Who are the nailed on fly-halves for the Lions? Jonathan Sexton, sure; Owen Farrell, probably; Dan Biggar, maybe; Jonny Wilkinson, why not?
I'm writing this after seeing Toulon beat Toulouse in a deserved victory that puts them back on top of the French table after briefly falling to second spot.
Before jumping into how Wilkinson fared in the game, I'd just like to cast minds back to July 14, 2001 and Sydney, the day Australia made it 2-1.
A picture has stuck in the mind since that third-Test defeat and that is of Wilkinson sat on the changing room floor distraught after losing the series while his team-mates picked themselves up - after being in a similar state - to go and thank the fans. It was clear Wilkinson was cut deep.
In 2003 he was back Down Under to bury that demon somewhat with a RWC win, which visibly lifted a weight that had hovered over him during his early career. As Lawrence Dallaglio revealed afterwards, Wilkinson seemed under huge pressure throughout the tournament.
Despite the Webb Ellis win, 2001 remains a sore point for many English Lions followers and if Wilkinson's commitment is anything to go by, losing that series is surely stored in his mental locker for fuel. If you haven't guessed, I feel he should be given an outlet 12 years on.
On Saturday in club colours, Wilkinson again showed just what a weapon he could be later this year. Not firing like he would have liked from the tee and with Toulon 19-16 up with ten minutes remaining, Wilkinson switched to the drop-goal, landing two to extend the arrears.
It is such calmness of thought that, surely, is one reason for head coach Warren Gatland to book him a seat on the plane. I mean, only last week in the Six Nations we had England's Owen Farrell eager to pick a fight throughout while Ronan O'Gara became something of a villain when Ireland desperately needed the veteran to be the hero coming off the bench.
There is the notion of picking two fly-halves who will battle it out for the Test jersey (at the moment Sexton and Farrell) with Wilkinson as the third. Why? His off-field presence in the touring party would surely be an asset to all squad members. Should Wilkinson not make the trip, only Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll (of course also selection pending) would have been in Australia 12 years previously. 2001 experience would be a handy tool in the Lions' box.
Of course this will divide opinion but with Gatland revealing in December that Wilkinson "is definitely one we are keeping an eye on", selection is by no means off the table. For now we can only speculate but judging from tonight's intelligent performance, I am sold. Are you?
By Adam Kyriacou
@PlanetRugbyAK
Comments
lawynd says...
@ben7 - why do none of those players 'deserve it', exactly? Whilst I'd be in favour of Flood as the third-choice on the plane, let us not forget that Flood in particular has been the England incumbent for quite some time, and is not a bad player in the slightest. If anything, he was better than Farrell against France for the time he was on the field!
Posted 12:09 03rd March 2013
leinster_goy says...
why the Lions shouldn't take "Jonny":
1. playing for 3 years in a club league, for a boring conservative side - the very antithesis of the B&I Lions tradition
2. barely any test rugby played in the last 4 years
3. the inevitable media circus
4. "Jonny" played a huge role in losing the 2001 series. he threw away the second test wit his hospital pass to joe roff, then missed 3 straightforward kicks in the 3rd test
basically, can we please stop flogging this dead horse? we'll take Sexto, farrell, maybe flood, and halfpenny will shore up the kicking duties. bada bing bada boom
Posted 11:47 03rd March 2013
melkdave says...
I have no dought JW could do a very good job in Australia,,but for myself id take Flood as the 3rd FH.But if any lose form or get injured then JW is on the plane for my money.I dont think Biggar is ready to my mind he still has to prove alot,concerning game management ,same with Burns
Posted 11:24 03rd March 2013
astrospange says...
Why take Sexton? Has he the skills to make a world 15? He hasn't the composure that Farrel has started to display or the experience Wilkinson obviously has. An outside chance is Cips. He seriously needs to find another club though.
Posted 11:22 03rd March 2013
NHsaints says...
@yelloj321 the only person who would make a comment like that is an imbecile who hasn't watched him play. He controls the game with more experience than any other flyhalf, he can kick, he can drop, he can tackle, he draws defenders when he takes the ball to the line in attack...the only thing that makes Sexton first choice is that sexton is more of a danger with ball in hand and because he's more creative on attack. I reckon we should take him as a third man then put him on the bench to close out tests after whoever makes first spot at flyhalf comes off.
Posted 10:24 03rd March 2013
ben7 says...
Definitely take him! Hes still one of the best defensive 10s in the world and along with his kicking abilities and calmness under pressure why wouldnt you take him?
Who else are they going to take? biggar, flood, o'gara, priestland? none of them deserve it.
Posted 10:20 03rd March 2013
kybone says...
yelloj321- Well his 25 points against the mighty Toulouse yesterday, not to mention his list of achievements throughout his career, says he isn't. I remember when the 03 team were still together many opposition fans used to suggest that they were a one man team (the one man being Wilko)- which suited them when having a general dig at England, then the following week the same people would be saying that he was a bang average player being carried by a great team- which suited them when they wanted have a dig at Wilko himself. Basically its difficult to take any none English opinion seriously, but his record over the last 15 years speaks for itself. I think you'd be mad not to take him, even if he didn't end up making the test team. If we do take 3 fly-halves and Wilko doesn't go then we're looking at Bigger, Jackson, or a very talented but as yet unproven Burns. I know who i'd rather have.
Posted 09:22 03rd March 2013
firepower says...
please pick Jonny Wilkinson. He's the best fly-half in Europe at the moment
Posted 09:22 03rd March 2013
honestpom says...
Wilkinson is the best fly-half England has ever had and for that matter probably the best in Europe of the professional era. The simple matter as far as i am concerned however is that he is not as good as Sexton and Farrell at present and i would take Flood as the 3rd option. Same with O'Driscoll, should not go because the best 13's we have are Tuilagi and Davies.
Posted 08:13 03rd March 2013
Centre12 says...
Get him on that plane along with Sexton and Farrell!!!!!
Posted 06:01 03rd March 2013
TVaddict says...
It would always be a good thing to have someone who has so much experience, achieved so much, and whose dedication to training is second to none. Farrell and Sexton could both benefit from his guidance. Wilkinson and Bod to be the two wise men of the touring party?
Posted 01:44 03rd March 2013
yelloj321 says...
Why the Lions shouldn't take Wilkinson
. He's useless.
Posted 00:47 03rd March 2013