Jonny Wilkinson Interview...! Where and Why it didn't happen...

Jonny Wilkinson wrote:After the World Cup I wanted to make things better and make things right but I realised that knee-jerk reaction (to carry on) had been lasting about two years, I was thinking about my future in terms of righting wrongs for myself and the team. That feeling had been going on for a long time and was affecting me in quite a profound way.

There was one period, coming off the back of the Australia tour last year, when I had questions about coming back into the England set-up again. I wondered if that was the right time (to quit), but the way I was going at Toulon, there was no way I was ready to let go. I kept thinking, 'Next game it will all come good, next game it will all be amazing'.

With the right conditions and set-up at Toulon I knew I could get the best out of myself. I waited a long time for those conditions with England but it just didn't happen.

It's difficult to pinpoint what the problem was, but it just wasn't right. I was unable to rediscover the environment that I thought could bring the best out of me. I was trying everything to turn it around. I would go back to Toulon and it felt like it all just happened for me. Everything there made sense.

With England it just didn't happen and I'm not pointing the finger at anyone, but that was the situation. In the Six Nations I was coming off the bench so I was seeing what Toby Flood could do for the team -- he brought out the best in those around him and had a real connection with them. Whatever I felt capable of doing on the pitch it didn't matter because it just didn't happen.

I can try to lie and say it doesn't matter but it does matter, I always wanted to go out on a high, but it can't matter too much because it's not all about celebrating a player's career.

Lewis Moody is another guy in the same position - he is someone else who has given everything to the cause. You can't choose the outcome, all you can do is choose how much you put into it."

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Typically honest. Hes saying what anyone else could see, he just couldnt hack the pressure of international rugby anymore.

gowales wrote:True he could have done with a decent 12 outside him with england to start with!

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Or a pack to give you front foot ball and that extra bit of time and space. Let´s not forget that formidable pack in front of him in his glory years.

The backs tend to get the glory but the forwards are at the coalface of that glory.

That said, Wilkinson was a special player and has been a magnificent ambassador of world rugby let alone England rugby. To me though, it is not in a player´s greatest moments that are a true test of character. As phenomenal as that right footed drop kick was under the greatest amount of pressure, to me the true character of Wilkinson was revealed when time and time again he was cruelly set back by injury. He never complained and put his head down and made it back to the top each time. That kind of dedication and determination must take its toll though so it´s no suprise after giving his all he wants to retire on his own terms. The way true greats should always be allowed to have but often not what is the case.