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Wilkinson ignores critics
25/02/2008 17:12 - (SA)
London - England outside-half Jonny Wilkinson, who played a large part in helping his side to a 24-13 Six Nations win over France at the weekend, has said criticism no longer affects him.
He revealed in his column for Monday's The Times newspaper that he and his Newcastle clubmates Toby Flood and Mathew Tait stayed on in Paris to dine out at the famed Le Comptoir restaurant on Sunday, something he would never have considered earlier in his career.
"It was a good time to relax and the topic was definitely not rugby," said Wilkinson.
"This kind of thing is too rare, but no one will be surprised to know that, in years gone by, I wouldn't have done this at all, win or lose.
"I'd have avoided it on account of people recognising me, I'd have thought it a hassle and anyway I'd be thinking that I should be in the gym."
Wilkinson's 14 points edged him closer to Welshman Neil Jenkins' points scoring record, but his place in the team still draws criticism, with many observers believing youngster Danny Cipriani should be given a start.
Many questions
"When I have been doing my media duties in this Six Nations Championship, a constant theme has been the No 10 situation: me and Danny Cipriani," said Wilkinson.
"I don't know how many questions I have answered on this subject and there were more after Saturday's game, too. 'Did I think I'd done enough to keep my place?' - that kind of thing.
"In years gone by - in the days when you wouldn't have seen me dead at Le Comptoir - I'd have been concerned about all this, confused and worried about what everyone was thinking about me. It would have been hard to handle.
"But now, I've lost the desire to be thought of in any way. I'll always try to be my best and it's not that I don't care if the public think I'm rubbish, it's that I don't care what they think at all.
"If it's good enough and I get selected again, that's great; if it's not, then I'll honestly accept it and wish Danny or whoever else the very best.
"But the bottom line I've already mentioned. I'll always try to be my best; I do want people to know that and hopefully they do. Whether they like the results, that's another matter."
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Rugby
