Wilkinson: We learned from Scots loss (From Bucks Free Press)

Wilkinson: We learned from Scots loss

3:42pm Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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Jonny Wilkinson admits England's defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield two years ago was one of the most painful experiences of his rugby career.

The England fly-half broke the world record for international points on that filthy afternoon in Edinburgh but there was nothing else for him to smile about as England, World Cup finalists only five months previously, were beaten 15-9 and Wilkinson was hauled off with 11 minutes remaining.

"The most painful lessons are often the most powerful and for me that is definitely the case," said Wilkinson, who was then dropped for only the second time in a 12-year international career as then England coach Brian Ashton turned to Danny Cipriani.

He added: "That was a big experience and it has done the world of good for me.

"I have spent much of the time since then injured on the sidelines but that doesn't change the fact that you have to take heed of those lessons.

"The game a couple of years ago was a massive learning curve and it taught us that you need to go out there to play.

"You can't expect to just build a game solely from what you have planned on paper. We tried that against Scotland with the conditions and the weather and they did a great job of smothering us.

"We didn't push the situation hard enough to earn the right to win that game. We played a game that was stifled and we ended up losing the game and quite rightly so.

"I have learned it is all very well to know it on paper but I have got to put it into practice on the field."