonny wilkinson sud do himself a favour, retire from­ international rugby. I dont think his body can take the­ stress of test matches anymore, ideally what he sud do­ is focus on club rugby, and maybe look for lucrative­ deal in france. he may aswell go a bigger club and do­ sumthing different.

    From zeppelinsymbols, on Fri 5 Dec 11:36AM
  10. Cipriani at fly-half and Jonny at centre - they can­ swap when Danny's head is on backwards.

    From Donald D, on Fri 5 Dec 11:26AM
  11. louise p.
    GET A LIFE WILL YOU, JUST LIKE YOUR FOOTBALL­ WORLD CUP IS IT, WELL SORT IT OUT YOU CANT WIN ON­ PREVIOUS FORM PRESENT FORM IS WHAT COUNTS , NEARLY LOST­ COUNT OF THE POINTS SCORED AGAINT YOUR RUGBY TEAM­ RECENTLY, WALES IS HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE OTHER­ NORTHERN HEMISPHERE TEAMS . ROLL ON THE 6 NATIONS YOU­ WILL STRUGGLE AGAINST ITALY .
    AS FOR JONNY BOY GIVE­ IT UP YOU AINT GOT A PACK TO HIDE BEHIND ANYMORE.

    From trufftastic, on Fri 5 Dec 11:03AM
  12. TJ. THATS FUNNY HOW MANY WORLD CUPS HAVE WALES WON.­ ERMMMMMMMM

    From Louise P, on Fri 5 Dec 10:01AM
  13. I think England are at a low and they need their good­ luck charm. Johnny has been that lucky charm for years.­ I have seen a poor England win with Johnny's boot­ in the past. I just ask myself is he up to it fitness­ wise?

    Good on him if he wants to play for his country­ and is fit enough to do so, good luck Johnny. I hope it­ isn't desperately grasping at something in the hope­ of improving a poorly performing side.

    Anyone remember­ "Dusty" Hare?

    From John D, on Fri 5 Dec 9:27AM
  14. just the other day Wilkinson was saying he didnt want­ or need to play for England again ...

    From john, on Fri 5 Dec 12:15AM
  15. 'Jonny Wilkinson is perhaps the best fly half in­ the world but I would prefer to see him retire from­ international and club rugby whilst he is at the top of­ his game than risk coming back and then being forced­ out due to injury as has happened to so many great­ players.'

    Wilkinson has not been at the top of his­ game since 2003... due to the injuries and time away­ from rugby he is nowhere near the player he was. To be­ honest I think he should retire as the last few times­ he played for England he was just average. Such a pity­ that injury ravaged his career, as during his prime he­ was magical.

    From Stuart, on Thu 4 Dec 11:36PM
  16. errrr Peel's a scrum half not a fly half.....and­ paterson struggles to get first choice for scotland­ (admittedly world class team and therefore difficult­ to get into)...and on the subject of his kicking, not­ sure about all the time, but certainly during the last­ world cup he had some other chump to take the difficult­ kicks cause he couldn't kick it far enough.....so­ suprisingly he got the best kicking­ percentage.....Nowhere near Wilkinson's all round­ class

    From mark, on Thu 4 Dec 10:52PM
  17. Disagree about Jonno being best fly half in the world.­ try the welsh ones eg Duane Peel

    TJ
    Proud to be Welsh

    From Jayne S, on Thu 4 Dec 10:19PM
  18. On the subject of Kickers I only have one thing to say­ Chris Paterson

    From fordellman, on Thu 4 Dec 8:08PM
  19. lad your both rong im an all black and i tink o gara is­ the best kicker ahead of carter

    From karl, on Thu 4 Dec 7:54PM
  20. Well, it's been proven that we miss him badly.­ After seeing Carter's display with the boot at­ Twickenham, he is still the best kicker in the game -­ and we need him the now

    From craigpatte, on Thu 4 Dec 7:13PM
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