Was there in 2001: Jonny Wilkinson
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2013 British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has revealed that Toulon fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is available for the tour of Australia.
Wilkinson, who retired from international rugby last December after winning 91 England caps, has not been ruled out of a call-up by Gatland.
It was originally rumoured that Gatland might include the 33-year-old as a goal-kicking coach, but the Kiwi boss believes that if Wilkinson's form is up to scratch, he could make the playing squad.
"I might well think about it but he may also be available as a player. He's still a fine a player and only 33. That's not old," he was quoted on Sunday.
"For me, everyone is in contention. The slate is clean for every player who wants to be considered.
"No one is ruled out or pencilled in and if you are playing well enough then whoever it is - whether it is Jonny Wilkinson or whoever, it's all about how players are performing for their clubs or countries.
"We've selected players who have been playing well just for their club sides and have done well for the Lions. They don't have to be playing for their countries.
"What is important if they are not playing international rugby is that they have to be coming from a side that is performing particularly well."
Comments
jonesy2 says...
the tour could get very ugly very quickly for the lions. predicting record hammerings
Posted 05:27 10th September 2012
LeftRightOut says...
@ leinster_goy says...
"...wilkinson has been playing for 3 years in a team built upon boring, conservative tactics - the very antithesis of the B&I Lions tradition..." - He has played for England a lot longer than 3 years ;-)
Posted 04:13 10th September 2012
5Lock4ward says...
@ABlack, My sentimental pick for Scotland would either be Chris Paterson, who frankly should've been in South Africa last time; if for no other reason than his goal kicking alone, or Simon Taylor.
Posted 01:37 10th September 2012
Waz4before says...
Fly-half is normally a position easily nailed down between one or two players for the Lions, but not this time around. at the moment this is a problem position for them ...
Posted 00:29 10th September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Forget who we are talking about here. Gatland is right to look outside the current internationals because they're not that good. The message is that it's all to play for.
@bullett: you manged to completely missunderstand Gatlands message on that. He said its upto the players. Wilko understood his message and clarified his availability. End of. Hopefully others will follow suit so Gatts knows full picture.
Posted 20:26 09th September 2012
shoobydo says...
There nothing wrong with what Gatland is saying.
He's just saying that selection is open to everyone, and so it should be.
However, when the time comes he won't pick Wilkinson.
I doubt Priestland will tour either, as he's a poor goal kicker and was the weak link in a very effective Welsh backline during the 6-nations.
My first choice would be Sexton back-up by Toby Flood. I'd probably take Farrel as the third, knowing he can play centre if needed.
Posted 17:41 09th September 2012
GoWalesGo says...
If he's playing well for Toulon i don't see why not. There aren't a lot of experienced options at the moment.
First choice for me would be Sexton then it's really up in the air. Priestland is talented but mentally fragile, Laidlaw isn't good enough imo, England have a number of contenders in Flood, Farrell (not a 10) and Ford (possibly).
But i wouldn't say anyone really stands out apart from Sexton.
The Lions environment could bring the best ouf of him unlike when he was with England in his last few years of international rugby. He is a great goal kicker and almost seems to scare Australia when he is playing against them.
I'm not sure if i would pick him but i could see the reasoning behind it.
Posted 17:26 09th September 2012
melkdave says...
I echo other posters in thinking JW wouldnt be a good selection for the upcomming Lions tour.A great player but his time has come and gone now imo.
Posted 14:23 09th September 2012
leinster_goy says...
oh come on...why is this necessary? thanks, but no thanks. aside from being over the hill at test level, wilkinson has been playing for 3 years in a team built upon boring, conservative tactics - the very antithesis of the B&I Lions tradition. can you see wilkinson igniting a backline of roberts, kearney, north, bowe, tuilagi, etc? me, nae
the pecking order at the moment is: 1. Sexy 2. rhys priestland 3. owen farrell. if those three play as well this year as they have the past 12 months, i can't see any need for johnny being on the plane. in any event, won't toulon take the same position on him as they did on jenkins, assuming they get into the top 14 finals (which is likely)?
Posted 12:20 09th September 2012
bmjones1711 says...
As much as I respect JW for everything he has done for the international profile of rugby, and his undoubtable performances in the past, I think to even talk about him playing for the Lions whilst he's not even in contention for the England 10 is ridiculous. Sexton and Priestland have been in great form for their countries since the last tour, and England will have a number of players contending for the 10 spot over the next few months.
JW would be an ideal member for the coaching party, a player who has such a vast experience of the highest level of the game, and fingers crossed Gatland will utilise him for that, rather than squeeze him into the squad and see him finish off his international career with the Lions just for the sake of it.
Posted 12:13 09th September 2012
bullitt says...
what ever happened to no overseas based players?
Posted 12:12 09th September 2012
Bones7 says...
If there's one thing Jonny's good at it's showing up the Aussies. I don't think there are many decent options at 10 currently. Priestland had a brilliant world cup and has been shocking since, Sexton is inconsistent but capable of producing some very good rugby, O'Gara pretty much single-handedly lost the previous tour by letting Fourie run over him and giving away a daft penalty minutes later and the Scottish options are all fairly young and flaky. Say what you want about Wilkinson but the fact that a club as ambitious as Toulon has him on the books when there are so many players their deep pockets could entertain speaks for itself.
Posted 12:10 09th September 2012
ABlack says...
Here we go... all the sentimental poms will remember when JW kicked one drop goal in 2003 and then debate for the next 8 months why he needs to be in Lions instead of all the average journeymen Gatland has to pick from.(Jones, O'Gara, Flood,and whoever it is from Scotland). Will probably do just as well as those journeymen so why not pick him?
Posted 11:19 09th September 2012