Wilkinson eyes England captaincy
August 27, 2002

Newcastle Falcons skipper Jonny Wilkinson has announced his intention to follow in Martin Johnson's footsteps and lead his country.

The England No.10 embarks on his first season as skipper of Zurich Premiership side Newcastle Falcons this weekend but insists that taking over from current international captain Martin Johnson is his ultimate goal.

"When you start the game you set your goals as high as they possibly can be," Wilkinson, 23, told BBC Sport on-line.

"And following up my club captaincy with leading out England remains one of my foremost ambitions.

"I've got a huge amount of respect for people like Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Neil Back and Matt Dawson who have captained the side and done it so well."

"I want to be able to finish the game and say that I achieved everything. If I don't, then I certainly want to be able to say that I gave it my best shot," he said.

"The captaincy is one of those special things, although it remains to be seen whether it's something I'm capable of achieving."

Wilkinson, who is already England's most prolofic Test points scorer, may feel his dream is within reach following Johnson's hint earlier this week that he is likely to bow out after next year's World Cup in Australia.

"The World Cup seems to me to be the appropriate time to go from the Test scene and concentrate on my club career," Johnson decalred earlier this week.

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