Jonny Wilkinson admits that he feels deeply hurt after England’s Six Nations defeat to Ireland at Twickenham. The 30-year-old has been criticised for his recent performances and mistakes marred his game once again on Saturday. The World Cup winner missed three penalties in addition to fluffing a kick-off and spurning a drop-goal opportunity. With Wilkinson’s [...]

Intense England pressure in the final minutes failed to wrest victory from Ireland, the 2009 Grand Slam RBS 6 Nations champions, who took all their three try-scoring opportunities and snatched a tense win six minutes from the end with Ospreys wing Tommy Bowe scoring his second try. Jonny Wilkinson had dropped a goal right-footed from [...]

LONDON (Reuters) – While Martin Johnson dismissed criticism of Jonny Wilkinson on Tuesday the England flyhalf remained gloriously unconcerned by the outside world’s opinion of his talents. Wilkinson retained the flyhalf spot in an unchanged England team to face Ireland at the weekend despite an unconvincing display in the victory over Italy when he missed [...]

The charges brought against Jonny Wilkinson after England’s limping victory over Italy last Sunday have been long and loud. But first manager Martin Johnson spoke defiantly for his man last week, and now it is the turn of wing Ugo Monye. “We love Jonny in this squad,” Monye says, “Jonny is one of the world’s [...]

It’s the first rest weekend of this RBS Six Nations Championship and time to take stock; in particular we need a reality check with regard to the England No 10. Jonny Wilkinson misses a few kicks in Italy, England are squeezed and suddenly his game is being dismantled by all and sundry, the changing of [...]

Martin Johnson has hit back at critics calling for Jonny Wilkinson to be axed and insisted the entire team must take responsibility for England’s laboured displays. The England manager dismissed claims by World Cup-winning team-mate Matt Dawson that Wilkinson – under pressure for his place from Leicester’s Toby Flood – is incapable of controlling a [...]