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"The most awesome human being ever" | Will Greenwood's Jonny Wilkinson anecdote

Will Greenwood had a bird's eye view of Jonny Wilkinson's Rugby World Cup-clinching drop goal in ...



Videos

"The most awesome human being ever" | Will Greenwood's Jonny Wilkinson anecdote

Will Greenwood had a bird's eye view of Jonny Wilkinson's Rugby World Cup-clinching drop goal in 2003.

The ex-England duo soldiered together from the late '90s onwards, also reaching the pinnacle of the international game together.

Greenwood was one of our special guests at our Heineken Rugby Club Roadshow at Galway's Galmont Hotel on Wednesday night and he shared some anecdotes about his illustrious former colleague.


As many people know, Jonny Wilkinson's sense of professionalism and inner drive for perfection was always paramount.

"I suspect - and I'm putting words in his mouth - he would've been disappointed with what he was seeing around him," said Greenwood.

"And he was probably, 'I'm just fed up with these idiots who are corinthian and still amateurs. Why would they want to have a pint? Or why would they want to skip or cut a corner? Why would they not go round that cone?' And I suspect at times that he - and me right at the top of that list - would've found particularly frustrating."

That perfectionism served him well of course and on the highest stage.

Where's Jonny?

"When it went to extra-time, [Martin Johnson's] in the middle and there are only 13 of us around him," said Greenwood of the World Cup final.

"It's two minutes before extra-time and where's Jonny in that two minute period?

"He was in the dead ball area with Dave Alred, taking six drop goals off his right foot and six drop goals off his left foot.

"And he got his kicking tee out and also took six kicks at goal. Because he knew that in the next 20 minutes, he'd have to do at least one of those things.

"That's about as good an insight as I can give you. If there was an opportunity to make himself better, he would take it.

"But imagine how trapped you must feel if that's what you feel the whole time? He's the most awesome human being ever."

You can watch the full Heineken Rugby Club Roadshow featuring Brian O'Driscoll, Will Greenwood, Andy Friend, Tiernan O'Halloran and Cyril Farrell on the Off The Ball Youtube


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England Heineken Jonny Wilkinson Martin Johnson Off The Ball Rugby Rugby World Cup Will Greenwood