Jonny Wilkinson may lend his expertise to England's World Cup squad

Jonny Wilkinson hopes he can pass on useful advice to England’s World Cup squad as he takes his first steps towards a coaching career.

The 35-year-old former fly-half, a World Cup winner with England in 2003, retired during the summer after a glittering 17-year spell in the sport.

He is currently coaching for one week a month at former club Toulon and has been invited to cast an eye over Stuart Lancaster’s team ahead of next year's tournament on home soil.

"I have spoken to the guys a bit, just because they were saying feel free to come along and have a little chat and see what you think and if there's anything you can add,” said Wilkinson.

"I have got plenty of time - and I need plenty of time - to understand where I go next. I'd love to go down there and see what they're doing because whatever they are doing is very, very good.

"I may pop down there and spend a little time at Pennyhill on the sidelines and watch the guys doing what they are doing and enjoy that."

Wilkinson excelled for club and country, but insists he still has plenty to learn as a coach, despite his success on the pitch.

"At the moment, it's great to know the guys I am working with, and I can grab them. I know them already from playing with them and I can say, 'Look, let's work on this'. I know what they need and I know their personalities, so I am already a step ahead.

"But it's a tough world and the biggest mistake you can make is thinking that just because you played the game, you know what you are doing."

Tough

England face a tough autumn programme, with reigning champions New Zealand heading to Twickenham on November 8, while South Africa, Samoa and Australia also visit headquarters before the month is out.

Wilkinson believes the opening two fixtures against the All Black and the Springboks will provide an indication of whether Lancaster’s men can compete with the big guns.

"New Zealand, what they do is they just do things very, very well over and over again and they wait for you to break, and all teams break,” he said.

"It's the team that has suddenly found a way of saying, 'Well actually, we are going to do this back to you, and you are the ones that need to worry about breaking'. They don't worry about breaking because they are the ones who are doing the pressure side.

"South Africa is the other one. I know England haven't really beaten South Africa - that would be a nice monkey to get off the back.

"They have got wingers who attack rucks like madmen, they have got centres who are bigger than back-rowers, and it's that challenge that you face.

"As much as New Zealand have that as well, with South Africa it's in your face and you have got to front up to that. Those two would be big victories."