Wilkinson plays down the idea of Lions place

Man of the match Wilkinson, making probably his final appearance at Twickenham, kicked seven penalties and a late drop-goal to set up an all-French decider against Clermont Auvergne at the Aviva Stadium on May 18.

It was a stunning display that prompted bookmakers to slash odds on his inclusion in the Lions squad that is announced tomorrow, but the 33-year-old urged the tourists’ head coach Warren Gatland to look elsewhere.

“I’m prone to feeling great (after a day like yesterday), but after a match like last weekend’s I felt as though I’d let the boys down,” he said.

“I think about tearing up my contract for next year and things like that. It’s what goes through my head.

“I just play and play and no one can tell you if you’re doing great or not. Am I doing enough right now?

“The Lions is difficult for me because it’s not at all that I wouldn’t consider it – it would be fabulous. It’s up there with the most amazing experiences you can get in rugby.

“But I watch guys like Owen Farrell, Toby Flood, Dan Biggar and Jonathan Sexton and it is them who are driving rugby forward.

“Perhaps they should be the ones driving this tour forward as well.”

Wilkinson schooled opposite number Farrell in a match that saw England’s fly-halves past and present meet for the first time.

One telling moment arrived in the 74th minute when Wilkinson managed to stab over an important drop-goal with his left foot as Farrell, who is 12 years his junior, clattered into him.

England’s World Cup-winning No 10 then patted Farrell on the back and the two shared words as a disjointed match dominated by the set-piece neared its conclusion.

“When Owen tackled me, he said ‘I didn’t go through’ and I said ‘I’m really sorry, I didn’t deserve that, it was down to luck’. He played brilliantly and didn’t deserve that,” he said.

Munster’s attempt to derail Clermont Auvergne’s march to their first Heineken Cup title fell short in a cagey semi-final in Montpellier.

Making a record-equalling 10th semi-final appearance, Munster lost 16-10.

Leinster dethroned defending Amlin Challenge Cup champions Biarritz 44-16 to move within one win of their third European title in as many seasons. They ran out comfortable five-try winners at a RDS, which will host Stade Francais in the final on May 17.