No one doubts his ability, no one doubts his leadership and no one doubts his significance to the England rugby union team. But a huge cloud of doubt lingers on whether fly-half Johnny Wilkinson can actually make himself fit for the Rugby Union World Cup in France that starts this week.
The 28-year old Newcastle half-back has already been ruled out of England’s opener against the USA in Lens on Saturday after twisting his ankle and in there is a massive uncertainty whether he can play in the crunch game against South Africa on September 14 after limping out of training. At first the fears were that the man whose famous drop goal in 2003 won the World Cup for England had broken his ankle but a scan assured that he had damaged a lateral ligament sprain to his right ankle. Yet the player is quite optimistic about his chances of playing against South Africa.
Johnny Wilkinson remarked to the Times newspaper:
“In order for me to play against South Africa, at some point in the middle of next week I need to be working and running on the ankle properly. I am hugely positive mentally about that, especially given how quickly the ankle has settled down. It is a typical professional rugby injury - a bit of bad luck, you deal with it, quick recovery, short time out.”
But for poor old Johnny, the string of bad luck has haunted him since that famous night in Sydney. He has subsequently suffered shoulder, neck, groin, biceps and knee ligament injuries as well as a lacerated kidney and appendicitis. He only returned to the England squad earlier this year in the Six Nations clash against Scotland but exhibited his Midas touch. He scored 27 points with five penalties, two conversions, a (controversial) try and a drop goal, charging England to a comprehensive 42-20 victory. Johnny Wilkinson was adjudged as the RBS Man of the Match against Scotland and in the following match against Italy at Twickenham, Wilkinson scored 15 points to become the highest individual point scorer in the history of the Five or Six Nations with 421 points.
The injury scares of Johnny Wilkinson have dominated the headlines since the 2003 World Cup and as England head into this year’s major rugby event, the injury ghosts refuse to rest. England without their star man are still quite quite capable but everyone connected with the England team is praying that Johnny bravo recovers soon.
Source: The Independent, BBC Sport
Image Source: Handsintheruck.gerryos.net
