“Jonny Wilkinson remains in the frame,” says Warren Gatland

Jonny Wilkinson is not yesterday’s man as far as Lions coach Warren Gatland is concerned.
Gatland opened the door to the 2003 England World Cup winner this week by suggesting that the 2013 Lions could be part of another great Australian adventure for the Toulon fly-half, a decade after his epic drop-goal clinched England’s world champion status in Sydney.
Wilkinson has retired from international rugby with England but Gatland said: “I might have a chat with him – he might be available.
“Everyone is in contention and there is a clean slate for everyone.
“There is no-one pencilled in, and if you are playing well enough and the reports come back then whoever it is, whether it is Jonny Wilkinson or whoever, I don’t care who it is – if Mike Tindall is playing well enough – it is an opportunity for everyone to perform and get that chance.”
Wilkinson, 33, who retired from international rugby soon after returning to the Top 14 club, Toulon, last season after the 2011 World Cup, is hoping to guide them to a French title – having missed out narrowly after being beaten by Toulouse in last season’s final.
Wilkinson is the world’s second highest Test points scorer after Dan Carter with 1,246 – and would probably have been unassailable but for a run of 13 different injuries at the height of his career.
He is playing consistently well, and is on a mission to win a Heineken Cup and French Championship double with Toulon this season.
Along with his 91 England caps Wilkinson has won six for the Lions, playing all three Tests against the Wallabies in 2001 and three more on the 2005 tour.
Gatland says those are the right credentials for someone not playing intern- ational rugby to force themselves into the Lions reckoning, as Simon Shaw did in 2009 before outstanding performances in the second and third Tests against the Springboks.
“In the past players have been selected out of club sides and they have done well,” the Lions head coach said.
He added: “What is important if they are not playing international rugby is that they have to be coming from a side that is performing particularly well at another level.
“They would have to be coming from a side that are doing well in the Heineken Cup – you need that comparison with trying to get as close to international rugby as possible.”
NICK CAIN