Two things were guaranteed at Jonny Wilkinson's first press conference since his installation as England's captain: a sizeable audience and a stream of polite replies from a man who deals with questions as carefully as he kicks for goal. He is not renowned for pithy sound-bites but, as his acting head coach Andy Robinson iterated yesterday, that is not why he has got the job.

Neither was there much fresh meat for those who are already suggesting, less than 48 hours into Wilkinson's reign, that the Newcastle fly-half has bitten off more than he can chew, given that he is now effectively team leader, chief backline orchestrator, goal-kicker and high-profile talisman rolled into one. Both player and coach are insistent that Wilkinson's shoulders can bear the load and the process of getting England back to winning ways has already begun.

Wilkinson, for instance, said there was "never a doubt in my mind" that he would accept Robinson's invitation to lead the team for the three forthcoming Twickenham internationals; and the coach moved swiftly to scotch talk that his fly-half's form, or relative lack of it, might become an issue between now and the Canada game on November 13.

According to Robinson, who hopes to impress a Rugby Football Union panel sufficiently tomorrow week to be confirmed in the role vacated by Sir Clive Woodward, England will not only be happy to accommodate Wilkinson but will be shaping the entire side around him, both as a captain and a stand-off.

"I select the side and I see him as the No1 pick in the style we want to play," said Robinson bullishly, news that will scarcely be music to the ears of, among others, Sale's Charlie Hodgson and Bath's Olly Barkley. "In terms of taking us forward and developing our game, Jonny is the No1 player at No10."

There was better news for the Bath centre Mike Tindall, whose mixed early-season form has not prevented him being chosen, along with Richard Hill, to fulfil leadership roles in training, which would suggest the two established internationals are in line to become Wilkinson's official deputies. Whoever plays, however, Robinson does not accept that either his choice or its timing are anything less than spot on.

"I'm looking for the toughest competitors and, for me, the guy on my left is the toughest competitor we have," he continued. "He also has the utmost respect of the coaches and the players. I wanted to announce the captain early because I wanted the squad to bind together. Following the announcement the squad have certainly got that real focus. There will be tough times but I've no doubt he'll be an outstanding captain as Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio have been in previous years."

Wilkinson, at 25, is not coming into the job wet behind the ears, however, and he knows he could do with a couple of eye-catching club games which would convince friends and the odd foe alike that he is the player he was before the shoulder and neck surgery that kept him out of the game for the first eight months of this year.

"The thing that's consistently moving forward is my confidence," he insisted, denying he was deliberately avoiding the trademark big hits he used to relish. "I've never been satisfied with a game of rugby I've played but at the moment I'm being critical in a very positive way. I couldn't bear to come back and play a different game but I haven't had too many people running straight at me as yet. My neck is stronger than it has ever been."

Also driving him on are the withdrawal symptoms he felt this year as he watched England soldier on without him. "You realise when you're away how much you miss it. Watching the team during the Six Nations and the summer tour, I was really missing being there."

For that reason, now he has the England captaincy, he has no intention of letting the rare honour slip through those famously clasped hands. "It's something I don't want to let go until I really have to."

For now, though, defending England's honour in the 2007 World Cup in France takes second place to more immediate concerns. Robinson says England must "hit the ground running" this autumn and knows South Africa and Australia will pounce on any weakness. He also takes the view that handing Wilkinson the captaincy will "develop him as a player" and that his chosen one can cope with the "negatives" of the job. The whole of England can only pray he is right.

Leading men who get their kicks

Michael Lynagh

By the time the Australian retired after the 1995 World Cup he had amassed a then world record of 911 Test points. He made his debut on the 1984 grand slam tour of Britain and is best remembered for working in tandem with Nick Farr-Jones, who led the Wallabies to their 1991 World Cup win. The Queenslander finished his playing days at Saracens and is now a TV rugby pundit.

Diego Dominguez

The Argentinian began his career as understudy to the great Hugo Porta and has since helped transform the fortunes of his adoped country Italy. Now 38, Dominguez scored 983 points for Italy and his late career flourished under Italy's coach Brad Johnstone before a difference of opinion with the current coach John Kirwan caused the little fly-half to end his playing days in Paris at Stade Français.

Tom Kiernan

The modest Munsterman was Ireland's most capped full-back, playing 54 times for his country and scoring more than 150 points between his debut in1960 and 1974. Kiernan also played on two Lions tours and his nephew Michael Kiernan was an accomplished centre and inherited his place-kicking skills for Ireland in the 1980s. Uncle Tom later became president of the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Gavin Hastings

Scotland would love to have the likes of Gavin Hastings in their current side. The full-back kicked 140 penalties and 86 conversions in a glorious career and played in three World Cups, captaining them in one and leading the Lions in New Zealand in 1993. A strong running full-back, he instantly made his mark on his debut, kicking six penalties in an 18-17 win over France, and never looked back.