England legend Jonny Wilkinson has praised Fin Smith as the young fly-half fights to become Steve Borthwick's first choice.
The Northampton Saints star has made a big impact for both club and country.
Smith is now in a three-way battle with George Ford and Marcus Smith for England's number 10 shirt.
With the 2027 Rugby World Cup drawing closer, that battle looks set to heat up.
Wilkinson knows all about the pressure of playing fly-half for England.
The 2003 World Cup winner has been full of praise for Smith, who has also turned to him for advice.
Jonny Wilkinson praises Fin Smith
Wilkinson was keen to praise Smith after his display against Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations.
He was struck by how calm the young star looked on the pitch.
Speaking on The Rugby Pod, Wilkinson said:
"I think early on in my career, I would have just been too exuberant and too kind of keen to just fly around the place to have had the kind of composure and calm and the vision and what have you."
He added:
"But he found that balance between the two, having the patience, the poise, and the trust just in his team to wait. And I think that's quite powerful."
It was high praise from one of the best players to wear an England shirt.
Five facts about Jonny Wilkinson
1. He won the World Cup with his weaker foot
Wilkinson scored the winning drop goal against Australia in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final.
The kick came in extra time and gave England a famous 20-17 win.
He used his weaker right foot to score one of the most famous goals in Rugby World Cup history.
2. He scored more than 1,000 points for England
Wilkinson scored 1,179 points in 91 games for England.
He also scored 67 points for the British & Irish Lions.
His total of 1,246 Test points puts him among the greatest scorers in the sport, with his achievements earning him a place in the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
3. He won two European titles with Toulon
Wilkinson left Newcastle Falcons to join Toulon in 2009.
He helped the French club win back-to-back European Cups in 2013 and 2014.
He also won the French league title before retiring in 2014, bringing an end to a career that had lasted 17 years.
4. His brother was also a rugby player
Jonny's older brother, Mark, also played rugby.
The pair grew up playing the sport together, with their father helping them develop their skills.
Wilkinson has often spoken about his early love of rugby and the hard work that helped him reach the top.
5. He has spoken openly about his mental health
Wilkinson has spoken about the fear and stress he faced during his career.
Despite his success, he often found it hard to enjoy rugby.
In an interview with The Guardian, he opened up about his drive to be perfect and the toll it took on him.
Since retiring, he has worked to help others deal with the same issues.
