Wilkinson makes dream return to international stage
PA's Frank Malley
February 3, 2007

The blood coursed across Jonny Wilkinson's cheek. It splattered down his white shirt. But it was the sheer class which oozed from every Wilkinson pore which promised the dawn of a brighter future for England rugby.

Wilkinson, even in the fantasy rugby world in which he used to operate, could hardly have dreamed of returning after more than three years and such a catalogue of injuries with such stunning impact.

Suddenly the woes of Wilkinson once more gave way to the wonder of Wilkinson.

He had told us he was ready and if former team-mate Matt Dawson and ex-England captain Will Carling had doubted him then they should not have.

Twenty seven points, a Calcutta Cup record which included a drop goal just like the one which won the World Cup in Sydney back in 2003 and a dancing, shimmying try, were Wilkinson's statistical contribution to England's opening RBS Six Nations 42-20 victory against Scotland.

In truth, however, Wilkinson's man-of-the-match performance brought much more than that.

It brought a sense of orchestration to an England side which had been so out of tune in the autumn internationals that they were consistently booed off the Twickenham pitch.

But this was a new team with a new and adventurous coach in Brian Ashton and a new creative philosophy. No wonder there was a buzz around the grand old stadium.

Forgive the cliche, but `buzz' perfectly described the chattering around Rugby HQ.

Perfectly described the expectation which surrounded the selections of Rugby League great Andy Farrell at centre, Jason Robinson's return on the wing and Wilkinson in the number 10 shirt in which he has excelled so often.

But the expectation around Wilkinson eclipsed the rest. It was of a magnitude reserved for few sportsmen. Tim Henman used to get it every year at Wimbledon. Wayne Rooney knows about it, so does Andrew Flintoff.

But rarely can a player who had not pulled on an England shirt for so long have had such a burden of hope on his shoulders. Nor had a crowd as anxious for his well-being.

The injury came as early as the eighth minute, Wilkinson's mouth colliding with the meaty foreman of Scotland flanker Simon Taylor.

Happily, it proved to be a flesh wound, little more than the thickest of lips although the copious amounts of red stuff proved he had lost none of his appetite for the heat of action.

For the next hour or so we witnessed what England have missed without the poise and the metronomic points gathering of their greatest fly-half.

When Wilkinson lines up with arms outstretched and goal-kicking antennae twitching you really could put your mortgage on him slotting the ball between the posts.

It seemed that way as kick after kick tumbled through the Scottish posts, each one accompanied by a tumultuous roar.

And if the try he scored in the 59th minute owed much to the generosity of the video official, considering Wilkinson appeared to have a foot in touch as he dived over, it was no more than he deserved.

With Wilkinson in such a mood it is easy to forget the rest, although we shouldn't.

Robinson, with two tries, one wonderfully carved, the other opportunistic, demonstrated his enduring worth.

Farrell's imaginative distribution was just what England need if they are to defend their world title with panache. And he will get better.

Put that together with the splendid work of Mike Tindall, the scampering industry of scrum-half Harry Ellis and a forward pack which grew in dominance as the game progressed - Magnus Lund charging over for a touchdown - and at last England appear once more to be heading in the right direction.

Ashton deserves huge credit for that.

But none of it would have been possible without the sheer wonder of Wilkinson.

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