Digest: LIONS SELECTION: Clive Woodward has been told he has "no choice" but to select the injury-plagued Jonny Wilkinson when his unveils his 44-strong squad at lunchtime today for this summer's tour to New Zealand.

Wilkinson is poised to be named among a big English contingent despite not having played Test rugby since the World Cup and his Newcastle director of rugby, Rob Andrew, insists Woodward will be making a big mistake if he opts to travel to the Southern Hemisphere without the outhalf.

Andrew's view is that, with Wilkinson hoping to play a part in the closing stages of the Falcons' season, there is plenty of time for him to regain match fitness.

"The Test series is at the end of June and first two weeks of July. There's tons of time between now and the Test matches," said Andrew, himself a former England and Lions outhalf.

ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP: Wasps continued their pursuit of Zurich Premiership leaders Leicester with a 45-24 victory over Saracens yesterday.

Despite a second-half fight-back Saracens never looked like closing the gap after trailing 38-10 at half-time. The champions ran in six tries to take ample revenge for their 13-11 defeat at Twickenham on the opening day of the season as they dealt a severe blow to Saracens' hopes of a place in the play-offs.

Worcester struck another blow in their dramatic battle against relegation with a 21-16 victory over Newcastle that lifted them off the bottom of the table.

The win came courtesy of tries from Giscard Pieters and Pat Sanderson plus nine points from the boot of outhalf James Brown, which included two drop goals

SUPER 12: Wellington Hurricanes beat the New South Wales Waratahs 26-24 in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash yesterday to hand the competition leaders their second straight loss of the season.

The Waratahs had a chance to salvage a draw when openside flanker Phil Waugh scored their fourth try two minutes from time but Mat Rogers failed to convert.

Despite the defeat, the Australians collected two bonus points to stay top of the standings on 27 points after seven rounds.

The Hurricanes, who finished second bottom in 2004, cemented second place on 25 followed by their fellow New Zealanders, the Otago Highlanders on 23 and the Canterbury Crusaders on 20.

The Bulls of South Africa pulled off the biggest upset of the round by beating the star-studded Crusaders 25-20 in Pretoria on Saturday.