JONNY WILKINSON is a “once-in-a-generation” talent, his coach said before the 34-year-old takes to the field in Wales for the last time in his career today.

“He is an exceptional player — you could talk about him forever,” said Toulon coach Bernard Laporte.

Wilkinson will lead Toulon into European Cup battle against Saracens at the Millennium Stadium.

He’ll bow out for good after next week’s French Top 14 final appointment with Castres in Paris.

Wilkinson has picked up 91 England caps and more than 1,000 test points.

“Players like him only come around once in a generation,” gushed Laporte.

“Once, after we (France) lost against England at Twickenham, I said we have (Zinedine) Zidane, and they have Wilkinson. I was right.

“It is a pleasure to have him. He is a perfectionist, but he is always asking questions as if he is starting out in the game.”

Wilkinson, who will be 35 tomorrow, announced his retirement earlier this week and he said: “I felt the time had come to say that’s that. It is something I felt I had to do. I feel relieved that I have announced it.

“I have always been about the team, for the group to do well. This game (today) is the biggest one as far as I am concerned at the moment. Next week doesn’t really exist.

“It simply comes down to the here and now and for the here and now to be a Heineken Cup final is incredible.

“But the thought of leaving the final without a happy ending to this journey is a painful one, so we’ve got to do everything we can to try to make sure it doesn’t end like that.”