Lion in the long grass

IT has been difficult to escape the name Jonny Wilkinson in these parts since the Lions arrived in New Zealand a week ago; even less so when you happen to be another fly-half in the camp.

Mobbed by fans wherever he goes as the tourists turn on the charm for the New Zealand public ahead of their 11-match tour, Wilkinson, the English World Cup winner, has also been the centre of attention in the media of both northern and southern hemispheres since his return to fitness and form in the Lions' otherwise forgettable performance against Argentina in Cardiff on May 23.

The men with most to lose by this resurgence of the people's favourite are the three other fly-halves in the squad, Stephen Jones of Wales, Ireland's Ronan O'Gara and England's Charlie Hodgson.

Jones, a late arrival in midweek after completing domestic duties in France with Clermont Auvergne, stepped off his flight in Auckland to be met with a barrage of questions about his rival for the test team, and yesterday it was O'Gara who had to run the gauntlet of questions about his fellow Lion from the 2001 tour.

"To be honest, four years ago in Australia I wasn't a contender for a test place in my own head, because Jonny was so far ahead of me," O'Gara said.

"But I'd like to think, now, that I've the gap narrowed. I had one year of international experience under me four years ago, now I have five, and I'm pretty confident, and the so-called stars of the world game don't faze me. I'm looking forward to showing what I have to offer."

O'Gara said he benefited hugely from his Lions experience of 2001, and in particular training alongside Wilkinson.

"The amount I learned over that six-week period brought my game on to a huge new level and it opened my eyes to see how the best out-half in the world operates.

"I just had to make sure I learned as much as I could from him and then take it to my own game, without every copying. I have my own strengths and you just have to take them out of it and work and work to see how far you can get in the game."

O'Gara's admiration for Wilkinson remains but is now underscored by a resolve to prove he is his at the very least his equal.

The Corkman also feels he just might be playing alongside his rival.

"There is no greater admirer of Jonny than I am," he said.

"What he has achieved is incredible, he's the standard-bearer and if you want to get on the test team you have to prove you're a better player than him. I accept that but there might be a possibility that Jonny could be playing in a different position. You just don't know. So unless I'm told otherwise, I see there's everything to play for."

The Munster out-half, however, is also acutely aware that having been given the first start of the tour at No 10 in tomorrow's match with Bay of Plenty, he can scarcely afford to squander the opportunity.

"That's the bottom line. If it does go wrong I won't get another go. Simple as that, and you have to be realistic about it if it doesn't go right I won't be featuring in their minds for test selection.

"I have to accept that but I can use it as a positive," he added, before referring to his comeback from the serious knee injury which threatened his place on the tour before a triumphant return for Munster in the Celtic Cup final against Llanelli Scarlets on May 14.

"I haven't played that much in the last few months because of the injury and I didn't know what to expect going into the Llanelli game. But that was probably one of the best games I've played in the last few years, so it's strange the way it works out like that. So I've a fair bit of confidence."

O'Gara also cited as a high point and a yardstick for this tour, his last appearance in a Lions side, the 30-28 victory over the ACT Brumbies in Canberra, Australia, on July 3, 2001.

"The last time I played for the Lions was the ACT match and that was an unbelievable feeling and so we have to try to get back to that level and surpass it with the bunch of players we have this time.

"It was a great game of rugby. We were on the ropes the first half and down and out but we managed to get back in the game, and to win it the way we did was really good. It was a high-quality game and a joy, especially after getting my head thumped off (in his previous game, by NSW Waratahs' Duncan McRae). It was nice I had a happy memory but people obviously forget that because we lost the test series. But you have to take personal achievements out of it on a smaller scale."

As far as the present goes, O'Gara sees the fight for a test place at fly-half as a win-win situation for the Lions, and a positive for him too.

"There is great competition but the most important thing for me is that I do my best to challenge for a test spot, and if I can play to the best of my ability then that increases the performances of Stephen, Charlie and Jonny and the Lions are better off for having the strongest man in the No 10 jersey.

"The second thing is that, whatever happens come the middle of July, I'm a better player and a better person for this whole thing."