England keen to add Wilkinson

Editor

Eddie Jones has revealed that he wants to make former England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson part of his coaching staff.

Wilkinson currently works as a part-time kicking coach with his former club, Toulon.

The former adversaries – Wilkinson's England defeated Australia, then coached by Jones, in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final – came across each other in a supermarket not far from England's training base and discussed Wilkinson joining the national side's coaching group.

Whilst talks were initially unsuccessful, Jones hasn't given up hope of involving Wilkinson further down the road.

“We would like to get him involved, but he is quite a private person,” Jones said.

“After we had coffee, he went and did a kicking session even though he doesn’t play anymore. Why was he one of the best in the world? Because he did that. That is the difference.

“He is retired, but he still wants to be a good kicker. How many players do that now?

“A good player has that little bit extra, and we are talking about two or three per cent extra. He does that little bit of extra analysis, does his stretches, goes for a swim, and takes a bag of balls and ­practises kicks.

“I want that attitude from my players, I want them to show how desperate they are to be better.”