CIPRIANI: I CAN GIVE US A SPARK
14 Cipriani has played 14 games for England and has won 7 and lost 7
DANNy Cipriani is not about to belatedly acquire a conformist streak. The 30-year-old was recalled by Eddie Jones for England’s tour of South Africa next month, three years after his last Test appearance. His selection follows a series of dazzling performances for Wasps and the fly-half believes he can bring a spark of creativity to the England squad by being true to his natural instincts.
‘Rightly or wrongly, I guess I’ve always been me, and it’s either put me in good stead or not,’ he said. ‘ With Shaun Edwards (Wasps coach) and brian Ashton (England), it was great. Shaun put me in charge of a team full of internationals at 19, 20, and brian gave me the licence then, too. Along the way I’ve learned lessons on how to be better at things like that.
‘Mistakes do happen, but you learn from mistakes, it’s how you keep improving. Hopefully I am the best version of myself right now.’
Jones has taken a long time to see enough to believe Cipriani can make a positive impact at Test level and add to his 14 caps. In the past, he has suggested that the No 10 cannot play a back-up role — he is either first choice or nothing. The perceived implication is that he is not a team player.
Cipriani said: ‘There might have been some truth in that. I’m not sure he had seen me in that environment, though.
‘Pre-World Cup (in 2015), I definitely wasn’t first choice for the entire training camp and I was playing full back, which I hadn’t played for years. In the Six Nations in 2015 I came on at full back all the time and I tried to make the most of that. I believe I have an impact off the bench but like every player, I want to start.’
The news of his call-up was relayed to Cipriani over breakfast at Wasps by his team-mate, Tommy Taylor. There was satisfaction, but no euphoria.
‘There was a sense of happiness, but my sights immediately changed,’ he said. ‘It’s good news but it means nothing if you don’t make the most of it. you set your goals to get back in the England squad. you do everything you can. but as soon as that happens, it’s about trying to stay there and have a positive influence, because if you’re just happy with getting in the squad, it’s a fast route out. Eddie has said he wants me to bring some creativity. Hopefully I can bring something to the squad.’
Four days after Cipriani’s selection was announced, Gloucester confirmed he had agreed to join them this summer. He had waited and waited, hoping for the England breakthrough, and as soon as it came he turned his back on lucrative offers from France. ‘I’d never given up on England otherwise I would have signed contracts months ago,’ said Cipriani. ‘There are moments you have conversations with people and they’re saying, “you’re not getting picked”, but at that moment it wasn’t right for me to get picked, perhaps. you just have to take the humble pie, keep learning and improving, until you give no reasons not to get picked.
‘I want to represent my country and keep delivering a good message that you can make mistakes, learn, get better and move on. And it’s about making my mum proud — for everything she’s done for me.’
Wasps director of rugby Dai young is hopeful that England No 8 Nathan Hughes will have recovered from a knee injury in time to face Saracens in the Premiership play-off at Allianz Park on Saturday. but there is still a doubt about whether James Haskell will have recovered from a foot problem.