There is indeed a problem with this year’s final of the Heineken Cup. It’s a problem that I and many other Englishmen and women countrywide will likely face this Saturday: who to support? Now ordinarily this decision would be simple; when an English team reaches the final, I’d back the English team. However, this year is different thanks to the legacy of one man, a hero of English rugby: Jonny Wilkinson.
For most of us one moment sticks in our minds: the final minute of extra time of the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final. I doubt there is a single rugby fan in England who cannot vividly recall that moment, I know I for one am not likely to forget it for a very long time. He is the most capped England back of all time with 91 caps and the 2nd highest international points scorer 1,246 points. By modern rugby standards he is a small man, but he is unshakeable on defence and an exceptional offensive force. His kicking needs little mention, such is its status.
Yet for me this is not what stands out. What is truly special about Wilkinson is the man himself. There is no doubt he is one of the greatest players ever to grace the game of rugby but in his own words he has “an unhealthy fear of being celebrated”: he would always be the first to down play his own role and recognise that his is team-mates. Being forced into the limelight after his 2003 heroics was likely the last thing he wanted but he stayed grounded despite his growing fame. Indeed even his retirement appeared to be timed to create as little fuss as possible, coinciding with Manchester United’s new manager announcement. His continued selflessness, humility, commitment to his team mates and determination to improve truly set him apart in the sport. Such commitment took its toll on Wilkinson’s mind and body as he suffered thirteen different injuries alongside panic attacks and depression during his international career. This would have broken most players yet Wilkinson never gave up: after each he fought back to return, arguably getting better as time went on he he continued to perfect his game.
His legacy is perhaps shown best by looking at youth rugby over the last decade. Even today young rugby players the world over replicate kicking routine, and I suspect this will continue for the years to come. The young kicking talent of the international rugby world, such as Owen Farrell and Leigh Halfpenny, have adopted the same meticulous approach to rugby as Wilkinson, striving for perfection with every kick. His humility has filtered throughout the sports, becoming the norm for the greats of today. Such is the root of the respect for the man so emotionally bonded to rugby that he has never watched his own victory in the World Cup Final. Dan Carter, Wilkinson’s old rival, perhaps summed up Wilkinson’s impact better than anyone, for there is no doubt he truly “added a whole lot to this beautiful sport.”
This creates my dilemma. Whilst I would love to see Saracens gain the opportunity to become the first team to win both the Heineken Cup and Aviva Premiership in the same year, the thought of seeing the man who has given so much to rugby lose would be “painful”. Whilst many others may be supporting Saracens, I dare say few would resentful at seeing Jonny lift the trophy at the end of the day. In my view there would be no greater farewell and tribute to this legend of rugby than seeing him lift two trophies over the next two weeks.
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