/ 1 February 2007

Can Wilkinson kick-start England?

Jonny Wilkinson, Andy Farrell and Jason Robinson in the same team — either it’s a recipe for a spectacular England comeback, or a huge gamble that will make English rugby look in an even worse mess if it doesn’t come off in the Six Nations.

Eight losses in the nine games led to the departure of Andy Robinson and the promotion of Brian Ashton from attack coach, who is charged with improving England’s fortunes.

For his first game in charge, Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham, he came up with a line-up that has excited the England followers who jeered the team after its losses to Argentina and South Africa in November.

Whether it works is another matter.

”We have had a real reality check as to where we are, and where we need to be,” Ashton said.

”After the autumn Tests, we sat down as coaches and said we had to find a starting point in 2007. I am excited, as are the players, and there is a feeling and desire within the squad to go out and put England back on the map again.

”We want to develop our game, and maybe take it to levels where we haven’t been to before.”

Wilkinson pulls on the England shirt for the first time since the World Cup final in Sydney in November 2003. Although he played for the British and Irish Lions in 2005, the flyhalf has played little competitive rugby because of a catalogue of injuries to his bicep, shoulder, neck, groin, both knees and kidney. Appendicitis and hernia problems also kept him out of action.

”I’m not one to doubt myself. I’m not a brash individual but I would not be here if I did not believe I was ready,” the Newcastle flyhalf said.

”The game has changed a bit since I’ve been out and I’ve seen a lot of rugby from up in the stand. It is a lot easier to see things watching from there and it has given me a lot more empathy with the players.

”There is no difference in my approach mentally and physically from 2003. But I’m a different player,” Wilkinson added. ”I’d hate to say I was the same player as three years ago. With age I have gained a greater level of composure and I see things and play the game more simply.”

Wilkinson has played only 45 minutes in the last three months, but he won’t be the only back in the spotlight. Farrell, a converted rugby league great, will make his England debut after only 11 games at union, and former captain Robinson has been persuaded to end his international retirement and return on the wing.

With Iain Balshaw, Josh Lewsey and Mike Tindall also among the backs, the potential is for a showpiece performance before 82 000 fans at Twickenham in England’s 124th game against the Scots.

It could also be a major flop.

England badly need a boost during a year when they defend the World Cup title in France in September and October. Ashton’s decision to name an attack-minded line-up is a positive step and he has two expert kickers in Wilkinson and Farrell, who will play at inside centre.

But he needs Wilkinson to quickly regain the ability to control the play, and wants to see the tall, powerful Farrell use the dynamic skills he brought from rugby league to bulldoze his way through opponents and also stop them getting close to the England try line.

Robinson returns for the first time since his international retirement in 2005, and England will hope he will quickly regain his ball-handling skills and ability to weave his way around tacklers with his fast, short-stepping runs.

The star-studded but untried backline should receive plenty of ball from its pack.

Ashton has named a new captain, World Cup-winning prop Phil Vickery, instead of Martin Corry, who keeps his place at number eight. But hooker Steve Thompson, who has struggled to recover his 2003 World Cup form, has been ruled out of the entire Six Nations with a neck injury. — Sapa-AP