Wilko-operation back to the good old days

Jonny Wilkinson

The 2005 Lions touring party will be revealed to the public at North Harbour Stadium on May 31 in the first of two training sessions and, if all goes according to script, it is likely to be the first public sighting of one Jonny Wilkinson.

Wilkinson completed 80 profitable minutes against London Irish in the final Premiership match last week, kicking six penalties and creating a try, and a repeat performance tomorrow night (NZT) for Newcastle against Gloucester in a playoff for next season's Heineken Cup should persuade Sir Clive Woodwardthat he is ready to tour.

It's too early to suggest that Wilkinson is all but on the plane but if we can accept that the coach wants his Jonny with him then, fitness permitting, Wilkinson will likely be a central point of focus as the Lions stage their first public training session at Albany.

Welsh first five-eighths Stephen Jones - the man most likely to wear No 10 should Wilkinson be unable to play - will be delayed in Europe by his French club commitments and may not arrive in New Zealand in time to prepare for the first match, against Bay of Plenty on June 4.

Logic suggests, then, that Woodward may prefer to 'blood' a fit Wilkinson in either this match or against Taranaki (Wednesday June 7). Either way, stadium officials at Albany can expect Wilkinson to be involved and a fair old turnout for Lions training.

This is the first time the Lions have staged such a public session. There will, apparently, be a running commentary provided to link in with key players and coaching staff to explain what is happening and what skills are being honed.

The press release circulated by the NZRU on behalf of the Lions, also says that entry is free (do they charge for such events in the UK?).

But there is no doubt that this is one of the first examples of the Lions' public relations drive and their efforts to take this tour out of the sole realm of on-field results and into the bigger picture that was enjoyed in the good old days of amateur rugby.

Back then, tours went for months and touched most parts of the country. People knew the touring teams, and public training sessions, particularly with commentary aimed at increasing that knowledge, seems a good step back towards that kind of familiarity.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY