Wilkinson - future leader of England?

By Neal Collins, Sporting Life

Very quietly on the radio on Sunday morning, England coach Clive Woodward let it slip. We are about to enter the Era of Wilkinson.

"It's not all about Jonny's kicking, it's about his leadership. He works very hard on the kicking but remember, he's our quarter-back, the man who dictates our play. As fly-half, he's central to everything. And I don't think anybody expected him to mature as quickly as he has." said our leader on Radio 5.

"It's been a real bonus for England."

Yup, at 21, England's future is mapped out. Captain Wilko will rule, long after Martin Johnson's chirpy-chappy style has moved into breathtaking television analysis (I'm joking).

After the record-breaking 48-19 win over France at Twickenham (all England's four Six Nations results so far have been prefaced with the words record-breaking, because they have set new levels throughout), Woodward also waxed lyrical about his job as coach of this rampant England who have made All White the new All Black.

He said: "Is it like flogging a dead horse? No, no, it's the best job in the world, my dream job. I don't want to think about where we rank in the world, whether we are number one or two, I just look ahead to the next result, the next win.

"This morning I'm out playing golf, enjoying myself and we won on Saturday. Next we go on tour to Canada and I'm loving it."

I suspect he wasn't loving it much when France came back from 10-0 down to lead 16-10 with Wilko missing a rare penalty from a very kickable position.

France were looking something like they had against New Zealand's All Blacks in the 1999 World Cup at the same ground. But the second half saw England's phenomenal fitness and complete commitment come to the fore and France were crushed by a record margin, just like Wales, Italy and Scotland before them.

Richard Hill's try? Certainly the moment of the championship so far.

He grinned: "There were five of them around me, but once I'd slipped the first tackle there was nobody around so I just thought I'd go for the line."

Like Will Greenwood, Iain Balshaw, Mike Catt (thanks to a glorious Austin Healey overhead kick, yes you read that correctly), Phil Greening and replacement Matt Perry, he got there.

Six tries against the French? Oh yes, that's how good, how entertaining, England have become.

There were plenty of ifs and even a few butts from our gallant Gallic losers.

This was French coach Bernard Laporte's revealing admission: "We smoke, we drink and yes, these habits have to change. The English have gone away from us. They have professionalised themselves, we have not."

Ireland and the Grand Slam will have to wait until autumn, but unless England suffer 18 or 19 career-threatening injuries on the Lions tour Down Under this summer, Warren Gatland's green's will be lucky to escape with anything less than a mauling.

Wilkinson, at 21 and after just 27 games, is already England's greatest ever points scorer.

Rob Andrew's record, 396 points from 71 internationals, pales in comparison.

Yet it was Andrew, as Newcastle coach, who dragged the Hampshire youngster out of obscurity, took him up to the North East and gently brought him on as his understudy.

Wilko, his bizarre kicking ritual now extended to clasped hands and curious facial contortions, said: "It is nice to have my name banded in the same bracket as Rob Andrew. He has always supported me and was the first to congratulate me. I completely forgot about the record during the game and only realised when I heard the announcement on the tannoy at half-time. It is great to finish the international season on such a high."

Wales, with potential Lions scrum half Rob Howley ruled out due to a back injury, condemned Italy to the wooden-spoon with a 33-23 victory in Rome.

Bath's Gareth Cooper took over the No 9 shirt and promptly scored after seven minutes.

But the big story - and he is fairly large - was Scott Gibbs. He scored the other two Welsh tries in a superb 53rd Wales appearance. Will Graham Henry find a place for Great Scott in the Welsh back line?

Will Mike Catt and Will Greenwood survive? What about all those Irish backs? Will any Scots make it? Watch this space...

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