Wilkinson again ready to put injury-prone body to the test

JONNY WILKINSON vowed to continue to put his injury-prone body on the line for England after making a remarkable 20 tackles in last weekend’s defeat to Australia.

At times it seemed as if Wilkinson was trying to plug the dam all on his own as the Wallabies launched wave after wave of attacks in the second half.

The 30-year-old has spent most of the last six years on the treatment table, and his defensive performance against Australia raised immediate concerns about how long his fragile frame can take such punishment.

But England’s defence coach Mike Ford has abandoned plans to try and protect Wilkinson from himself by directing the back row to make more tackles for him.

Wilkinson felt no after-effects from his defensive shift and he would have no qualms in pulling off 20 more tackles tomorrow if it means helping under-pressure England to victory over Argentina. “You just do what you think needs to be done and whatever it takes to try and get the result,” said Wilkinson.

“It is a tough one because at this level you are so intent on the next job that you are not really counting, you are not really aware of what you are up to.

“Those tackles had to be made but coming off the field after the game I wouldn’t have said I made 20. I would have probably said about 12.

“Physically it is one of those where you get stuck in but your mind is racing to what happens next.”

Argentina are missing key playmakers Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi plus wingers Lucas Amorosini and Gonzalo Camacho.

But Wilkinson knows from first-hand experience with the Lions not to underestimate a changed Pumas side.

“England probably underestimated them at Twickenham in 2006. They were underestimated at the 2007 World Cup and they were underestimated in the 2005 Lions tour opener.

“That was supposedly their second team but when you get on the field you realise it was nothing of the sort.”

Meanwhile, England newcomer Paul Doran-Jones is determined to hit the headlines for all the right reasons this week after being catapulted into the squad to face Argentina.

Six years ago, Doran-Jones and England number eight James Haskell were both suspended from Wellington College after being involved in a hidden camera sex scandal.

The story hit the newspapers at the time and came back to haunt Doran-Jones again this week when he received a surprise call-up into the England squad.

“It is something that happened a very long time ago and it was a mistake that was made – but I want the rugby to do the talking and hopefully that could be the focus this week and in the future,” said Doran-Jones.

He represented Ireland at U19 and U21 – by virtue of his Irish mother Mary – while studying at university in Dublin and before moving to London Welsh.