Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson insists the form and future of France’s Frederic Michalak will not be impeded by his decision to prolong his own career for another year at Toulon.
Michalak scored 33 points in the 2013 RBS 6 Nations but couldn’t help France avoid the wooden spoon after they recorded just one victory, over Scotland, and a draw from their five games.
Michalak is currently teammates with Wilkinson, who sits second in the all-time RBS 6 Nations points table with 546, at the French side and even offered his own advice to the Englishman alongside Australia’s Matt Giteau.
And although competing against one another for a starting role, Wilkinson is certain his decision to stay on will not hamper the development of the French No. 10.
“These are guys who play inside and outside me and both play in my position too, so there is no better position to have to see if they think I am doing a good job,” he said.
“I also wanted to know where they see their futures. Am I in the way of their future? Am I helping their future? Do they feel comfortable playing alongside me? I was more than willing to hear.
“These are guys for whom I have such great respect, guys from whom you want to hear the negative stuff.
“But they were really honest and I got the impression that they wanted me there.”
