British & Irish Lions
Jonny Wilkinson happy to answer injury call
ESPN Staff
May 21, 2013
Toulon's Jonny Wilkinson offloads in training, Stade Mayol, France, May 14, 2013
'I can't guarantee the state I'll be in but I'm happy to give it all I've got' © Getty Images
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Although speculation has grown in the wake of the Heineken Cup final that Jonny Wilkinson is being lined up to join the Lions, he has emphasised that his fitness continues to cast a doubt over whether he would be able to answer the call.

"I've been asked if I'll be an injury replacement," he said. "I've said 'quite happily', but let me get to the end of the season and see if I'm not the one who needs replacing rather than the one who goes out there."

He added that he had felt "a couple of things" during Saturday's game. "I can't guarantee the state I'll be in but I'm happy to give it all I've got. If I can physically front up to being there if there is an injury, then great. If not, they're not losing much."

Wilkinson has the Top 14 play-off semi-final against Toulouse in Nantes on Friday evening and possibly the final eight days later. It was those club commitments that led to him declining Warren Gatland's original offer to be part of the Lions squad.

Almost inevitably, Gatland can barely conduct an interview without Wilkinson's name cropping up. Yesterday he confirmed Wilkinson was an option if injury cover is required. "If we pick up an injury on tour, then maybe there's a conversation to be had," Gatland said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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