Danny deserves Test start after his classy cameo

ENGLAND’S defeat in Bloemfontein handed South Africa the series victory ahead of the third Test in Cape Town.

Five Wasps players would feature for head coach Eddie Jones’ side against the Springboks who had Willie le Roux at full-back. Here we assess the performances of the Wasps contingent.

Arrived with England 11 points adrift and immediately set about showing England what they’ve been missing since 2015.

His delayed pass freed Elliot Daly who looked set to score or assist a third England try before losing his footing.

The substitution should’ve come earlier when England desperately needed to inject some momentum into the game.

One hurried pass with five minutes remaining and chasing the game failed to go to hand but otherwise it was an eye-catching return to the international fold for the Gloucester-bound fly-half.

With the third Test rendered a dead rubber, it seems inevitable that Cipriani will be in the starting XV in what has been a predictably cautionary reintroduction to the England fold.

Every time Daly plays for club or country, he seems to have a hand in or score a try, this second Test was no exception.

Presented with an opportunity to feed Jonny May in for England’s second try, he dutifully attracted the defender before launching the Leicester Tigers man into the corner. There was less high balls to deal with, one kick direct into touch when outside the 22 would be a source of frustration in the first half.

However, like last week, an error while fielding a chip into the ingoal area occurred when he carried a grubber over, presenting South Africa with an attacking five-metre scrum.

Fortunately on this occasion, a turnover from the next phase got England, and Daly, out of jail.

England are likely to persist with the Wasps man in the 15 shirt with the hope he can tidy up the bits and pieces of fullback play to supplement his attacking play and thunderous left boot.

His first Test start was agonisingly close to being marked with a first try only for a despairing South African hand to dislodge the ball in the second half.

As Eddie Jones pointed out before the game, the soon-to-be Wasps flanker provided a line-out option in place of Chris Robshaw.

This is a switch I believe England should keep permanent and back the Hurricanes captain in the third Test next week.

So often he was the man on the fringes of a breakdown helping to stifle the play of Faf de Klerk who was far less influential in Bloemfontein than he was at Ellis Park.

His contribution to this Test will be remembered for his petulant yellow card that all-but confirmed South Africa’s victory.

The frustrations of Henry Slade’s pass falling loose was understandable. It would’ve been preferable to see the bulky forward hammering those hard yards rather than the comparatively featherweight back.

Billy Vunipola showed signs of returning to the peak of his powers with a barnstorming run to pave the way for Mike Brown’s try.

However, his injury brought Wasps number eight Hughes into the action just before half-time.

Hughes carries with frequency but manages less of the eye-catching, powerhouse breaks that Vunipola seems to bring week after week. There is a clear first and second choice when it comes to the back of England’s scrum. That’s not a criticism of Hughes, more an assessment of Big BIlly’s impact and importance for his country.

Hughes should be assured of a starting role in the third Test given the severity of the Saracens’ star’s knock.

A steady return from a calf injury that ruled the Wasps captain out of the first Test. The disjointed nature of England’s attacking play, punctuated by handling errors and ill discipline, denied the lock chances to plunder forward and make hard yards. England are better with Launchbury in the side, he’s his country’s best second row.