Wilko emerges from Lion's den

JONNY WILKINSON will finally emerge from the Lions’ New Zealand den this week, and England’s celebrated World Cup winner last night declared: “It is not a chance I want to waste.”

The fly-half superstar spearheads a Test-strength Lions side as coach Clive Woodward wheels out his big guns for the clash against Wellington on Wednesday.

Given Wilkinson’s prolonged post-World Cup injury problems, the mere sight of him wearing a Lions number 10 shirt in New Zealand will be worth savouring.