From the Touchlines... Jonny Wilkinson's recall

Martin Johnson was openly accused of favouritism by calling up Jonny Wilkinson to England's 32-man training squad and then allowing him to stay with new employers Toulon rather than team up with the international training camp.

But when this accusation was put to Johnson, he snapped. "Seventy caps, two World Cup finals and 1,000 points went in his favour," said Johnno. "He is a world-class player when fit, which he is. He is raring to go and he just needs games."

 

He has a point. Wilkinson is not one to boast about his abilities but, when Johnno suggested that at 30 he was not quite yet at his peak, the England No.10 agreed, and this is fantastic news for England. Should he stay fit - and the suggestions are that he finally might - then it can only be to England's gain and there is nothing to stop him being England's first-choice playmaker at the 2011 World Cup.

Johnno is not one for favouritism - his decision to recall Wilkinson and leave out Cipriani might not have been universally well received but he will genuinely believe it is for the best of the national team. Now, as Johnson says, all Wilkinson needs is game time.

Do you think Wilkinson can recapture his best form and would he be your first choice No.10 heading to the World Cup? Or has Martin Johnson been guilty of an old pals act? Post your comments below...

England recall Wilkinson but no room for Cipriani

England boss Martin Johnson has made some big big calls in his latest England elite squad but has sent mixed messages in the process.

Still Johnson has decided there is no place for the one-time wonderkid of English rugby, Danny Cipriani, in his 32-man elite squad deciding that despite his immeasurable talents he must still stew in the Saxons squad. In short, it's a ridiculous call and Cipriani deserves a step-up to the senior squad - at least for training - if he is to become the international playmaker so many expect him to be.

Johnson has made another statement of intent by leaving out a host of key England players who have opted to move to French club rugby this season. There is no place for James Haskell or Tom Palmer among others, perhaps a good call to dissuade other Englishmen from chasing lucrative rugby contracts across the Channel in the future.

But then he has confused the whole issue by recalling Jonny Wilkinson, who has just started a bumper deal at French side Toulon, and Riki Flutey, who was also be playing in France this season. And on top of that, Andy Goode - very much the flavour of the month earlier in 2009 for Johnson's England squad - has been unceremoniously dumped altogether.

It's not entirely clear what sort of message is trying to get across here. Leaving out Cipriani is an error and Johnson either needs to give the thumbs-up to all the England players playing out in France if they're fit and have the form - which both Haskell and Palmer do - rather than merely select a couple of his personal favourites.

What do you make of Johnson's England squad? Does Cipriani deserve a recall, would Wilkinson make your England squad and do the French-based players deserve a better chance. Post your comments below...

Lions restore pride with victory

The Lions gave themselves something to cheer about with a deserved 28-9 victory in the third and final Test, ensuring in the process that they avoided a first ever series whitewash against South Africa.

But in truth it was a mismatch from the start as Springbok coach Peter de Villiers blooded a series of inexperienced players for the finale, some of whom massively underperformed and helped the Lions' cause in the process.

However, that is to take nothing away from the Lions, who played like their lives depended on it despite the fact the series was lost. Simon Shaw was once again phenomenal, and probably sneaks the Lions player of the entire series award - if any gongs are being dished out. In addition, Phil Vickery refused to get bossed around in the front row like the first Test while the new-look back lines and back rows both produced near-perfect defensive performances.

To the Lions' immense credit, they made a fight of it in the previous two Tests too but it wasn't quite enough to give the grandstand winner-takes-all final match. In the end, there were three great Tests but the Lions will pack their bags tonight breathing a communal sigh of "what if".

What did you make of the Lions victory in the third Test and should they have done more to win the series? And who was your man of the series? Post your comments below...

Pride at stake for Lions

Is there any point in the third and final Test of the Lions series? With South Africa boasting an unassailable 2-0 lead, perhaps the tourists should pack their bags and head home.

But there is still plenty to play for - most notably pride. The Lions hope to avoid a first series whitewash against the Springboks in their 118-year history, and Ian McGeechan's changed line-up suggests he is throwing everything at the world champions.

Bulk has been added to the pack in the shape of props Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery, while Joe Worsley's muscle is required - most notably in the tackle and breakdown areas - to quell South Africa's attacking threat. Martyn Williams, who should have started the previous two Tests ahead of David Wallace, is also picked.

The Lions must win to keep alive the aspirations of future tours. With South Africa barely recognisable from the first two matches after ten changes, they should do just that.

Can the Lions win the final Test and has McGeechan picked the right side? Or will it all end up in a whitewash? Post your comments below...

Lions lose Test series

The British and Irish Lions lost a third successive series after succumbing to a nail-biting 28-25 defeat against South Africa in Pretoria.

For so long, the Lions looked to have the game won but the Springboks, true to their tag as the world's best, clawed the deficit back and moved ahead in a pulsating final few minutes.

In what seemed the final twist of the afternoon, Stephen Jones had seemingly done enough to keep the series alive as he levelled the scores at 25-25 with a massive penalty, but the Boks had a final trick up their sleeve - or more to the point, Ronan O'Gara produced a moment of stupidity.

The Ireland No.10 took out Fourie de Preez with an illegal tackle and with it gifted the opposition the series, Morne Steyne stepping up to thump over the match-winning penalty.

The result robs the series of the finale everyone wanted in the Johannesburg Test, which will sadly be little more than a dead rubber, although the Lions will be keen to save face and avoid the prospect of a series whitewash, which could yet mark the beginning of the end for future Lions series...

What did you make of the second Test and do you think the Lions deserved to win? And what does this mean for the future of the Lions - should they face a whitewash, should future series be scrapped? Post your comments below...

Lions change five for second Test

At first glance, it's difficult to know whether Ian McGeechan has made a knee-jerk reaction to a narrow defeat or a bold move in a bid to claw back the Test series with the side he's named.

In all, there are five changes from the side. No one can doubt that the Lions have made the right call in bringing in Welsh duo Adam Jones and Matthew Rees after Phil Vickery and Lee Mears struggled in the first Test.

And there always looked set to be a casualty at lock although Alan Wyn-Jones is perhaps a tad unlucky. Had his fellow second rower from the Durban Test, Paul O'Connell, not been the Lions captain then surely he would have kept his place. The ultimate throw of the dice and the right choice on form would have been to move O'Connell to the bench and play Simon Shaw, who's played well enough for his first Test start in what is his third Tour, alongside Wyn Jones. But perhaps McGeechan was worried about the message that dropping his skipper might have sent to both his players and the opposition.

In the backs, Rob Kearney is the sensible choice to replace Lee Byrne, although the Lions would probably have done better with Delon Armitage, who never even made the squad. And that leaves Ugo Monye, the unluckiest man of all to miss out on the starting line-up - Luke Fitzgerald replaces him - after a solid enough first Test performance. And being dropped altogether from the match-day 22 won't have helped his confidence.

But all in all, the Lions have made some bold moves that shouldn't be enough to unsettle the make-up of their side but should give a Springbok outfit with just one change something to think about. But will it be enough?

Lions held by Emerging Springboks

The British and Irish Lions' midweek match against the Emerging Springboks was billed as a chance for some key men to lay down their marker for a place in the Lions Test team on Saturday.

But the 13-13 result did little to put pressure on those that were on the tourists' losing side against South Africa at the weekend.

Martyn Williams had looked in line for a Test call-up after the weekend but was strangely innocuous for a player so normally key to every match he is involved in.

In fact, just three players really stuck their hands up. Wing duo Luke Fitzgerald and Shane Williams gave Lions coach Ian McGeechan a selection headache with two solid performances, and Ugo Monye's late appearance as a substitute would suggest his place in the Test side might be at peril from the above two.

The Test lock pairing of Alun Wyn Jones and Paul O'Connell proved reasonably ineffective for the first half on Saturday at the very least and Donncha O'Callaghan gave the sort of all-round performance so desperately lacking in the set pieces as well as open play.

But McGeechan will be more disappointed that players like Ronan O'Gara, James Hook, Harry Ellis, Nathan Hines and Andy Powell didn't quite give the performances he might have hoped for. And sadly this apparent lack of competition for Test starting places will only add to the Springboks' confidence heading to Saturday.

What did you make of the Lions' performance against the Emerging Springboks? And did any players force their way into the Test side? Post your comments below...

Lions bite back but fall short

No match could have revealed more about the true Lions spirit than their 26-21 defeat to South Africa in the first Test.

Yes Ian McGeechan's side were bullied all over the place in the scrum and line-out during a dire first-half display which raised all sorts of doubts and questions.

With less than 15 minutes left, the world champions were leading 26-7. But then up stepped Jamie Roberts and Brian O'Driscoll to show why they are the world's best combination at centre.

Tom Croft's second try and Mike Phillips' late touchdown could and should have set up a remarkable victory over the rapidly tiring Boks.

But they managed to hang on and must now be favourites to win the series, with the second and third Tests to come at altitude in Pretoria and Johannesburg over the next two Saturdays.

Some will no doubt point the finger at New Zealand ref Bryce Lawrence for awarding the string of penalties that enabled South Africa to build on their early lead.

But the truth is that Phil Vickery was totally out-scrummaged by Tendai 'The Beast' Mtawarira, the Lions' line-out was a shambles, and the forwards generally were taken to the cleaners.

Ugo Monye wasn't blameless either. His lack of finishing power was cruelly exposed when he had a try rightly disallowed in the first half, and when he twice wasted great attacking positions later in the game. Surely he will be replaced in the second Test.

But for all the faults and self-inflicted wounds, the Lions showed enough flair in the backs to suggest that they might yet turn this series round. It's going to be tough, but they did come close to claiming an unlikely comeback victory in Durban. Who knows what will happen in Pretoria next weekend.

What do you think of the Lions' display? And who, if anybody, should be brought in for the second Test? Send in your thoughts via the boxes below

Lions team for first Test

Ian McGeechan has named his Lions side to take on world champions South Africa and sprung few surprises.

Ugo Monye was deemed a shock squad selection initially, but has deservedly forced his way into the Test side with a string of bright performances. Perhaps the only areas of debate were at lock - where Alun Wyn Jones got the nod over Nathan Hines - and openside flanker - where David Wallace is preferred to Martyn Williams.

While Wallace is an undoubtedly a class act, leaving out the wily Williams, who knows every trick in the book about back-row play - vital against the Springboks' talented line-up - is the one error that McGeechan has made. The rest of the side is pretty much as expected.

The Lions may have been made to look second rate in some warm-up matches, but elements of the Boks team are short of matches. It might be sentimentality talking, but we see them sneaking the first Test. Our prediction - 24-19 to the visitors.

What do you make of McGeechan's Test line-up and who would be in your Test 15? And what are your predictions for Saturday's match? Post your comments below...

Vickery must start against Boks

It wasn't pretty, but the Lions' 26-23 win over Western Province was an important step on the road to the first Test against South Africa - especially for Phil Vickery and Tommy Bowe.

Both players did enough to earn a place in next Saturday's starting line-up against the Boks, with Bowe scoring one try and making another with a fine break and pass.

And Vickery looked back to something like his best against a resolute Province side which tested the tourists in the Newlands wind and rain.

Although James Hook came off the bench to clinch victory with a superb late penalty, he's unlikely to make the starting XV when Ian McGeechan and his coaching team sit down to select their Test side after Tuesday's final warm-up game against Southern Kings.

And so the time has come to name names for what should be a titanic struggle against the Springboks at the ABSA Stadium. 

Here is our suggested line-up: Lee Byrne; Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Luke Fitzgerald; Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Lee Mears, Phil Vickery, Alun-Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell (capt), Tom Croft, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip.

Do you agree? Send in your thoughts via the box below.