Is it Cheerio to Wilko?

Jonny Wilkinson's career has been full of raging highs and desperate lows. Rarely, however, have they been so polarised as they were in England's 15-9 defeat against Scotland on Saturday.

Jonny Wilkinson's career has been full of raging highs and desperate lows. Rarely, however, have they been so polarised as they were in England's 15-9 defeat against Scotland on Saturday.

First came the towering achievement when Wilkinson kicked the first-half penalty which saw him leave Wales legend Neil Jenkins in his wake as the highest scoring rugby player of all-time.

Then came the indignity of being hooked from the action after 69 minutes, replaced by Charlie Hodgson as head coach Brian Ashton desperately sought inspiration to win the game.

Invincible to expendable in a shade more than 40 minutes.

Not that being taken off with his side losing the game, for only the second time in his Test career, could shake the new-found equilibrium which rules Wilkinson's life these days.

He said: “A few years ago it would have been a case of 'What's going on? What's the deal with this?' but it doesn't mean anything to me now. I was out there doing my best, somebody puts a board up with my number on it and it's my turn to leave.

“You come off knowing that everything you tried was with the best intentions for the team. When you're number comes up on the board you say to Charlie when he comes on 'do your best' and then you have to sit and watch from the side.

“If I was bothered about coming off the field I wouldn't be much of a team man.”

All of which is commendable, except that the glaring reality in this England team is that for all Wilkinson's points-scoring prowess – his three penalties took him to a total of 1099 – he is no longer the composed orchestrator he once was.

Let's not take anything away from Scotland. A swirling, rain-swept afternoon was right up their alley, even if they had lost their first three Six Nations matches this season.

They played the conditions magnificently, their lighter pack continually out-thinking and out-fighting England forwards who had proved so dominant against France in Paris two weeks ago.

That is the same England who less than five months ago were contesting the World Cup final.

But if Scotland, who might yet pick up the wooden spoon, were clearly superior the question remains why were England so flat, so impotent and, most of all, so indisciplined.

They gave away 12 penalties, five in kickable positions, which allowed the impressive Chris Paterson to fill his boots with four penalties and Dan Parks to add another.

It was brainless rugby. Rugby without leadership. Rugby without a Martin Johnson or a Jason Leonard or a Lawrence Dallaglio.

It may seem harsh to throw the past in the faces of England's new blend of experience and youth but the fact is that the World Cup winners of 2003 set the bar and by that bar for ever more the rest will be judged.

Against Scotland too many failed abysmally. Simon Shaw was a shadow of the autumn force who lit up the World Cup. The back row of Nick Easter, Michael Lipman and Tom Croft were anonymous and error-filled Lesley Vainikolo again suggested he might well be playing the wrong code of rugby.

But it was England's kicking which was worst of all. While Paterson and the excellent Mike Blair plundered vital territory with precise punts England's sole tactic at times appeared to be to kick to a man in a blue jersey.

Wilkinson was the biggest culprit and while Ashton diplomatically hid behind the concept of collective responsibility the root of his frustration was obvious.

“I was yearning for anyone to open the door,” Ashton said before admitting the reason for Wilkinson's departure was “we needed something different on the field”.

That is the bottom line. This England side are one-dimensional. Have been for years, depending on their grinding forward power to get them out of trouble.

It is not the modern way, not when the best sides marry forward mobility with pace and unpredictability out wide.

Manfully, Wilkinson, tried to inject some positive spin to an afternoon which leaves England in Six Nations mediocrity.

He said: “There are huge positives in this team. We've shown we can beat France away from home, not an easy feat. We showed against Wales we could be in a commanding position after an hour.

“These guys are world-class players. They showed that a few months ago and a few weeks ago.

“You don't suddenly think 'Crikey, we've lost up here, what does that mean about us?' It was one of those days which wasn't a great day at the office.

“I made mistakes. Some games it works out, sometimes it doesn't. That's why you practise all week.”

Practice, in England's case, simply no longer makes perfect.

By Frank Malley