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Wilkinson back as 'better player'

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BATH, Somerset -- Jonny Wilkinson feels his three-year injury nightmare has made him a better player and says he will return for "part two" of his England career with the same physicality that made him the world's toughest fly-half.

After landing the drop goal that won the 2003 World Cup Wilkinson missed England's next 30 games with an extraordinary list of seemingly unrelated injuries.

Now, after just 42 minutes of his latest comeback following 12 weeks out with a lacerated kidney, he has been included in the first team unveiled by new coach Brian Ashton, for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Scotland at Twickenham.

Wilkinson has long displayed an almost superhuman resilience when discussing his ailments and subsequent short-lived comebacks and was remarkably upbeat again this week when asked about the long, painful road since that famous night in Sydney.

"It's not so much the time, it's more the distance you feel physically from it, seeing people putting themselves on the line every week, " he told reporters at England's new training base.

"I just felt further away from it when I saw people doing what I really wanted to do.

"Now it's just so exciting to come back. I was set to play in the A team and was excited about that, I'm not one to doubt myself, I'm not a brash individual, there was a bit of a surprise but if I didn't believe I could do it there would be more surprise."

For those unsure if the 27-year-old can rediscover the form that made him such an integral part of England's all-conquering team under Clive Woodward, he had encouraging news.

"There is no reason why I shouldn't have expected to be at my best. I've got the same two legs, the same hands and I've been working hard in training," he said.

"There will be no difference in terms of approach mentally or physically from 2003. I am a different player, but hopefully for the right reasons.

Composure

"With age comes a slightly greater level of composure, I've also added a few new strings to the bow.

"The key for me is that every time I play I want to be better, I really don't care about what people write about me. I'm trying to build 'part two' as a different person."

Wilkinson will, however, have been buoyed by the words of Ashton, who said on Tuesday he also considered his number 10 to be a much better player than three years ago and that his selection was not risky, but logical.

Team-mates Jason Robinson, back from retirement, and Andy Farrell, making his debut, also gave him a ringing endorsement.

"His work ethic and enthusiasm is infectious and it is nice to be on the field with him and seeing it with my own eyes," said Farrell, who will look to form an instant partnership with Wilkinson from inside center.

The trio are among 11 changes from the team beaten by South Africa in November, their eighth defeat in nine games, but Wilkinson was in no mood to point the finger at any failings in his absence.

"The game has changed a bit since I've been out and I've seen a lot of rugby from up in the stand," he said.

"It is a lot easier to see things watching from there and it has given me a lot more empathy with the players."

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