Record win can build momentum - Wilko - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Record win can build momentum - Wilko

Jonny Wilkinson has hailed England's record World Cup warm-up victory over Wales as "a great stepping stone".

The Newcastle fly-half joined Test rugby's exclusive 900 club thanks to a 17-point haul - he is now just five behind Australian Michael Lynagh's former world record mark of 911 - as England registered a crushing 62-5 success at Twickenham.

"The major percentage of any plaudits should go to the guys up front. They did a very good and professional job of keeping the team going forward," said Wilkinson. "We gave ourselves some things to look at - a chance to be more specific in training now that we have a reference point."

Wilkinson also saluted the individual contributions of scrum-half Shaun Perry and four-try number eight Nick Easter

"I haven't played a huge amount of rugby with Shaun, but I have spent a lot of time with him. He is a guy who isn't afraid to take responsibility," added Wilkinson.

"He is fast, powerful and courageous, and if he feels it is not good ball to give to me, he doesn't give it. I thought he showed a huge array of his skills.

"Nick was outstanding on the South Africa tour when there was a real call for people to stand up and be counted.

"It wasn't going to be about playing the pretty stuff and doing fabulous things. It was going to be about standing up and saying you are willing to confront whatever is thrown at you."

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