29 Apr 2013

Wilkinson kicks Toulon into Heineken final

6:02 am on 29 April 2013

The former England rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson was back at Twickenham Monday morning, kicking his French club Toulon to a 24-12 victory over Saracens to set up all-French Heineken Cup final against Clermont Auvergne.

Wilkinson, who kicked all Toulon's points in their 21-15 quarter-final victory over Leicester, was again faultless as he landed seven penalties and a drop goal to give Toulon a place in the final for the first time, in their second Heineken campaign.

The England great says it would be hard to turn down one final chance to take on the Wallabies were he to be selected for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.

The five-eighth landed the extra-time drop-goal that saw England defeat Australia in the

2003 World Cup final in Sydney and while he retired from England duty two years ago, such has been his form for Toulon there are those who believe he warrants selection for the Lions.

Wilkinson says he'd be unlikely to turn down the chance of a third tour with the combined side, following losing series against Australia (2001) and New Zealand (2005), were he to be included in a squad due to be named by coach Warren Gatland on Tuesday.

However, club commitments may scupper Wilkinson's Lions hopes.

Toulon are also in the semi-finals of the Top 14 and the final of France's domestic competition takes place on June 1, the same day the Lions begin their tour with a match against the Barbarians in Hong Kong.

New Zealander Gatland had stated he would prefer the entire Lions squad to depart together on May 27.