England rugby stalwart Dan Cole has been given the green light by his wife Isobel to prolong his tenure in the national team following the 2019 World Cup.
Contemplating hanging up his boots in the wake of teammates such as Courtney Lawes, Jonny May, and Ben Youngs departing the international scene, Cole, 36, has found a new lease of life on the pitch, thanks in no small part to the guidance of coach Steve Borthwick.
He said, "My wife is very understanding that I haven't got many games left. It was a joint decision.
"She understands that with Steve and the coaches that she knows from Leicester, it is a very good team environment and place to be. I won't be doing it forever, so enjoy it.
When people wondered if this Six Nations might be his last, Cole shared: "I haven't made up my mind. I haven't thought about it so far, we'll see how it goes.
"After the World Cup I thought about everything really. I had a conversation with Steve and he said to me after Courtney had announced his retirement at a press conference 'are you planning any press conferences or announcements?'"
Dan Carter's toughest opponents:
#6. Thierry Dusautoir (France)
Renowned French rugby player, Thierry Dusautoir, is celebrated for his formidable skills as a flanker and his leadership on the field. Captaining both club and country, he's earned respect for his tenacity and strategic prowess.
CARTER SAID: "He had some blinding games in big moments — none more so than in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup games against the All Blacks."
DID YOU KNOW? He broke the record for most tackles in a match, making 38 tackles against the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup final
4&5. Brian O'Driscoll & Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
O'Driscoll, an Irish rugby legend, is revered for his exceptional skills as a center and inspirational leadership. Renowned for his agility and rugby intellect, he's regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
O'Connell, the esteemed Irish rugby lock, is celebrated for his physicality and astute game reading. A natural leader on and off the field, O'Connell's influence in the scrum and lineout has left an enduring legacy in the world of rugby.
Carter said: "Two giants of the game that have worn the green jersey were Paul O'Connell and Brian O'Driscoll. Their work rate and how they conducted themselves on and off the pitch was exemplary."
Brian O’Driscoll facts:
- He is devoted to Manchester United and his boyhood hero was Mark Hughes
- O’Driscoll’s father, Frank, played two games for Ireland and an uncle, Barry, won four caps
- His final appearance for Leinster, and for any team, was in the 2014 Pro12 Grand Final on 31 May in Leinster’s home ground, the RDS in Dublin, in which Leinster defeated the Glasgow Warriors 34-12
- His most oft-quoted line was delivered at a press conference at Croke Park before an England match in 2009: “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.”
- O’Driscoll was chosen as Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 RBS Six Nations Championships.
3. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
Lomu, the late New Zealand rugby legend, left an indelible mark on the sport with his unparalleled power and speed. Revered as rugby's first global superstar, Lomu's legacy continues to inspire players and fans worldwide.
Carter said: "He was the toughest player. I played against him once, I was 19-year-old and tried to tackle him, kinda woke up five metres back. He changed the game of rugby."
Jonah Lomu Facts:
- He weighed 120 kg and was 1.96 metres tall, but could run 100 metres in 10.8 seconds
- In 1996, McDonald’s New Zealand named a burger after Lomu
- He’s the only rugby player ever to feature on the front cover of TIME magazine
- According to the Telegraph, Leeds were ready to make a third bid to attract All Blacks giant Jonah Lomu to England in 2001
- He played 63 tests as an All Black, scoring 37 tries
- In 2001 he helped New Zealand win the Rugby World Cup Sevens.
2. Schalk Burger (South Africa)
South African rugby great Schalk Burger is celebrated for his ferocious playing style and versatility on the field. A formidable presence in the forward pack, Burger's relentless commitment to the game has earned him widespread admiration.
Carter said: “A real competitor and absolute top bloke off the field as well. His mindset was a little bit different when he was out there competing. That just made him such a tough opponent to come up against.”
1. Jonny Wilkinson (England)
Wilkinson, an iconic English rugby fly-half, is revered for his precision kicking and unmatched dedication to the game. Renowned for his match-winning drop goals, he remains one of rugby's most respected figures.
CARTER SAID: “Probably because I held him in such high regard and had a huge amount of respect for him, it was Jonny Wilkinson. He was an absolute student of the game,
“It was a wild, windy test match down in Wellington, I was on the bench and I hadn’t played a test match for the All Blacks, and he just took that game and, as a 10 that wants to control a game, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“I got the best seats in the house on the bench. Part of me was going, ‘Man, do I really want to get on here because he’s just completely dominating this game’.
“Thankfully I didn’t. I made my test debut the following week, which was a much better game to remember, but I just remember sitting there going, ‘If I ever do play 10’ – I was playing 12 a lot then – ‘this is how you need to control a game’.
“I had a huge amount of respect for him and playing against him.”
Jonny Wilkinson facts:
- Wilkinson’s brother, Mark, was also a Newcastle player who made 16 appearances in the Premiership for the side between 2002 and 2005, predominantly as a centre. His father, Phil, was a rugby player and cricketer, and his mother, Philippa, played squash at county level. His grandfather, Phil, also played football for Norwich.
- When former England centre Jeremy Guscott walked into the dressing room on the day of Wilkinson’s international debut, he thought the 18-year-old had won a competition to spend the day with the national team.
- Wilkinson followed Buddhist principles and teachings to help control his perfectionist tendencies, according to an interview he gave with The Times newspaper in 2009.
- Jonny and Shelley became parents for the first time in late 2018. They keep their private life pretty much on lockdown, but according to reports, they had a little boy called James while they were still living in France.
- Wilkinson is currently a studio pundit for ITV Sport, working on their coverage of the Six Nations Championship, Rugby World Cup and other rugby events.
