Wilkinson rolls back the years as Irish slide to their sixth consecutive defeat
LONDON IRISH head coach Toby Booth compared Jonny Wilkinson to a fine wine after the unerring boot of the veteran Toulon fly-half put a huge dent in their hopes of progressing in the Heineken Cup.
England great Wilkinson kicked four penalties and converted Rudi Wulf’s try as the Frenchmen won 19-13 at the Madejski Stadium, inflicting the Exiles’ sixth consecutive defeat.
“In a tight game they have a 100 per cent kicker and we don’t. He is like a fine wine, he just gets better,” Booth said of the No10. Irish must win the return leg at the weekend to have a chance of progressing from Pool Three, after defeat left them propping up the table.
Wasps kept the pressure on Toulouse at the top of Heineken Cup Pool Six with a 23-16 win over Newport-Gwent Dragons.
Harlequins remained on track to reach the Amlin Challenge Cup last eight with a 20-9 win over Connacht.