Jonny Wilkinson

Born: 25/5/79 Position: Fly-half Team: Newcastle Debut:4/2/98 v Ireland Past World Cups: 1999 Did you know? First appeared at Twickenham aged 10

Jonny Wilkinson's Midas touch as the golden boy of English rugby shows no sign of dipping.

The squeaky clean number 10 - at times more like Clive Woodward's adopted son than international fly-half - has already become the highest points scorer in English rugby.

He has past experience of the tournament - he was fly-half for England four years ago - and has 43 caps under his belt, and all before the age of 25.

His move into the English side was a dire one when he was a 76-0 loser on the 'Tour of Hell' to Australia.

If anything, the drubbing seemed to take Wilkinson's game to new heights and he has steadily blossomed during his club and international career ever since.

Wilkinson has suffered more highs than lows but will be determined to put behind memories of the quarter-final four years ago.

Then he was left out in favour of Paul Grayson, only to watch England lose to the Springboks.

The chances of Woodward dropping Wilkinson from any knock-out games this time around is about as likely as a rain-less Wimbledon.

As International Players' Player of the Year last year and the domestic Players' Player of the Year this time around there is no doubting the high esteem in which he is held.