Robinson won't rule out Wilkinson
Andy Robinson tonight refused to rule new England captain Jonny Wilkinson out of next month’s Twickenham Tests – despite the World Cup hero suffering fresh injury misery.
Wilkinson’s club Newcastle say their star fly-half could be sidelined “for several weeks,” with the most accurate estimates suggesting he is unlikely to play again before England conclude their autumn programme against Australia on November 27.
Potentially, it leaves England’s recently-appointed head coach Robinson having to find a new skipper and fly-half for appointments with the Wallabies, Tri-Nations champions South Africa and Canada’s semi-professionals.
While in-form Sale Sharks fly-half Charlie Hodgson could slot effortlessly into the number 10 role, leadership duties appear a more complex matter, especially as flanker and captaincy candidate Richard Hill probably won’t play again this season.
Bath pair Mike Tindall and Steve Borthwick are possibilities, or Robinson could turn to Gloucester prop Phil Vickery, now on the comeback trail following a back operation five months ago.
Wilkinson, 10 games into his top-flight return after recovering from a career-threatening neck and shoulder problem, has suffered a haematoma to his right bicep.
He received a muscle bleed in his upper arm during the start of this season, and then took a blow on the same spot during Newcastle’s Zurich Premiership defeat against Wasps 11 days ago.
Wilkinson had started all seven of Newcastle’s Premiership games, in addition to pre-season friendlies against Connacht, Munster and Pertemps Bees.
But he will now miss Heineken Cup appointments with Newport-Gwent Dragons and Perpignan, and seemingly inevitably, England’s forthcoming Tests.
“This is disappointing,” conceded Robinson, in Cardiff today for the announcement of Clive Woodward’s 26-strong Lions management team to tour New Zealand next summer.
“But we will wait and see how Jonny responds to treatment in the next few weeks. I am not discounting him yet for next month’s internationals.”
Robinson, who was made aware of the Wilkinson situation last night, reaffirmed that he won’t consider players for England duty who are not 100% fit, adding: “Injuries are part of contact sport.
“Jonny is getting the right treatment, and it’s a case now of how he responds.”
Wilkinson will be monitored by the Newcastle and England medical teams, but it looks as though his legions of fans might be kept waiting until this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship kicks off in February for a return to international duty.
He spent eight months out this year, and has not played for England since the World Cup final against Australia in Sydney last November.
His injury is the latest setback for Robinson, who has already lost Hill (knee injury) and Lawrence Dallaglio (international retirement).
Hooker Steve Thompson, meanwhile, is battling with a rib problem, while Wasps pair Josh Lewsey and Simon Shaw are among a group of players currently sidelined or just returning from long lay-offs.
“We’ve received medical advice this week and spoken at length with Jonny,” said Newcastle rugby director Rob Andrew. “As always, we are doing what is in the best interests of the player.
“We feel that with every player, we’ve always done what is right medically, and we’ve never forced any player into a position which threatens them.
“This is unfortunate, following on from Jonny’s previous injury, but it is not related at all to that one, and is completely separate.
“We will just let him recover over the next few weeks, and then get him back on the field again. We are obviously disappointed that Jonny will be out for a while.”
Newcastle’s sense of disappointment though will be nothing compared to Wilkinson’s probable deep frustration.
Having worked his way back into the Premiership routine, starring again for England on the international stage was his next aim. But it is a goal now on hold, raising further questions about his long-term career prospects.
By the time Wilkinson’s later injury heals, the chances are that he will have played just 10 games – and no Tests – in a year.
