He revealed that he went for lunch in Paris with his England and club team-mates Toby Flood and Mathew Tait on the day after the game.

BBC: Focused Wilkinson ignores critics

Andy Goode and then Toby Flood overtook him in the rankings as England's number 10 and now Leicester's Sam Vesty has been considered a better choice to tour with England to Argentina.

BBC: Jeremy Guscott column

The departure of powerhouse Kiwi prop Carl Hayman for Toulon marked the end of an era of star names as he joined Jonny Wilkinson, Toby Flood and Mathew Tait on the list of players leaving the club in the last three seasons.

BBC: Alan Tait stamps his authority on Newcastle Falcons