Tuesday, 30th January 2007 at 10:58 pm

Back - but for how long?

Take Mfuneko Ngam, South Africa’s impossibly fragile fast bowler. Add Darren Anderton, the Premiership footballer known for much of his career as ’sicknote’. Throw in Ashwin Willemse, who can miss entire seasons through brushing his teeth too vigorously. Toss in Venus Williams for good measure, and the result of said combination? Jonny Wilkinson…

Wilkinson hasn’t played for England since orchestrating the World Cup victory in 2003, an act of triumph English rugby has since gone to great lengths to distance itself from. But as of this Saturday, he’s back, and while it’s only a game against Scotland (playing the second half single handed might make for a genuine test), everyone watching will wait nervously to see if Wilkinson gets up from each tackle he takes.

An English revival under Brian Ashton (now that the dark, Straueli-like reign of Andy Robinson has been ended) will be a lot more likely with Wilkinson in command at flyhalf. But a man seemingly able to injure any part of himself at will (last affliction? A lacerated kidney…) is not a man to attract long-term faith. Even Wilkinson was surprised to get the call-up, having played just 53 minutes of rugby in the last 12 weeks, making Ashton’s selection a bold stroke of confidence in one of modern rugby’s greatest flyhalf - or the gamble of a new coach to desperate to get what he can out of Wilkinson while the man is enjoying a fleeting window of full fitness.