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Fit again Wilkinson ready to battle for Lions outhalf Test place

England outhalf Jonny Wilkinson is itching for the start of the British and Irish Lions' tour of New Zealand after being called…

Tue May 17 2005 - 01:00

England outhalf Jonny Wilkinson is itching for the start of the British and Irish Lions' tour of New Zealand after being called up late following his recovery from injury.

Wilkinson, who has not played international rugby since kicking the drop goal that won the 2003 World Cup, will set off with Clive Woodward's squad next week after 17 months of frustration with shoulder, arm and knee injuries. "Physically I feel fantastic and I am desperate to get out there," Wilkinson said yesterday. "What I am is very, very fresh unlike a lot of the other players but I feel completely ready for the rigours of Test rugby." The 25-year-old will compete for a place in the Test side with Stephen Jones of Wales, Ireland's Ronan O'Gara and his England team-mate Charlie Hodgson.

The Lions play Argentina in Cardiff on May 23rd before departing for New Zealand with the first of three Tests scheduled for June 25th.

Veteran Argentina prop Mauricio Reggiardo will face the Lions at the Millennium Stadium after answering an SOS message from the injury-ravaged Pumas. Reggiardo retired from Test rugby after the 2003 World Cup and was due to hang up his boots for good at end of the French season with club Castres. But the giant 6ft 3ins and 19-stone prop has put his plans on hold for another week after the loss of 29 players through injury and unavailability.

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Among the other unlikely benefactors is Martin Schusterman as well as former national captain Lisandro Arbizu. Leinster's Felipe Contepomi is one of the few household names who will be on show in the sell-out game at the Millennium Stadium.

ARGENTINA SQUAD: L Arbizu (Bayonne), L Borges (Stade Francais), F Bosch (Hindu), P Bouza (Duendes), F Contepomi (Leinster), L de Chazal (Universitario de Tucuman), M Carizza (Jockey Club, Rosario), F Genoud (Los Tordos), N Fernandez Miranda (Hindu), E Guinazu (Mendoza RC), F Mendez (Mendoza RC), M Ledesma (Castres), J Manuel Leguizamon (SIC), F Leonelli (La Tablada), L Lopez Fleming (SIC), JM Nunez Piossek (Castres), M Reggiardo (Castres), M Sambucetti (Brive), S Sanz (CASI), M Schusterman (Plymouth), F Serra (SIC), F Todeschini (Beziers).