Present in Paris for the operation Les Rencontres Terrain Favorable co-organized by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby and the Société Générale, former English international Jonny Wilkinson shared his latest impressions on the French team, winners of the last Six Nations Tournament.
A powerful wind prevented 200 children from exchanging a few passes with the iconic English number 10, as well as François Trinh-Duc and Thierry Dusautoir, on the artificial turf of Stade Suzanne-Lenglen this Wednesday. However, the young members of the RC Paris 15 club left with photos and autographs, eager to touch the ball soon and receive new advice from Top14 and ProD2 ambassadors. Those from Jonny Wilkinson are expected to be valuable. The former fly-half, keen to pass on his experience, enjoyed his time in the French capital, engaging with the media and sharing his thoughts on the recent tournament and the victory of the Blues for RMC Sport.
Jonny Wilkinson, you met the future of French rugby this Wednesday. What is your opinion on French youth?
Yes, it is true that currently France and rugby have a good relationship, a strong connection. The state of rugby in France is great, positive for the future. The vision is good, there is a very strong, powerful commitment, and it must continue. In my opinion, France may be the dominating country in the world or at least in Europe. We need to work with the young players because the talent is there, the passion is there, and so is the ambition. We need to try to guide and support them. I imagine the future with a good French team, a good structure in both amateur and professional clubs. The signs are positive.
How did you experience the Six Nations Tournament?
It was incredible, a superb Tournament. It helped me explain to people that the Six Nations is a tournament that is impossible to replicate elsewhere. The dynamics between all the countries are unique, very interesting and difficult to understand. We saw a Scottish team doing amazing things against the English team, as well as the French, Irish, and Welsh teams on track, and Italy rising in level and stability, becoming a true rugby nation. And then France… magnificent.
Did you enjoy the last Crunch match?
The last match was good. We were just before kickoff. I was lucky to be in the stadium, and we were thinking, “What are we going to see tonight? Will it be 50 points for France? Will we see a real reaction from the English team?” And we saw an incredible spectacle. All the players know that rugby is a magnificent sport, but it still needs to be transmitted.
You have kicked a significant number of goals in your career, but how did you react to Thomas Ramos’ kick, which you saw from the stands?
It’s incredible to see it from the stands, it’s a fairly rare opportunity for me to see it from this angle. A cathedral-like silence in an 80,000-seat stadium, at the end of the Tournament where it really counts, in a very important moment… To see the silence in him, his ability to attack the kick with balance, poise, rhythm, and such presence, he was 100% committed to it, it was incredible. I know that in such a situation, you do everything you can, but to be focused on the important, 100%, start the action and finish it well, I believe at that moment he is connected to the Gods. He truly deserved that success, and France deserved that Tournament. England can be proud of their last match, even if there is work to be done, just like for France, but with the Tournament win in the bag, it’s a good way to move forward.
Is Antoine Dupont still the best player in the world in your opinion?
I don’t talk about who is the best in the world. Because for me, team sports mean working with others, it’s a dynamic. But when we talk about a player like him, he is incredible in what he does. He is a player with a mission living within him, and with talent that needs to be expressed. And there, everyone benefits when he is on the field and doing what he does, he is very, very important. With the team around him supporting him and with the ambition to keep moving forward, to keep improving, we are among the best in the world. I believe he has a true gift, a real talent, a top athlete, it’s almost extraordinary. And there, he needs to continue showing us what he has. What he did with the captain’s role, with the responsibilities, and continuing to do what he does is strong. Normally, after a very good season, defenders start to understand you, to anticipate. But at the moment, no one can stop him, he does what he wants.
Would you have liked to play with a player like Louis Bielle-Biarrey who has shattered all records?
In rugby, what is magnificent is that even though we have been playing it for 200 years, there are still spaces to revolutionize this sport, even when we think we have seen all that is possible. He may not be the tallest, maybe not the fastest, but he is especially capable of revolutionizing the sport. With his little kicks, vision, his ability to be where he needs to be, when he needs to be there, it’s incredible. He and Antoine Dupont are revolutionizing this sport. They will open the door for others, for young players who will in turn explore. And that’s it, the evolution of the sport, it belongs to players like them right now. Sometimes, it is impossible for me to understand how he can create moments of magic like that. For me, there is nothing to do on the field when you are a defender. You’re there, but he always finds a way to score. Dupont, Bielle-Biarrey, Jalibert, Ollivon, and I could go on… it’s a good team!
Interview by Clément Brossard
