Jonny Wilkinson won the World Cup and was England captain by the age of 25. Still, he doesn't expect special treatment.

　　A string of injuries has kept the fly-half from playing international rugby since he kicked the World Cup-winning drop-goal for England against Australia in November 2003.

　　Eight days ago, Clive Woodward called him into the British & Irish Lions squad to tour New Zealand after just a handful of club games. Now Wilkinson is determined to again prove his worth.

　　"I don't like to be a late addition and I don't like to be an afterthought," Wilkinson said on Monday. "It doesn't sit easily with me thinking that I'm there because, 15 or 16 months ago, England won the World Cup and I just happened to kick the last ball over."

　　While a contribution to the Lions' first series win over New Zealand in 34 years would justify Wilkinson's inclusion, he knows getting into the 45-man squad is just the first step. Next, he will have to get the No. 10 jersey in spite of three other world-class players.

　　Stephen Jones, a key figure in Wales' first grand slam in 27 years, Ireland's Ronan O'Gara, and Wilkinson's England fill-in Charlie Hodgson are all after a place in the starting lineup.

　　Speaking at the launch of a TV advertisement in which he stars, Wilkinson said such competition will spur him on.

　　"I'm one of those people who would hate resting on laurels - that's what I work against," Wilkinson said.

　　"I've been training hard. It's up to Clive and the management to work out who's the best combination."

　　Wilkinson will be 26 on May 25 when the Lions depart for New Zealand. With a reputation for tough tackling as well as his playmaking and kicking, he is sure to play if he convinces Woodward of his fitness.

　　Wilkinson missed eight months of rugby after surgery on a neck injury. Then, perhaps trying too hard to prove his fitness, he endured another lengthy absence after hurting his right arm.

　　In March, his next comeback game - from a knee injury - lasted just 34 minutes before he suffered a recurrence. He finally made his return on April 15 with 46 minutes for Newcastle against Northampton and has since completed two full games.

　　Typically, his long fight against injuries only made a player already renowned for an obsessive dedication to training even more determined. "It felt that, with each injury, I was being backed into a corner that I had to fight my way out of," he said.

　　(The Associated Press)