Lions handled Wilko poorly - Rob Andrew

Newcastle Falcons coach Rob Andrew has criticised the British & Irish Lions for their treatment of Jonny Wilkinson during the 2005 tour to New Zealand.

Andrew believes the Newcastle fly-half was cosseted by the Lions coaches as the tourists plunged to a series defeat against the All Blacks, claiming Wilkinson needed a far more testing playing schedule.

"The Lions experience was not good for Jonny - I thought he was handled poorly," Andrew told The Mail on Sunday.

"The one thing he needed more than anything in New Zealand was to play matches.

"Not playing him and then drafting him into a Test match out of position, as happened out there, is not the way to handle Jonny Wilkinson."

Andrew also said he would not mind if Wilkinson lost the England captaincy.

"We made Colin Charvis captain of Newcastle because we felt it was right for the club and the team," said Andrew

"I also felt it was right for Jonny not to be club captain this year because I would just love to see him play three months on the trot with no responsibilities."

The 26-year-old, who kicked the points that saw England win the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, has recently suffered from an inflamed appendix and will not make Newcastle's Guinness Premiership opener at Sale next week.