Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Jonny Wilkinson's trysaving tackle on Andrea Masi

Jonny Wilkinson is playing second fiddle to Toby Flood these days, but despite not being the key figure he used to be, hes adjusting to the role well and contributing where he can, as was seen on Saturday during Englands whitewash win over Italy.
Flood has come into his own at flyhalf, showing some of the form of his career, including a Man of the Match performance in the win over Wales. For Wilkinson, that means hes playing the backup role, which can be slightly frustrating at times, as he said recently.
"It is hell sat on the sideline but at the same time it is massively important. Being on the bench brings new lessons for me," Wilkinson said. "My desire to play for England is still as great as it was when I won my first cap. I am now in a role where I contribute slightly differently."
While not starting, he is playing some top quality rugby and still has the ability to come on and do the business when needed. Its a great position for England to be in, and injuries aside, Wilkinson will play in his fourth World Cup this year.
"To play and play and play is crucial for me. It's been a while and there were all kinds of different injuries going on. Seven years of coming in for cameo appearances has thrown me around in a way I don't think I'll ever understand fully.
"Your confidence goes with all these things. It has been an interesting journey for me. I've learned that if I want to play rugby I can only play it one way or I don't play it at all. My desire is to keep trying to get better and better. It would mean a huge amount to me to play in a fourth World Cup. I'm in it for the long run and I will give it all I've got and nothing less," he added.
As can be seen in this clip, Wilkinson came on against Italy and showed his commitment to the cause with a sensational try saving tackle late in the game that prevented Andrea Masi from diving in at the corner. Its been one of the most requested clips this week, so here you go.
Posted at 4:39 pm | 66 comments
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Viewing 66 comments
RedYeti February 16, 2011 4:54 pm

Moody is god February 16, 2011 5:02 pm

geordie February 16, 2011 5:09 pm

you could say that about every video on rugby dump 'guy scores a try world goes mad' stop being a negative t**t and admire a brilliant tackle regardless of who did it, bet if it was one of your countrymen (probs bok or NZ) you would get sexually turned on by it!
Francois February 16, 2011 5:12 pm

Sander February 16, 2011 5:14 pm

To make that kind of tackle, with that kind of score and time on the clock says everything about Wilkinson you need to know. Legend.
(Not to say that others wouldn't try to make that tackle, but hey ...)
Sander February 16, 2011 5:19 pm

Apart from the "hurting yourself in the proces" part, maybe ;)
Anonymous February 16, 2011 5:20 pm

Lucius February 16, 2011 5:29 pm

Dan February 16, 2011 5:29 pm

Anonymous February 16, 2011 5:31 pm

Colombes February 16, 2011 5:36 pm

no he isn't actually the best fly half of the world. he certainly was in 2003.
but it's always a joy to see him play and tackle with such commitment. watchin him in the top14, i've discovered an exemplar player and person, and he still have his left foot;)
Martin Johnson February 16, 2011 5:58 pm

Ted February 16, 2011 6:00 pm

Guy February 16, 2011 6:20 pm

But than again, when you see tackles likes this: man, what a player! And it's certainly not the only one he made last two weeks.
@Ted: I would start Wilko over Hape and leave Tindall in place. Have not been really impressed by Hape last few matches.
Jonno February 16, 2011 6:28 pm

(u-p)rick February 16, 2011 6:30 pm

Anonymous February 16, 2011 6:31 pm

What he is the best in the world at is being number 21. There's no one else I'd rather have come on and close out a tight one.
Benson February 16, 2011 6:39 pm

Moving on as we're now going down that road (coming from a Bok fan)
Great tackle. Not only try saving but some big contact too, with two minutes left on the clock when your side has scored 50 points. Pure class.
John Birch February 16, 2011 6:44 pm

Martin Johnson February 16, 2011 8:10 pm

Yeah, because Toby Flood is such a one-of-a-kind flyhalf.
Wilkinson could start. I don't necessarily blame Johnson for not starting him, though. But what does irritate me is the fact that he gets such little playing time. Why not bring him on with more than 5 minutes left in the clock...I'd say that if Flood isn't having an exceptional game, what's the harm at switching them with 20, 30, or even half the game left?
Anonymous February 16, 2011 8:29 pm

Jonno February 16, 2011 8:48 pm

An embarrassment!
Phil February 16, 2011 9:03 pm

Great player, great tackle, great vid, thanks RD. I don't see why people are getting upset about it!
(u-p)rick February 16, 2011 9:04 pm

Anonymous February 16, 2011 9:45 pm

Anonymous February 16, 2011 9:49 pm

Do you know anything about rugby or just come on here to talk rubbish, wilko wouldn't make the starting line. Melbourne has Danny Cipriani, third choice England fly half at best.
Seems there are two groups of people watching this, those who know something and regardless of being english, nz, boks respect a good hit for what it is.
then the other which should just go watch football or something that suits there IQ levels
Nam February 16, 2011 9:52 pm

matt February 16, 2011 9:57 pm

King February 16, 2011 10:33 pm

Wonderful tackle from Jonny. Absolutely nailed him! So good to watch.
Anonymous February 16, 2011 10:54 pm

Anonymous February 16, 2011 11:17 pm

Great morale booster if you are playing and you see someone making a tackle like that 2 mins from the end with the game clearly won.
Benson February 16, 2011 11:22 pm

@ Jonno, not technical, that's what it's called officially. It just shows how disconnected you are from what's really going on.
The only embarrassed one should be you, who seems to think that Wilkinson wouldn't make teams like the Lions, Cheetahs, Highlanders, Rebels, etc. In fact he'd walk into most Super Rugby teams, and I'm sure the Crusaders would even pick him ahead of Colin Slade, as DC's backup.
This is a global rugby website for open minded rugby fans from all walks of life. If you can't handle that, maybe go somewhere else?
Anonymous February 16, 2011 11:25 pm

Anonymous February 16, 2011 11:33 pm

Anonymous February 16, 2011 11:50 pm

(u-p)rick February 17, 2011 12:37 am

P.s people trying to use my nickname, at least use decent spelling and grammar. You may like to troll my nickname, but it's could be found to be quite obvious if you are a retard who cannot construct a sentence...
P.p.s if there is any spelling/grammatical errors here I'm blaming it in predictive text....
Tom February 17, 2011 1:07 am

Jono February 17, 2011 1:08 am

I'm a Jono, but one of at least three.
no9 February 17, 2011 1:19 am

the real try saving tackle of the tournament so far came from richie Gray against france.
Anonymous February 17, 2011 2:30 am

Well Flood's been exceptional so far in the 6N so he can bloody well stay on for the whole match for all I care about 'giving Wilkinson more time'.
We should all agree that JW is a special player and has given a tremendous amount to English rugby.
Back in 1999-2003 he had what it took to be a truly world class 10, and he certainly had the players around him to help.
Now, the game's moved on and England's pack isn't so dominant. And when he hasn't got the greatest forward pack the game's ever seen grinding him out tired defences, quick ball and kicking oppurtunities, and hasn't got Will Greenwood standing outside him telling him what to do, then he looks a little limited.
On the other and (in 2011), Flood takes the ball flatter and wider, has more pace and a better eye for gaps, has a superior game kicking out of hand and holds his own defensively and off the tee.... no brainer.
Tom February 17, 2011 2:31 am

That's a big call.
AB13 February 17, 2011 3:22 am

Anonymous February 17, 2011 3:47 am

Chris_J February 17, 2011 4:41 am

Xavier February 17, 2011 8:45 am

Not many sides (national or club) in the world wouldn't like to have him. And even though he seems to truly shine when he has a pack like England's in 2003 (I'd love to see, in some fantasy dreamworld, a game with SA's 2009 pack, with FdP at scrummie and 2003 Wilko at flyhalf), he has a dangerous boot, a mean tackle and above all, he keeps his composure and his head cool, thus avoidind some costly mistakes (yes, I'm thinking of you, mister Ronan "I can't make a tackle to save my life and I sometimes have some stupid 2009 Lions-like brain farts" O'Gara).
My two cents
Rob February 17, 2011 8:46 am

Also, I was at the game and the roar that went up from the crowd when he came on was absolutely huge. Flood is playing superbly at the mo but as a morale boosting talisman you can't beat Johnny. I'd keep him on the bench and bring him on for the last twenty or so.
Flipje February 17, 2011 9:44 am

I really would like to see Wilko at 12 on international level. He showed at Toulon (for instance vs Musnter in the Hcup) an interesting level even if Hcup/Top14 is something else than playing vs the SH teams.
On the recent games, Flood has been playing very well, also it seems to me that his switch to Leiscester has been very positive, and you see his complementarity with Ben Youngs. Sound difficult for Wilko to get back in starting line up in front of Flood....
As for Wilko as n#12, he does bring the same characteristic than Tindall, but most importantly I believed MJ will not risk him because he remains a fantastic "second" choice at 10, in case of injury or misform from Flood.
Still he can bring some very interesting option as 10 and may be at 12. In a certain way, if MJ is clever he could use/misuse Wilko in the same way Clive Woordward did with Mike Catt....during the 2003 WC.
Daaaaave February 17, 2011 10:41 am

I've lost count of the amount of times you catch Drico or Wilko getting a bit of Wendyball 'magic sponge' action after a tackle, while milking the crowd's attention. Only to see them get back up and 'shake it off' to carry on playing.
Boys, if you're actually injured and can't give 100%, then get off the park and let someone on who can. If you're not injured, stop writhing about like some sort of tasered seal...
King February 17, 2011 11:01 am

Anonymous February 17, 2011 11:09 am

Anonymous February 17, 2011 12:01 pm

I guess we can't all be like DAVE and get up straight away . . . .
oh the envy of not being him
Resident Troll February 17, 2011 1:09 pm

before being winded: 100%
10 seconds after being winded: 40%
20 seconds after being winded: 100%
Seems pretty reasonable for wilko to continue to me....
Same applies with a dead leg etc... And same applies to drico....
Maybe dave isn't hard at all, maybe he goes off after first point of contact because he can't play 100% straight after it....
Why the f*ck do you think we ache on a sunday? Because we gave 100% when our bodies couldn't take 100%!!!
Anonymous February 17, 2011 5:20 pm

A good read and standard textbook tackle. Nothing other wordly, the beauty of physics.
vinniechan February 17, 2011 5:53 pm

Just that in the past any attempt to shift him from 10 to 12 had all been very poorly managed. (giving 20 minute of game time b4 putting him up against the best in the world - Aaron Mauger - while he was freshly bk from injury in the 2005 BIL was huge mistake)
Jimbo1 February 17, 2011 9:43 pm

Clip should be used a demonstration of good technique in the tackle (unusual for wilko :)
Nickoo February 18, 2011 2:11 am

Brilliant tackle by Wilko, fly-half with heart!
Anonymous February 18, 2011 8:30 am

Daaaaave February 18, 2011 12:46 pm

Resident Troll February 18, 2011 1:40 pm

I recall seeing many an international player, have a quick hobble to shake off a dead leg, or a quick stretch to ward off that bit of cramp after a run/tackle.
I mean do you rush yourself off to hospital and lay bed ridden for weeks at a time if you stub your toe at home?
I know I dont, i hope and yell 'sh*t f*ck b*llocks tw*t' hobble hobble hobble. 'well now thats over with, where was I.'
What is the video at the very top of the RD page, second in from the left. 'Stirling Mortlock's low blow'
Last time I checked the video wasnt actually working, but assuming you've seen it, I think you can allow players to have a few seconds saving grace to recover from certain painful incidents!
Anonymous February 19, 2011 10:24 pm

Welshnumber7 March 15, 2011 5:22 pm

J.P. March 17, 2011 11:59 pm

Many of you just need to get off Wilko's nut sack!



















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