Wilkinson: My ankle agony in Paris final

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The celebrated teetotaller also explained how he had ended up with a hangover after breaking the habit of a lifetime and going out drinking with his team-mates following their shattering 15-6 defeat by South Africa.

The fly-half turned his ankle in training before the tournament and missed the opening pool matches against USA and South Africa but his return sparked England's renaissance.

"The fact is my right ankle has been giving me trouble throughout the tournament," he said. "I've been having treatment on it pretty much every day and, for the first time, I had to have treatment on it at half-time on Saturday.

"I haven't been able to kick on the right foot at all. I didn't kick once on it in practice and I didn't use it once in any of the games except for three dropped goal attempts that all missed." About his big night out, Wilkinson told The Times: "I suspect it is widely known I'm teetotal. Well, I broke the habit of pretty much a lifetime after the final and had a bit of a blow-out. It was the first time in years and simply seemed the right time and the right thing to do.

"A huge bond has been formed in this squad over the past few weeks and I didn't want to break it.

"There'll be plenty of time when I'll be feeling the pain of having lost the World Cup Final, but our Saturday night was more a case of putting that off. We managed to have a lot of fun, but I certainly felt rank as a result of it."