By Alex Lowe, PA Sport

As gambles go it is not Sir Clive Woodward's first dalliance with fate, but it would certainly rank as his greatest.

Jonny Wilkinson, a world-conquering fly-half in his pomp, has played just 1,063 minutes of top-class rugby in 18 months since dropping the goal which won England the Webb Ellis trophy.

He has since suffered a catalogue of injuries, leaving worrying question marks over his tackling strength, and his form has hardly been authoritative. While his dead-eye goal-kicking remains a lucrative points-scoring vehicle for any side, Wilkinson's tactical radar has been wayward.

And yet Woodward's unflinching belief in the man has prompted his inclusion in the Lions Test XV for Saturday's All Blacks showdown in a position he has not occupied in earnest for six years, and at the expense of the creative midfield force that is Gavin Henson.

Woodward's desire to keep the Welsh half-back combination of Dwayne Peel and Stephen Jones together, coupled with the safety net of Wilkinson at 12, meant Henson had to play the makeweight.

He made a considerable case for a rethink with two tries and the only stand-out performance in a decidedly shoddy Lions display against Southland on Tuesday, but it was not enough to change Woodward's mind.

Indeed, Henson realistically had very little chance of doing so. Woodward's plans for the vital first Test, despite what was uttered publicly to the contrary, had clearly been in place from the outset.

Woodward spoke of how all 45 players had the opportunity to break into the Test side and that form on tour would prove a decisive factor.

In the end, only Ryan Jones stated an unanswerable case for Test inclusion with his explosive arrival on the scene against Otago. Shane Byrne managed to edge past Steve Thompson for the hooker's berth and Gethin Jenkins confirmed his place as the optimum choice at loose-head prop. For the rest it is - and for Woodward was always likely to be - experience first.

So Wilkinson is joined in the Test 22 by 10 other members of England's World Cup squad, with the likes of Neil Back, Jason Robinson and Matt Dawson, who is on the bench, also named despite starting only one game all tour.

So what value have the tour matches been to Woodward thus far? Critics argue very little.

They claim the size of Woodward's squad has hampered its fusion and led to a series of unconvincing performances in the New Zealand provinces.

Against the toughest opposition outside the Tests - the New Zealand Maori - the Lions were distinctly second best and deservedly beaten in Hamilton.

And of all the contenders to produce eye-catching displays on tour - Henson, Charlie Hodgson, Chris Cusiter, Andrew Sheridan, Geordan Murphy, Martyn Williams and Simon Easterby - only Jones did enough to break into the Test side.

But does Woodward deserve the negative press his team selection has received?

Indeed, it is a gamble to place all his tactical eggs into one basket and play Wilkinson at 12, indicating strongly he intends his side to kick the leather off the ball and deny the All Blacks space in which to counter-attack.

Lions legend Jeremy Guscott slated the side as "robotic in its selection" predicting "the pack will stick the ball up the jumper and try to grind out a victory by frustrating and wearing down the All Blacks".

But, as one respected scribe jibed as Alastair Campbell's influence became clear on the Lions' public relations, "the difference between New Zealand and Iraq is that the All Blacks really can destroy you in 45 minutes".

Woodward knows that full well. Why play into the All Blacks' hands? He trusts Wilkinson to rediscover the length in his tactical kicking and pin the All Blacks back.

The English contingent have been selected, not because they are English, but because they are proven winners. They have beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand. The Lions, on the other hand, are chasing only their second series victory ever over the All Blacks.

Woodward is adamant that Henson has "done everything right and nothing wrong on this tour".

The decision to not even include the Welshman and his long-range kicking - recall his last minute penalty to earn Wales victory over England at the Millennium Stadium? - on the bench as cover is perhaps more perplexing than Wilkinson's initial inclusion.

But in the final selection meeting - in which Woodward had the decisive say - reputation was considered at least as greatly as form and Will Greenwood got the nod.

"In the end it is about choosing the people who perform best under pressure," said Woodward.

The Lions' odds lengthened to 7-2 with Betfair after the team announcement but is Woodward capable of stinging the bookies and the All Blacks at Jade Stadium on Saturday morning?

By 10am we will know.