Cipriani: I’ll be ready if Eddie calls, I felt ready 7 years ago

DANNY Cipriani insists he will be ready for the call should Eddie Jones require him as a late replacement for the World Cup in Japan.

The Gloucester fly-half, 31, was included in England’s first two training camps but cut from the squad before last month’s warm-weather trip to Treviso, ending his hopes of making the final 31-man squad.

The omission ends Cipriani’s dream of featuring at a Rugby World Cup, having been overlooked by Martin Johnson in 2011 and cut at the final hurdle by Stuart Lancaster four years ago.

“I would have loved to be involved in England’s Rugby World Cup squad. It has been a seven-year goal with different challenges along the way,” Cipriani wrote in his column for The Telegraph.

“But I can’t be disappointed because there was honestly no expectation from my side. It was never my right. I never thought: ‘Last season went pretty well, I should be picked’.

“All in all, I had two weeks in camp, then a week on my own with my sprint coach Margot Wells after being told I needed the extra conditioning. Then there was one final training session with game-based drills on the Friday, led by Eddie Jones.

“Afterwards, later that afternoon on my way back down to Cheltenham, he rang to say I would not be going out to Italy. Three days later I flew to Los Angeles and I’ve been here since.”

Cipriani has had no contact from Jones regarding whether or not he is on the injury replacement list, but given that the Australian confirmed at Monday’s squad announcement that he has already spoken to players who could feature as late call-ups, Cipriani is out of the reckoning beyond an injury crisis.

He has been given extra time away from Gloucester and will return to the club at the end of the month.

“All I can focus on is how I can become better for my experience with England, and not just as a rugby player – as a leader and as a person, too,” he added.

“Eddie has said that everyone needs to be ready and the best way to do that is for me to be the best version of myself at Gloucester. I’ve not been told where I am in the England pecking order, but if the stars align and the call does come at any point, I’ll be ready. I felt ready seven years ago.”