Painful loss: Wilkinson in 2001
Two-time tourist Jonny Wilkinson has spoken of a nightmare of unfinished business with the British & Irish Lions and has put himself up for selection for next year's trip to face Australia.
The World Cup winner, who retired from England duty in December last year, is eager to return to the country of his greatest and worst memories.
The 33-year-old fly-half claimed the 2003 RWC in Sydney, but two years earlier was part of the Lions squad that fell so painfully to the 2001 Wallabies.
"There's no way I could say no," he said to the possibility of playing in the series Down Under.
"In terms of what that represents, everything about it, it's enormous. Such a fabulous thing.
"The joy is the fact it doesn't have to come with international rugby. It doesn't matter where you come from. You have got six weeks, get your boots on and get into it.
"It is niggling away at me (that I haven't won a series with the Lions)," added Wilkinson, who was not fit to be considered for the 2009 tour of South Africa but did tour New Zealand in 2005 where they were whitewashed.
"In 2001 I sat in the changing-room after the third Test and it felt like a World Cup final loss. I'd say it was up there (with the biggest disappointments of my career), definitely.
"Australia were on fire at the time and that first Test was incredible. The second Test (in Melbourne) was incredible up to a point and the third Test in Sydney was just a great game. Knowing we had a shot (at the series win), the disappointment was ridiculous.
"It's like trying to run a marathon, getting to the 25th mile and someone saying: 'That's it.' All I can do is play and see if I fit into those plans."
Comments
melkdave says...
It may be tempting for Wilkinson,,but personnally i think his time has come and gone.Sexton ,Flood and Bigger imo,would all be better choices,as they actually get the backline moving.While Jonny for all his greatness isnt as good at doing that as them.Also have to agree that Preistland needs a miracle,,atm his utter crap.,and cant even retain a starting place with the Scarlets.Also dont be surprised if G.Ford or F.Burns are taken if any of the above lose form.,there is a tradition of having one uncapped player at least in the Lions squad .and such players as W.Greenwood ect .Have played Lions rugby before playing for their country.
Posted 21:44 06th October 2012
Bones7 says...
I think he would be a fantastic person to take in the squad. Sexton has to be first choice although he is somewhat erratic. Priestland is miles off at the moment and noone else is really near - Farrell is clearly not an international 10 and Flood has had far too many chances and failed. Wilkinson is steering the ship at Europe's form club and if anything his attacking play has improved in recent years with Toulon giving him a longer lead that his woeful Newcastle pack and extended spell of fitness could ever give him. I was never a Wilkinson fan, too boring, too old fashioned I thought, even when England won the WC. How I'd welcome a tough old stager in that kind of form though. As APV1 said, he still might put the doubt in Australian minds, having been the catalyst to beating a much superior Aussie side, as Dallaglio was meant to be the trump card in 05 as the only player who could really scare the Kiwis, although he took an early leave
Posted 22:31 05th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Well said Fozza. My only concern is that they were all rising stars. Ryan Jones was another if you can bare to think of that tour. We've yet to see a retired falling star reemerge on a Lions tour as far as I can think of....???? But JW... come on... Fairy tale stuff.
Posted 16:01 05th October 2012
APV1 says...
@ connaughtabu - good point about Beale, but he could well be in jail by then, so we may be looking at a different Ozzie 10...
Posted 10:11 05th October 2012
melkdave says...
@PREEST
Have you forgotten 1989 Lions beat Australia ,or 1997 against S.africa.Or are you saying they arnt big 3 teams??
Posted 02:08 05th October 2012
piriaka says...
This is crazy! What a goose playing on sentiment from a decade ago!
Posted 00:17 05th October 2012
kiwilad says...
Should be great fun, like watching a Dads Army re-run!
Posted 00:11 05th October 2012
jenksbaj says...
Guys, there is a season of rugby to be played yet...anything can happen in this amount of time! Who know's there could be someone to blast onto the scene and take one of the 3 likely spots.
IMO i don't think JW will fit into the plans of how Gatland and crew will want to play against Australia. He stands way to deep in an attacking line hence makes it difficult to get over the gain line...i'm sure that this was one of the reasons he was initially dropped from the England team before he retired. He will have to do something really special for Toulon this season to be considered and then hope that the likes of Sexton, Priestland, Flood, Biggar and even Farrell and O'Gara don't run into a bit of form. JW's time has long since been and gone, i will be very VERY shocked if he ends up on that plane down under! What also makes me laugh is the amount of comment on here about the form of the OH's currently in the mix...bet half of you haven't seen them play this season, just jumping on the bandwagon! The season is early, the main contenders have plenty of time to prove to the Lions selection team that they are worth a seat!
Anyway, OH isn't our biggest so called problem...what about the back row!?
(that was a JOKE!)
Posted 21:09 04th October 2012
fozza says...
@PREEST have to say I can't agree on you in this one. Some of the best Lions in the professional era have been out of favour or not selected by their countries. By your rationale they would be out as well. I remember in 1997 players like John Bentley, Will Greenwood and Jeremy Davidson doing amzingly. In 2001 I'm pretty sure Rob Henderson wasn't first choice for his country and Martin Corry was only playing for England because the holy trinity were already playing for the lions.
Part of the sheer joy of the Lions is the unexpected player who ups his game to astronomical levels to allow the Lions to be competitive. Tom Smith, Paul Wallace and Jeremy Davidson spring to mind in 1997. Dafydd James, Rob Henderson and Jason Robinson in 2001. I try and blank 2005 out of my memory but in 2009, Tom Croft and Stephen Ferris really showed their potential.
If you're good enough you should be selected.
Posted 17:30 04th October 2012
connaughtabu says...
Wilkinson in the Lions? Are we serious? Well then I vote for O'Driscoll & Darcy in the centers and why not see if Chris Patterson would like one last trip down under?
Come on lads, Wilkinson is now well past test rugby. The game has moved on and there is no place for an OH who has to play so deep as JW. It makes attack near impossible. I can only imagine how twinkletoes Beale would waltz around him.
Posted 16:49 04th October 2012
connaughtabu says...
Wilkinson in the Lions? Are we serious? Well then I vote for O'Driscoll & Darcy in the centers and why not see if Chris Patterson would like one last trip down under?
Come on lads, Wilkinson is now well past test rugby. The game has moved on and there is no place for an OH who has to play so deep as JW. It makes attack near impossible. I can only imagine how twinkletoes Beale would waltz around him.
Posted 16:49 04th October 2012
Norm says...
If he has a good season why the hell not, although if he is threatening to break into the test side then lord we have trouble. Reality is we have a bit of a dearth of world class out halves at the minute. Sexton far and away the best option but look at his last trip to Oz! Howler! He is better for it and would be amazed if he is not starting and bossing each of the 3 tests. See Flood's name being touted and if that is our 10 for any of the tests again we are in real trouble!
Always a bit of magic to the lions and Wilkinson would add to that facet. Dirttrack is important for momentum and WIlko could be very valuable for that job, and also for Aussie baiting, which lets face it Gatland is going to do at every opportunity! Based on that last point, I reckonWilko is in with a good chance of a plane ticket!
Stupid kids! Was all over this tour until pregnancy struck!!! Nngh
Jonesy, new season, same nonsense! Keep it up son you are an ambassador for kiwi intellect!
Posted 16:37 04th October 2012
masar says...
10 shirt completely up for grabs... he can also cover 12 with his tackling... but agree he'd had to prove himself in the england squad first.
although he could go as third option (on the papers) and prove himself during the initial part of the tour
Posted 15:59 04th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Can't remember a time when all lions nation fly halves have been so poor. Gatland will have to look outside the national 10s at the moment. That said JW does seem to mess things up in Oz.The Lions game we won in Oz, JW had a shocker and it was BOD and Robinson who dug him out of it. In the WC win how many missed attempts vs Flatleys brilliant performance? Shouldn't have been close.
But on merit currently he probably gets in. Still time for others to prove themselves so wait and see.
Posted 15:16 04th October 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Lions had the same problem in the 2005, 2009 tours, no decent combo at 9, 10 and 12.
Posted 15:04 04th October 2012
TVaddict says...
Fair enough really. Sexton is the front runner but after him there isn't really anyone else putting their hands up. If he's in form then his skill and experience is invaluable.
Posted 14:22 04th October 2012
PREEST says...
If you resign playing for your country then I think you forfeit the right to play for the Lions, which is on the same level. Give it to one of the younger fly halves who still represents his country. By the time the Lions tour goes ahead, Wilkinson will be well out of practice when it comes to international footy. He's had his time, played in 4 world cups, and 3 lions tours. I think he's had his day, and one of the younger boys deserves a crack at it.
Personally, I want to see a return to form for the Wallabies, and a series win against the Lions, whether that be with Deans or a new coach.
Posted 14:14 04th October 2012
makemehappy says...
Sadly there's not much choice. Clearly Sexton is first choice. Priestland's out of form with the boot (Halfpenny would have to play fullback if he's picked), (though he isn't a liability in defence as NHSaints suggests) Flood often flatters to deceive, Scotland have no-one that should even be considered for a second. No-one has mentioned the very steady and current Lions incumbent Stephen Jones. I think he's potentially the number 2 behind Sexton.
Posted 12:29 04th October 2012
heathy says...
@jonesy2 - still haven't lost that impartiality then? ha ha Still talking complete b*llocks as usual. If the Lions were playing Australia right now, my granny could play fly half and the Lions would still win. Australia are in a mess.
That said, they will have their injured contingent back by then, possibly a new coach and the situation will be completely different. It will be tough going I'm sure. To be honest, JW's form ATM makes him one of the best NH fly-half's. IMO Sexton is probably the man for the job right now but as for the others, this is up for grabs. Priestland? Hell no! Laidlaw? No way! Flood? Too inconsistent. Farrell? Too much to learn still. If it was an England side going then in no way would he go even if he was available as England need to move on. However, for a one off series then he WILL be a consideration and actaully, quite rightly so if his form continues.
Posted 11:32 04th October 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Well, lets see how he and Toulon get on in the Euro cup for starters eh.
Realistically, he could possibly contibute to the mid week team. BUT so could Biggar, Flood, O'Gara, Priestland, Jackson and Hook!!!! I love Wilko, he's an English rugby institution but is he going to do a better job than the names I've listed here?
The ball is in your court Jonny, prove you still have what it takes in the european cup. I remember the Lions side we had in 2001 and we STILL LOST. you aren't against 22 australians, you take on a nation and they don't play nice.
Posted 10:56 04th October 2012