Read the press at the moment and its all about the new talent coming streaming through from all directions and all nations ahead of Saturday's opening games. Chief among the great new hopes is Danny Cipriani, Wasp's no 10 and pretender to the highest throne of all- our Jonny's.
So clearly, despite the emergence of James Haskell and Tom Croft in the English back row, its the selectorial decision around the key Fly half berth that will occupy the English media this week.
I propose that there is no decision at all. You've got to go with Jonny. He is the best we've ever had, and in my opinion the best the professional era has ever seen. Freddie Michalak, Dan Carter? Not men for a tight spot, where was Carter when the supremely talented NZ team slipped rudderlessly out of the world cup? Greatness is measured in results and Jonny has a winner's and runners up medal, the second almost as impressive seeing as he was guiding a far less capable team and playing with one ankle for the whole tournament. Cipriani and others are sure to challenge that supremacy in the future, but for now the QB role is his.
I concede that Jonny is not necessarily at his best right now, and that judgement is harder to make given his insistence on playing his club rugby behind an underpowered pack. But he has never let England down and the jersey is his.
It would seem Cipriani has more attacking gifts than Jonny in terms of his pace, vision and ability to play right on the gain line, but game management and pressure goal kicking are key, and Cipriani is untested in these areas. Jonny's defence even now is superior especially head-on, I think he has lost something in more lateral defence through injury, but those are the flanker's channels anyway and his past work there was beyond the call.
I'm not totally blinkered to a future without JW, but his time hasn't come yet!
Finally his contribution to Upper 10's sales has been, and continues to be considerable, Cipriani is unproved in this area and that should be considered. I can see that he's pretty handsome but he plays in a scrum-cap, and thats not good for photo-opportunities.
Finally Cipriani's predeliction for transsexuals worries me greatly. Jonny's a stand up guy, more likely to be found in a bridge club than a strip club; and thats an important quality in my heroes.
