A gamble on Wilkinson is too much of a risk

So after months of bar room squabble and newspaper column inches, tomorrow will see the end to the great ‘who’ll make the test team’ Lions debate.

For the past six months, pundits and armchair fans alike have had Jonny Wilkinson - albeit with the rider if he was fully fit - playing at outhalf.

Now, with only four days to go to the first test in Christchurch, nearly all of those who previously backed the Englishman to start believe he is the wrong man for the job. Most believe that he is neither match fit or playing anywhere near his best form.

Too muddy the waters even further there is now talk of Wilkinson playing at inside centre with Wales’ Stephen Jones playing at 10. This was prompted by Clive Woodward’s bizarre decision to take Gavin Henson off against Wellington and replace him with Jones and move Wilko into the centre to partner Brian O’Driscoll.

To play an outhalf at inside centre against the All Blacks in their own back yard would be madness. To play an out-of-form ring-rusty one is surely even beyond Woodward’s eccentricities.

Common sense - and no small amount of hope - would suggest that Woodward is himself trying to muddy the waters. Including Wilko in the 22 would not be a bad move if the game was tied or going into the final quarter and you needed a pressure kicker to come on and close out the game. The problem is though, he’s not at his best.

If common sense were to prevail, then Jones would start at 10 and Shane Horgan would be drafted in at 12. Horgan’s inclusion here would at first seem a surprise choice, but, the Bettystown man has partnered O’Driscoll in the midfield for years and quite successfully at that.

If we’re to believe Woodward that those who played against Southland earlier today were to be excluded from selection for the test, then, that only leaves one other proven centre beside Horgan who could partner O’Driscoll, Will Greenwood. Surprise, surprise he’s also out of from also.

The so-called smart money says Woodward will stick with his tried and trusted and play either Wilkinson or Greenwood at centre. The smart money says he’ll ignore the pool of talent that’s open to him and the advice of the Eddie O’Sullivan and Ian McGeechan brain’s trust.

Surely even he can’t be that mad? Surely? Yikes!

Mad Clive’s possible test team: Josh Lewsey (England); Gareth Thomas (Wales), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland, capt), Jonny Wilkinson (England), Jason Robinson (England); Stephen Jones (Wales), Dwayne Peel (Wales); Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Shane Byrne (Ireland), Julian White (England), Paul O'Connell (Ireland), Ben Kay (England), Richard Hill (England), Neil Back (England), Martin Corry (England). Replacements: Steve Thompson (England), Graham Rowntree (England), Danny Grewcock (England), Ryan Jones (Wales), Matt Dawson (England), Shane Horgan (Ireland), Will Greenwood (England) or Shane Williams (Wales).
Common sense Clive’s possible test team: Josh Lewsey (England); Gareth Thomas (Wales), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland, capt), Shane Horgan (Ireland), Jason Robinson (England); Stephen Jones (Wales), Dwayne Peel (Wales); Andy Sheridan (England), Shane Byrne (Ireland), Julian White (England), Paul O'Connell (Ireland), Ben Kay (England), Richard Hill (England), Neil Back (England), Ryan Jones (Wales). Replacements: Steve Thompson (England), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Danny Grewcock (England), Martin Corry (England), Chris Cusiter (Scotland), Jonny Wilkinson (England), Geordan Murphy (Ireland).