When I named Jonny Wilkinson in my Lions squad, it was done with a wry smile and very little conviction. Having long since retired from the international game, Wilkinson has found a new home in Toulon where the climate and winning ways have prolonged his once injury-blighted career but removed him from the public spotlight. It has always been thought that Jonny's days on the big, international stage were over. Warren Gatland appears to have a different idea.
There are three (good) reasons why Gatland has publicly given Wilkinson a shot at making the tour...
1. On the Pitch
According to universal speculation, Jonny Sexton is currently in the driving seat for the Lions fly-half jersey. Having led Leinster to incredible European and domestic success, it is probably just reward that the Irish pivot starts as favourite for the shirt. Behind Sexton however, there is not much else to get excited about. Welsh fly-half Rhys Priestland has done his very best to prove to the world and his coaches that the World Cup was in fact a flash-in-the-pan. Owen Farrell is brave and composed, but away from the kicking tee, fails to offer anything in attack and Laidlaw is a scrum-half doing his best to fill a horrible void in Scottish rugby. Toby Flood is still not the player he once was and whilst he struggles to find form, the young pretender, George Ford, remains untested and probably undersized.Whilst the competition is currently uninspiring, the rest of the Lions' squad appears to fit Jonny's style. Looking at the possible Lions midfield, you can assume that Manu Tuilagi (110kg), Jamie Roberts (110kg), Jonathan Davies (104kg), Brian O'Driscoll and AN Other will make up the travelling party. With so much size and quality in midfield, both the Test and midweek fly-half's role will be to distribute to a destructive centre pairing. Aside from that, their responsibilities will be kicking and tackling - both of which are skills that Wilkinson has in abundance.
Come June, there is a very good likelihood that Wilkinson will not be in the Lions squad. At the moment, however, there are some very good reasons why he should be.
2. The Tom Prydie Experiment
Warren Gatland likes to play mind games - Dylan Hartley knows all about them. It's not just the opposition that the New Zealander likes to wind-up. In 2010, Warren Gatland named 17 year old Tom Prydie on the wing for Wales to face Italy despite the youngster having played just seven minutes for the Ospreys. Having never even spoken to the winger, his shock inclusion acted as the proverbial kick up the backside for wingers across Wales. At the time, the Wales squad was (Shane Williams aside) short of quality on the wing. By ignoring the wealth of average wingers and plucking Prydie out of anonymity and childhood, Gatland attempted to spark Welsh speedsters into actions.
Whether or not this experiment worked, there is evidence that suggests that Gatland's mind games do have their rewards. Wales currently have one of the world's premier wingers, George North, and one of Europe's most improved wingers, Alex Cuthbert, as well as former B&I Lion, Leigh Halfpenny.
It is more than likely that the Wilkinson suggestion was, like the Tom Prydie experiment, a challenge to all the British and Irish fly-halves to stake their claim for the tour. By suggesting that Wilko was currently a top-three British fly-half, despite having retired, was a clear indication that Priestland, Farrell, Flood and co. desperately need to find some form or be left at home.
3. The Wilko Effect
There is evidence that the Australians fear Jonny Wilkinson. The 2007 World Cup quarter-final goes some way to prove this. As does this...
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