Wilkinson hopeful for final Test

Jonny Wilkinson was carried off in Melbourne

Jonny Wilkinson is hopeful he will be fit to face Australia in Saturday's deciding Test in Sydney.

The Lions fly-half was stretchered off during the second-half in Melbourne on Saturday as Australia levelled the series with a record 35-14 win.

Wilkinson has an appointment with a Melbourne specialist on Monday that should decide whether he will be fit for the final Test.

There was a numbness in my foot and I wasn't quite sure what I was going to see when I looked down

  Jonny Wilkinson

"When the rest of the Lions departed for Sydney, I had to remain in Melbourne for an extra day to ensure that everything is done to help me return to fitness for the deciding Test at Stadium Australia," Wilkinson told the Daily Express.

"It has been a weekend I would not care to repeat. Our defeat was hard enough to bear, but as for my injury, at the time I genuinely feared the worst.

"They were worrying moments. There was a numbness in my foot and I wasn't quite sure what I was going to see when I looked down.

"I couldn't feel the bottom half of the leg at all. I lost the feeling in my foot and my toes.

"The fear was that it was broken, but after having an X-ray, it became evident that it was severe bruising."

Wilkinson had to have the leg put in plaster and was prescribed 36 hours of bed rest to try and aid the healing process.

Wilkinson feared the worst

"It seems to have worked," he said. "What this means for my chances of being fit to play in the Sydney Test is hard to judge, but the injury does feels as if it is getting better very quickly.

"And the exceptional treatment I have received here has, I hope, given me a decent chance. As long as I am not risking anything, I am desperate to be available.

"The second Test was particularly disappointing after the way we started and we are lucky enough to have another go at the Wallabies."

Should Wilkinson fail to recover his place will be taken by either Austin Healey, Ronan O'Gara or Neil Jenkins.

Meanwhile, Australia coach Rod Macqueen is confident fly-half Stephen Larkham and lock David Giffin will be fit.

Larkham appeared to be carrying an arm injury when he trained on Monday but it is not thought to be serious.

Giffin also trained but will have a better indication of his fitness after a full contact session on Tuesday.