Lions' star cleared for test

SYDNEY - Star first five-eighths Jonny Wilkinson has overcome injury to retain his place in the Lions test team.

Wilkinson, who was carried off the field with a leg injury in the tourists' 14-35 loss to the Wallabies in Melbourne, trained with the team yesterday and pronounced himself 100 per cent fit for the third and final test in Sydney on Saturday night.

He will form a new halves pairing with Matt Dawson, who was named in the starting line-up after Welsh halfback Rob Howley was ruled out with a rib injury.

Austin Healey, who was on the bench last week but withdrew because of injury, was selected on the wing ahead of Dafydd James on the basis of his two-try effort against the Brumbies in Canberra last week.

Coach Graham Henry said James had performed well in the first two tests in Brisbane and Melbourne, but Healey provided more spark in attack and deserved to be rewarded for his match against the Brumbies.

In a forced change to the back row, Richard Hill was ruled out and replaced by Martin Corry.

Corry started the series opener after being drafted into the squad to cover for injuries.

Welsh first five-eighths Neil Jenkins is injured and has lost his place on the bench to Irish No 10 Ronan O'Gara.

English centre Will Greenwood, injured in a tour match before the test series, was named among the reserves.

The Wallabies' first five-eighths and playmaker, Stephen Larkham, is struggling to recover from a nerve problem in his arm, so Australia have postponed naming their team until today.

Larkham is not responding to treatment, though such is the sensitive nature of the injury that the nerve could clear itself overnight or it could last three months, so ruling him out for the rest of the season.

"It's not good at this stage," Larkham said. "I can't pass at the moment and it's very difficult to run. I have problems lifting up my arm.

"The nerve-to-muscle system isn't functioning.

"It's frustrating because the brain can't really understand why the muscles aren't working.

"It sends out the right signals, but it just doesn't get through. It feels weird."

Former Australian captain Simon Poidevin has accused the Lions of illegally targeting Larkham.

A further 2000 tickets for the test will be put on sale today.

The seats have become available following further reconfiguration work at Stadium Australia, but they have slightly restricted viewing.

The extra seats take capacity at the stadium past the 82,000 mark.

Lions: Matt Perry, Austin Healey, Brian O'Driscoll, Jason Robinson, Rob Henderson, Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Dawson, Scott Quinnell, Neil Mack, Danny Grewcock, Martin Johnson (capt), Martin Corry, Phil Vickery, Keith Wood, Tom Smith. Reserves: Darren Morris, Dorian West, Colin Charvis, Martyn Williams, Ronan O'Gara, Will Greenwood, Iain Balshaw.

- AGENCIES