Michalak: Wilko's the best around

Jonny Wilkinson was today given a vote of confidence from the Frenchman who is eclipsing him as the World Cup's brightest star.

Frederic Michalak, the 21-year-old who has looked the tournament's most complete fly-half and has set his sights on booting England out of the Cup this Sunday, has dismissed the idea that his counterpart is struggling under the pressure of shouldering the favourites' challenge.

He believes Wilkinson is still the world's best stand-off and may be ready to produce his biggest game of the competition so far. "Jonny is used to playing in the big matches and even the best players have ups and downs," said Michalak.

"He has all the qualities to play a very big game against us. He has masses of experience which I don't have at the top level. He's great in attack, in defence and, of course, in his kicking. He's the one fly-half who has all the attributes."

Michalak, who heads the competition's points-scoring table, also dismissed talk of England's uncertain form. "I don't think they have gone backwards in any way," he said. "They have just had some tough matches. Whatever 15 they put out will give us huge problems."

Michalak got his first taste of the Wilko treatment when he became the focus of a media circus here in Bondi. Yet he handled it with a relaxed air.

Asked if he was comfortable with the fuss, he smiled about whether it was for him or the translator.

Meanwhile, French team manager Jo Maso said the losers of Sunday's match would be urging the winners to make history in the final.

"At the last Twickenham match, Clive Woodward and I agreed that if we met in the semis, we hoped the winners would lift the Cup because no European team had done it before."