‘Fresh’ Wilkinson up for Lions challenge

Mike Sinclair

Wilkinson yesterday acknowledged that being the drop-goal hero of England's 2003 World Cup final triumph does not give him a divine right to a starting place in the Lions Test team for the New Zealand tour.

"It wouldn't sit easily with me to think that I'm there because 18 months ago England won the World Cup and I was the one who kicked the last ball over," he said.

"But if I'm not good enough to be in the team for the Lions, I'm sure I won't be picked.

"I will be very, very disappointed if I don't make it but either way I will do everything I can to help."

Wilkinson looked on earlier this year as Jones enhanced his reputation in a revitalised Welsh side, while he was struggling to overcome a series of injuries.

"The guys on the tour are all fantastic and Stephen Jones is a great player, to name one. They have just won the Grand Slam so I have a huge amount of respect for the guy," Wilkinson added.

"I'm more than happy there are players like Stephen Jones out there. It bodes well for the tour."

Wilkinson is "fresh" and up for the challenge after the frustrations caused by the neck, arm and knee injuries which have blighted and threatened his career since the World Cup.

He admitted fearing for his future at one stage, but the determination and hard work which enabled the 25-year-old to become the world's leading goalkicking fly-half saw him through.

Pinpointing "the time when I wasn't regaining any strength in my right arm and was told it might not come back" as the lowest point, he revealed: "I just kept going to the gym every morning hoping it would come back and it did."