Wilkinson 'back to his best' says Michalak

ENGLAND OUTHALF Jonny Wilkinson is “back to his best” according to long-time French rival Frederic Michalak.

Wilkinson kicked all of Toulon’s points as they beat Michalak’s Toulouse 18-13 on Sunday in front of nearly 60,000 fans at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome.

“He is without doubt back to his best level,” Michalak said of Wilkinson, who landed three drop-goals and three penalties in his haul. “Each time he came into our half he scored points. It’s important to have someone like that in your team.”

Wilkinsons form is a boost to England manager Martin Johnson as he contemplates backline changes for the autumn Tests in the wake of injuries to centre Riki Flutey and full-back Delon Armitage.

The 30-year-old has not played for his country since winning the last of his 70 caps in the final game of the 2008 Six Nations.

A dislocated knee last September sidelined Wilkinson for the rest of last season, but he was recalled to England’s elite player squad in July after his summer move from Newcastle to Toulon.

“You can’t be anything but impressed when you play with a guy, train with a guy, see what this guy is prepared to go through to try to be successful,” Johnson said in a weekend interview.

“I’ve played with some pretty dedicated players but, for him . . .it’s beyond dedicated.”

After narrow defeats to Montauban (21-18) and Montpellier (21-20) in recent weeks, Sunday’s return to winning ways lifted Toulon into third place in France’s Top 14, above Toulouse on points difference.

“It’s a great feeling to win. The last two weeks have been difficult to take,” said Wilkinson.

“We knew that there was a chance to achieve something special but we were expecting a tough match. It was a unique atmosphere and we took real pleasure from it.”

The England captain, Steve Borthwick, was yesterday cleared to play in the autumn international campaign after a scan revealed that the rib injury the second row sustained against Harlequins last Saturday was a sprained cartilage.

Saracens feared that Borthwick, who played on for 15 minutes after suffering the injury, may have cracked a rib. No date has been set on his return, but the club have not ruled him out of playing against Gloucester at Vicarage Road next Sunday.

The Saracens director of rugby, Brendan Venter said: “It’s not a serious problem and it won’t stop Steve from being available for the November internationals.

“He is playing really well, which is fantastic for England. He is a serious world-class international lock,” said Venter.

Jordan Turner-Hall left the field before Borthwick last Saturday with a shoulder injury. The Harlequins and England centre was last night awaiting the results of a scan and, if fit, he is one of the contenders to replace the injured Flutey at inside-centre for England against Australia at Twickenham on November 7th.

The Ospreys say they have no idea when Gavin Henson will return from his leave of absence. Henson has not played since the beginning of April when he suffered an ankle injury. He has been omitted from the Ospreys’ Heineken Cup squad and has not been seen at the Liberty Stadium this season.