Vinatieri does a Wilko - again

By Andrew Fraser

Vinatieri (left) has twice won the Super Bowl with last-gasp kicks

Imagine what it would be like if Jonny Wilkinson kicked the winning points for England in the dying seconds of the 2007 Rugby World Cup final.

That should give you an idea of the stir Adam Vinatieri has caused with his last-gasp Super Bowl heroics for the New England Patriots.

Two years ago, Vinatieri landed a 48-yard field goal to give the Patriots a dramatic 20-17 win over St Louis Rams in American sport's showpiece event.

And on Sunday the kicker repeated the feat from 41 yards with just four seconds remaining to clinch a 32-29 victory over Carolina Panthers.

"He is a pressure kicker," jubilant New England coach Bill Belichick said after the game.

"If you have got to have one kick with everything on the line, he has got one in him."

Words that could just as easily have been spoken about Wilkinson, whose extra-time drop goal gave England a 20-17 win over Australia in Sydney last November.

ADAM VINATIERI Born: 28/12/72 Sport: American football Position: kicker Team: New England Patriots Honours: Super Bowl 2001, 2003

But the comparison between the kicking kings ends there.

While Wilkinson shuns the limelight, Vinatieri is the cousin of the legendary motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel.

The 31-year-old from South Dakota lists hunting and riding motorcycles among his hobbies.

Wilkinson's annual salary does not come close to the $2-3m pay packets players like Vinatieri can command.

Wilko for the NFL?

No wonder the Newcastle captain has confessed that he finds the possibility of an eventual move to the NFL appealing.

Wilkinson, however, can claim to have a greater range of skills than Vinatieri.

While kickers in the NFL are required to do little other than put the ball between the posts, Wilkinson's role is more that of quarterback, kicker and punter rolled into one.

When it comes to delivering in the ultimate pressure situations, however, the pair are united.

Just as Wilkinson had missed with earlier attempts in the World Cup final, Vinatieri failed with two first-half field goals in Houston.

And to make him sweat even more before his crucial kick, Carolina called a time-out.

JONNY WILKINSON Born: 25/5/79 Sport: rugby union Position: fly-half Teams: Newcastle and England Honours: 2003 World Cup, Six Nations - 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003

"I was just very happy that I looked up and saw it going down the middle," said Vinatieri, who has kicked 15 late field goals in his career to seal victories for the Pats.

"With the pressure on, it's never easy. You try to block all the external things out and kick it.

"You try to think about that it's no different than a 41-yarder in practice.

"The guys fought so hard all day long. I'm just fortunate to have the opportunity to put the icing on the cake they worked so hard to build."

Which is probably exactly what Wilkinson will say if he does a Vinatieri at the Stade de France on 20 October, 2007.