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.