Matt Dawson has blasted Sir Clive Woodward's Lions selection of Jonny Wilkinson.
The fall-out from the British and Irish Lions' dismal tour of New Zealand continues to rumble on, with Matt Dawson the latest player to attack Sir Clive Woodward's handling of last summer's expedition.
Dawson attacked the former England coach for selecting Jonny Wilkinson, a decision that the Wasps scrum half claimed he would not have made 'in a million years.'
Wilkinson missed the vast majority of the season leading up to the tour, but Woodward rushed his World Cup hero back into the fray - much to the astonishment of the England number nine.
"I would never have played Wilkinson in a million years," Dawson told BBC Radio Five Live.
"He was not up to Test level, let alone Lions level, and was played at centre, where he had not played for years.
"I'm not blaming Jonny but that was a very tough call."
Sale's Charlie Hodgson had been in fine form running up to the summer series, whilst Stephen Jones had led Wales to the Grand Slam with an unflappable string of performances.
However, Woodward opted for the fear factor that the selection of Wilkinson provided, but it soon became clear that the Newcastle stand-off was far from ready for such a challenge.
The Lions lost the series 3-0, as the New Zealand backs exuded their superiority over the visitors through the likes of Tana Umaga, Daniel Carter and Doug Howlett.
Despite the outcome, Dawson refuses to support Gavin Henson's view that the Wales man should have been the first choice partner for Brian O'Driscoll at inside centre.
"On absolute pure form, there could have been no argument. I didn't see where he had performed on the tour," said the 32-year-old.
Whilst Dawson will always hold Woodward in high regard for leading England to World Cup glory in 2003, he insists that he is not the best coach that he has worked with on a Lions tour.
The Wasps half back reserved that title for current club boss Ian McGeechan, and he explained:
"In 2005, there seemed to be a lot of coaches around from different countries and that did not dilute their ability.
"But there were elements where they would conflict. One would say one thing and then another would say something that would contradict."
