When Jonny comes marching in

Jonny Wilkinson is thankful just to be back on a rugby field. Picture / Reuters

For most people, it would be hard to imagine finding something that would top striking the match-winning drop goal to win the World Cup.

In many respects, it was a moment that defined Jonny Wilkinson as a player and ensured he took his place among the game's greats. Of course, he was only 24 then and, while it brings a smile to his face each time he thinks about the 2003 World Cup, he has moved on. It's why he thinks winning with the present Lions would rank as the highlight of his career.

You see, the thing with Wilkinson is there have been many times since that fateful day in Sydney when he felt that he might not ever get back on a rugby field, such was the severity of his neck injury.

"When I injured my neck I was told there was no guarantees of coming back at all," he said clinically, almost in a replication of what he's known for on the field. "There were times when I didn't think I would make the tour."

But he did make the tour and, despite some observers suggesting Wales' Stephen Jones will get the nod at first five-eighths, it's hard to believe the mercurial No 10 won't have a major hand to play at some stage in the three tests.

Having played only a handful of games since the World Cup final as first neck then knee and shoulder injuries took their toll, the Lions tour marks a new chapter in his already extraordinary career.

"The World Cup was a long time ago for me and I have drawn a line under it with my injuries," he explained. "It was a case of stopping there and starting again. I have to prove to myself that I'm still capable of being involved and can compete at that level so [winning with the Lions] would surpass anything in my career.

"Coming here and doing it against the All Blacks would be an incredible achievement and it would be a good chance for me to move forward. I haven't really been on the field for the past 15 months so I would hate to feel that I have moved backwards."

On the evidence of his match-saving performance against Argentina last week, when he kicked 20 of the Lions' 25 points, it doesn't look like he has moved backwards. He was deadly accurate with the boot, showed good direction and control in general play and looked solid on defence, although he wasn't called on to do a lot of tackling.

While most agreed the player England have missed so dearly over the past 18 months looked like being back to something close to his best last week, just being back pleased Wilkinson the most.

"I went out there and expected a lot from myself and some of it was good and some of it was not so good," he said critically. "But it was just nice to get back in that environment because I haven't been there for some time.

"It was nice to get through that game [against Argentina] and say I'm fit and ready for another one. I feel fantastic."

Wilkinson is a perfectionist. A guy who practises relentlessly to give him the edge. He's also modest and certainly doesn't take it for granted he will be the first-choice first five-eighths.

"When I got selected it was a proud moment because there are fantastic players on this tour and I didn't think for a moment that I deserved to be among them. It was nice that Clive [Woodward] had the confidence to put me in the tour. I'm like anyone else just trying to fight for a test position." Just someone who happens to have achieved a hell of a lot in a glittering career.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY