Cipriani to play ‘joker’ card

DANNY CIPRIANI’s fly-half duel with Johnny Sexton will be key when Wasps take on Leinster next weekend and the out-of-favour England fly-half is backing himself against one of the world’s best No 10s.

Cipriani, 29, who won the last of his 14 caps in 2015, will pull the strings for twice European champions Wasps, while Sexton will run the show for three-time European Cup winners Leinster in the quarter-final in Dublin.

Cipriani still dreams of touring with the Lions this summer and believes impressive shows against Worcester today and Leinster next Saturday could still sway Lions coach Warren Gatland.

‘Johnny is a world-class competitor and it will be exciting to play against him,’ said Cipriani. ‘Anyone playing right now would hope the joker gets pulled and it’s them that gets pulled into the squad. If you keep impressing hopefully things like that can come true.’