Cipriani: We can match glory days
DELIVERING Wasps’ first trophy in nine years will put a lot of pressure on Danny Cipriani’s shoulders but he reckons playing in a “more talented” squad than the one from 2008 will help him to do it.
The fly-half was only 19 when he lifted the Heineken Cup in 2007 and the following year Wasps won the Premiership when a broken ankle sustained in the semi-final forced him out of the final.
That was the last time the Men In Black, led by the likes of Lawrence Dallaglio, Joe Worsley and Raphael Ibanez, enjoyed success and the next decade saw the club nearly go bust.
But, buoyed by the most potent attack in the land, they are a force to be reckoned with again and Cipriani, 29, returned to the club last summer after six seasons playing for the Rebels and Sale.
They reached two semifinals last term and, as they
resume their league campaign at home to Worcester today, Cipriani is aiming to go even further.
“This is the part of the year where it starts to matter and I’m pretty excited because I think it could be pretty special,” he told The Rugby Paper.
“The sky’s the limit for this squad. On paper the one we have now is more talented than the one we had when I came through.
“But there was an experience of big games back then with players who understood what it was about.
“I really enjoy the pressure it brings. I grew up with it. I learned a lot about it with Shaun Edwards when I was younger and that’s the reason I came back to the club.
“I’m proud of what I’ve done so far this year. I think we managed our attack really well in terms of when to kick or run. I’ve been in charge of it so I’d like to think it’s gone well.
“You have to constantly make the right decision from fly-half and that’s what I wanted to bring to Wasps. Hopefully, we’re going in the right direction.”
Cipriani’s performances this season were still not enough to break into the Eddie Jones’ England squad but he will do his best to force his old boss at Wasps, Warren Gatland, to take a punt on him for the Lions in New Zealand.
And with a Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster and the front runner for the Lions fly-half shirt Jonny Sexton, he knows how important the next two games are.
He said: “Every player in the Home Unions not playing international rugby right now is hoping the joker card gets pulled out and your name’s on it.
“The next two games are huge for myself and the squad. If you can keep impressing in that arena that’s when dreams like a Lions tour can come true.
“Warren Gatland might have a different opinion on players than the four Home Unions’ coaches.
“There are a lot of good fly-halves around like Jonny (Sexton) or Finn Russell and the England boys. Jonny’s got great control and he’s very good at attacking the line and bringing in players around him.”
On taking on Worcester at the Ricoh Arena, he added: “We can’t take Worcester for granted but what’s been really refreshing is that there’s no signs of complacency.
“We had Sale a few weeks back when it took us time to switch on. We played some of our best rugby in the last 30 minutes but it was too late. We don’t have that issue at home but if we can still learn from that we’ll be in a good place.”