Players to Watch: England

Jonny Wilkinson:

What can be said about Jonny Wilkinson that hasn't already been said? Mike Catt summed it up last month: "Jonny Wilkinson was put on this planet to win World Cups." It might be eight years since that drop goal that broke Australian hearts, but Wilkinson is still defying age to assist England yet again. It looked as though Toby Flood had secured the 10 jersey last summer, but some superb play from WIlkinson has taken it back. A place-kicker rivalled only by Dan Carter, Wilkinson adds an extra dimension to the tactical game when he takes the field - no English flyhalf in recent memory can read a game like him. Despite the trauma his body has suffered over the years, it is always on the line - he may be famous for drop goals with left and right boot alike, but watch how many try-saving tackles he gets back and makes to keep England in the tournament.
England enjoy the big occasion - we saw that in 2007 where they beat the odds to reach the final - if they are to step up to the plate again this year, there is no doubt as to who will lead them there. Enjoy Wilkinson's World Cup - it will be a long time before England see his like again.

In Manu Tuilagi England have one of the most exciting young players around - pencilled in before his Test debut, he combines raw power and pace with clever hands and feet - look for him to be a star this World Cup.

Name: Jonny Wilkinson

Age: 32

Position: Flyhalf (Occasional Centre)

Teams: Toulon & England

Test Caps: 83 (1,141 points)

Height: 1.78m

Weight: 89kg

Rare North & South Double Medal- FAIL!!!

In my first article on this subject (Rare North & South Double Medal) I spoke about four players that were on target for a very rare achievement.
Scott Hamilton, Pedrie Wannenberg, George Smith and Campbell Johnstone all were inline to win the Heineken Cup with their respective Northern Hemisphere Clubs. They all play for separate clubs in England, Ireland and France and WERE (operative word here) all in the Heineken Cup Quarter Finals this past weekend.

My thinking went along the lines of featuring some Southern Hemisphere players and seeing , at least one make it through to the final. The Rugby Gods, however, had something else in mind. All four of the teams featured and players concerned were unceremoniously dumped out of the top European Rugby Competition.
Not only that but at the start of the weekend we had 10 South Africans to watch in the tournament and come sunday night we now only have 4 left.

Watch this space for Heineken Cup Semi Final action at the end of the month.

Heineken Cup Quarter Final Results:
Biarritz 20 - 27 Toulouse
Northampton Saints 23 - 13 Ulster
Leinster 17 - 10 Leicester Tigers
Perpignan 29 - 25 Toulon

SA Players Abroad: Joe van Niekerk (Toulon)

52 test Springbok Loose Forward, Joe van Niekerk is well known by South African and international supporters. Little is known on South African shores as to how well he has been doing at French Club Toulon!

Van Niekerk is captaining the club but more importantly,  captaining them in this weekends Heineken Cup Quarter Final against fellow French Top 14 competitors Perpignan. See Fixtures here. He has also led the club to the Semi Final of the Top 14 Championship as well as finalist in the Amlin Challenge, both in the 2009/2010 season
He had a magnificent junior rugby career and captained SA Schools (He was schooled at King Edward VII School.), SA u19 and SA u21. 
Van Niekerk was moved straight into the Springboks squad from the u21's without playing a Currie Cup or SupeRugby game. Joe van Niekerk represented the Lions in Super 12 and the Stormers in Super 14 before attempting a move to Northampton Saints (contract was terminated before arriving at the Club) and finally settling in Toulon.  

Rare North & South Double Medal

There are Eight teams chasing European glory in the Heineken Quarter Finals this weekend. There are however four players that have a very special and rare opportunity to win the top rugby competitions in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. A SupeRugby medal as well as a Heineken Cup Medal. This has only been done twice before by Rod Kafer ( ACT Brumbies & Leicester Tigers) and Doug Howlett (Blues & Munster)

The four players chasing this honour are:

Pedrie Wannenberg - Ulster:
Wannenberg has three SupeRugby medals in his trophy cabinet from his time at the Blue Bulls (2007, 2009, 2010) and is looking to help Ulster over the line against Northampton Saints.

Scott Hamilton - Leicester Tigers:
Hamilton has two SupeRugby medals with the Crusaders (2005, 2006) and will be facing Irish opposition Leinster on April 9 2011.

Campbell Johnstone - Biarritz Olympique:
Johnstone was teammates with Hamilton at the Crusaders franchise and collected two SupeRugby medals in 2005 & 2006. Johnstone will be propping for the Biarritz side against Toulouse on April 10 2011.

George Smith - Toulon:
The great Aussie flanker, with 110 appearances for the Wallabies, will be facing off against Perpignan on Saturday for a place in the Heineken Cup Semi-Finals. He has already pocketed two SupeRugby medals with the Brumbies in 2001 & 2004.

See televised schedules here (If available)

Supersport (South Africa) 

SkySports (New Zealand)

Fox Sports (Australia)

SkySports (United Kingdom)