JONNY Wilkinson, the England super-star, who came up through the youth ranks at Farnham Rugby Club and then Lord Wandsworth College, has spent the week closeted with his team-mates, planning the downfall of South Africa at Twickenham this Saturday.
Wilkinson, well known for his intensity and drive for perfection, will also be striving to iron out the faults that were largely obscured by his faultless kicking against Australia last weekend. Six penalties and two conversions accounted for 22 of England's points in the thrilling 32-31 victory.
Any errors were hard to spot during the ferocious exchanges on the greasy Twickenham surface, but his mis-timed kick-off stood out and deeply annoyed the stand-off who takes any blemishes to heart.
"The kick-off was terrible," he said. "That sort of thing isn't fuel for a good night's sleep. I didn't deliver. It disappoints me massively."
The Investec Test series against the southern hemisphere sides is a huge test of stamina and physical well-being and most of the England players are glad to get what rest they can.
But the obsessive Wilkinson has to be dragged off the training field and usually spends the free day, Thursday, practicing his goal-kicking.
If England can finish off the Springboks, who last weekend were beaten by Scotland for the first time in 33 years, they could claim to be the nation's most successful national side.
Wilkinson, his country's record points-scorer, and a veteran at 23, again holds the key to success. There is unlikely to be any fluffed kick-off this time.
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There are no other Jonny Wilkinsons on the Farnham horizons at present, but players like Wilkinson, the Newcastle and England fly-half, Peter Richards and Andrew Holloway – currently at Bristol and Bedford respectively – do not come along every other day.
Farnham have progressed steadily since those golden years for their youth section in the 1990s, and perhaps the legacy of the Wilkinson era is that they have an Under-18 side up and running – something of a rarity these days when teenagers tend to drift off and do other things.
"We don't over-exploit the connection, but Jonny is such a high-profile player now and most of our juniors are aware that he played here," said Farnham committee man John Fairley who once coached Wilkinson. "They look up to him and so the club is bound to cash in to an extent. The real bonus is having the Under-18 side."
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Lord Wandsworth College, near Hook, reached the Daily Mail Schools U/18 Cup semi-finals in 1996, with Wilkinson in the side, before losing to Colston's, the champions.
The College lost in the second round this year, but are hoping to reach Twickenham via the Vase. It's the first time Wandsworth have played in the supplementary competition, but coach Tim Richardson remains upbeat. "The Wilkinson legacy is certainly something to live up to, but the current side are learning with every game and next year they'll be a very competitive side."
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A film crew will be at Wrecclesham this Sunday. SFX, who have already featured David Beckham, Michael Owen and Nasser Hussain in their series, are making a documentary about Jonny Wilkinson and want to film Farnham's mini/juniors.
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Wilkinson, recently named the World Player of the Year, has made a confession about the superb solo try he scored against New Zealand – his chip-ahead was really meant for Jason Robinson. "I gave it a go, hoping that Jason would scamper in and beat the retreating defence. It was only after I had started my run that I realised I was in the best position to go for it.
"It was a great personal moment, made all the more special by the result."




