Jonny Wilkinson has downplayed a potential call into the Lions squad for the tour of Australia despite kicking all 24 points as Toulon booked an all-French Heineken Cup final against Clermont Auvergne by defeating Saracens at Twickenham.

With Wales' Dan Biggar and Ireland's Jonathan Sexton expected to fill two of the fly-half slots, Wilkinson and current England No.10 Owen Farrell, who kicked 12 points for the Premiership side, are vying for the final spot in Warren Gatland's squad.

Despite Farrell finishing as the highest scoring fly-half in the Six Nations, Wilkinson's form in guiding Toulon to the summit of the Top 14 table and to into their first ever Heineken Cup final has propelled himself into contention.

Jonny Wilkinson
Wilkinson kicked Toulon into the Heineken Cup final but his Lions place is far from assured.

"The Lions is difficult for me because it's not at all that I wouldn't consider it - it would be fabulous," Wilkinon admitted. "It's up there with the most amazing experiences you can get in rugby.

"But I watch guys like Owen Farrell, Toby Flood, Dan Biggar and Jonathan Sexton and it is them who are driving rugby forward. Perhaps they should be the ones driving this tour forward as well.

"I want those guys to experience that because they deserve it. I'm digging my fingernails in and hanging on really, and watching these guys is what it's all about."

Wilkinson retired from international rugby in 2011 but has enjoyed a swansong as his career reaches its' twilight with Gatland under pressure to add valuable experience to a squad expected to be brimming with youthful exuberance.

The 33 year old was part of the Lions squad in 2001 and 2005, but was omitted for the 2009 tour by then coach Ian McGeechan due to injury troubles.

McGeechan, who coached the last victorious Lions tour in 1997 also, believes the French regular season, which ends with the grand final on 1 June - the same day as the opening tour match against the Barbarians - means Wilkinson can't be included.

"He won't have the chances to be really part of the build-up," said McGeechan.

"You've got everybody involved in that. If you've got players missing for two or three weeks out of that process, then it becomes very difficult."

Australia