Lee Stensness: If he's on the spot we are in trouble

So it has come to light that Jonny Wilkinson doesn't like all the attention he receives. Well, he's in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unfortunately on this tour he is the centre of attention, primarily because of his past deeds. Winning the World Cup with a drop kick off his weaker foot in extra time brings that sort of recognition.

But it's also because the prospects of success for the 2005 British and Irish Lions rest firmly on his injury-prone shoulders.

If, and they should, the Lions forwards achieve parity or better with the All Black pack then points machine Wilkinson could sneak the series. Without Jonny, it's difficult to see the Lions winning.

With Wilkinson in the game, field position will become points, in multiples of three. The sound of booing that accompanied the attempted dropped goals against Wellington will be a familiar sound by the end of the series.

This approach is alien to the New Zealand rugby public. New Zealand teams aim to convert field position into points via tries and the public expects that type of 'positive' approach.

It is doubtful the Lions will have tries as their first aim in the tests, tries are bonuses.

If the Lions can get to around 21 points per game, through any means possible, they will back themselves as having a strong chance of victory on the back of the one impressive aspect of their play to date, their defence. Remember Wellington 2003, All Blacks vs England, that's the model for success: keep the All Blacks as try-less as possible and Wilkinson will be Jonny on the spot or Jonny over the black dot, as it were.

As much as the Lions' test hopes rest on the left, and sometimes right, foot of Wilkinson, there is much more to Jonny as a player than just scoring points.

Watching him closely against Wellington showed me that he is a complete first-five. He punts and drop kicks off both feet, tackles with accuracy and commitment, passes well off both hands, can step off both feet, organises others on defence and attack, as well as possessing a proven big-match temperament.

The blemishes on his performance that night were due to a lack of match play, a lack of familiarity with his team-mates and a little gun-shyness.

All three of those 'excuses' will be remedied by the first test. He will not be preserving himself in the tests like he was against Wellington.

Jonny might not like the attention but things will become more comfortable as the series progresses and the spotlight shifts to the complete player at No 10. 

- HERALD ON SUNDAY