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SCRUM GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK
SPORTING superstar Jonny Wilkinson is tipping a South Shields youngster to follow in his footsteps to World Cup glory.
The man who kicked that legendary last-minute drop goal in rugby union's World Cup Final two years ago believes 13-year-old Matthew Mellish has what it takes to succeed.
The England fly-half spent two weeks working with the Harton Technology College pupil and Westoe Under-13s player for a new TV show called Jonny's Hotshots.
The Newcastle Falcons star said: "Matthew is a very talented player, especially for someone his age. He is part of our academy at Newcastle.
"He is very easy to coach because he picks things up quickly, but also his natural skills are already very developed. He has an immensely powerful left foot, and he is a really good kicker of the ball.
"Instantly he was a likeable person, and I think sometimes you have to say that is more important than anything.
"He is also very down to earth. There is always a danger that when there are cameras around, people might start showing off, but not one of the hotshots was like that, especially Matthew.
"He was just keen to learn and keen to make the most of it. He was unselfish and looked out for the other guys.
"With his skills, his passing, his running and certainly his kicking, he seems set for a bright future."
Following his first taste of coaching, 26-year-old Wilkinson is not sure whether it could be a future career for him.
"It is a tough one for me because as I have found out over the past few years with injury, I don't enjoy being on the outside of the game," he said.
"I think a lot will depend on how I react to finally understanding I can't play any more. It will be difficult.
"But with regards to coaching the hotshots, that did everything to show me just how much fun and how rewarding it can be.
"I was lucky with the group of players I was given to coach. It was a humbling and rewarding experience. There was never a dull moment.
"But it is difficult for me when I'm not playing. It is a lifestyle for me."
After two years of persistent injuries, Wilkinson has been back playing for Newcastle Falcons for a few weeks now, but he has been left out of England's autumn internationals against Australia, New Zealand and Samoa.
He said: "The last two years have not been easy, but it has been a good learning experience.
"At the moment I'm still very much grateful to be playing again.
"To think it may never have been possible is horrendous.
"I want to move forward and get back on to the international stage.
"If that England call ever comes, I will always be here. Playing is what it's all about and, now I am back, I realise how lucky I am.
By NICK WHITTEN
nick.whitten@northeast-press.co.uk It means everything to me.”
As a youngster, Wilkinson idolised sports stars of that era as much as his hotshots do him.
His idols were his now manager Rob Andrew, as well as rugby league player Ellery Hanley, American footballer Walter Payton and basketballer Michael Jordan.
He said: “These guys have always stood out for me because they were involved in such incredibly competitive sports.”
For the last two or three years, Wilkinson has been rugby’s golden boy with an intense media spotlight on him, but he has remained well away from scandal.
“I think the important thing for me has always been to create a true picture of myself,” he said.
“I have always been protective of my private life, but in terms of my rugby life I try and be as open as possible.
“I don’t worry about using words to describe myself that others might avoid. I am not afraid to say I am obsessional about the way I play my rugby.
“People might find that hard to live with. They might find it boring. And, I am not afraid to say my life is very selfish. I call upon others to give me a lot and I can’t always give anything back.
“But in trying not to create a false image of myself, I don’t have to go into interviews trying to remember what I said to the last person.
“I never wanted to have a high profile, but it does help in terms of sponsors and opportunities, and for that I am thankful.
“But it has never been important to me. I could live without it as long as I could keep doing what I love the most, which is playing rugby.
“I have always said this is the kind of person I am. I am shy and reserved.
“I have had to change for the game of rugby, a game where you cannot be quiet and have to be self-confident, but, off the field, it is not important for me to be in the newspapers.
“My life revolves around rugby. Whatever I do, it is to help me try and play rugby better.”
England have undergone a slump in fortunes since winning the World Cup, but Wilkinson is convinced the team is turning a corner.
“It took five years of constant learning in order to achieve that World Cup, and even after all those lessons, it only gave us a three-point lead at the end,” he said.
“Then a lot of those players retired, so we had to start again.
“We have been building ever since, and I think it is going very well.
“We are not far from being in the correct place to compete for the next World Cup.”
nick.whitten@northeast-press.co.uk
MORE than 1,000 youngsters applied to be in Jonny’s Hotshots.
But the CBBC show’s chiefs had to whittle them down to just 10 for the 10-part rugby coaching show.
Jonny’s Hotshots begins on Monday and runs for 10 days from 5.30pm to 5.45pm, offering expert coaching advice as well as an insight into the life of Jonny Wilkinson.
The England fly-half said: “The concept was to do an in-depth training and coaching programme for children aged 10 to 14.
“I receive so many letters from youngsters asking for tips and it is so difficult to convey an answer back to them in a letter without actually seeing them.
“So the idea came about to spend some time with 10 hotshots and to translate the coaching and rugby skills they were taught to a wider TV audience of people of a similar age.
“I spent as much time as I could with the hotshots on a really intense schedule really trying to get the best out of them.
“I really tried to help develop them as rugby players as well as developing any players that want to watch the show.”
By NICK WHITTEN
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Weather for South Shields
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Heavy sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
