Wilkinson hopes to recover for test

Lions fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is still hoping he can recover to line up against the Wallabies in Stadium Australia this Saturday…

Lions fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is still hoping he can recover to line up against the Wallabies in Stadium Australia this Saturday.

The England star was stretchered off during the Lions' second-half collapse in Melbourne last Saturday, when Australia levelled the series with a record 35-14 win.

His left leg is in plaster, and an appointment with a Melbourne specialist today should decide whether he will make it or join fellow third-test casualties Richard Hill and Rob Howley on the sidelines.

Wilkinson had his leg, which suffered severe bruising, put in plaster and was prescribed 36 hours of bed rest to try and aid the healing process.

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"It seems to have worked," he told the Express. "What this means for my chances of being fit to play in the Sydney Test is hard to judge, but the injury does feel as if it is getting better very quickly.

"And the exceptional treatment I have received here has, I hope, given me a decent chance."

If Wilkinson is ruled out, Lions coach Graham Henry has three possible fly-half options - Austin Healey, Ronan O'Gara or Neil Jenkins.

Scrum-half Matt Dawson is already primed to replace Howley (cracked rib), and Martin Corry appears an obvious deputy for flanker Hill.

-PA