Cipriani puts the breaks on
Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:18
Danny Cipriani has insisted he is not taking a return to the England squad for granted, after coming through his first test since recovering from a serious ankle injury.
The flyhalf played for 51 minutes for his club, London Wasps, in their 27-23 Guinness Premiership defeat by Bath on Wednesday, his first match since breaking and dislocating his right ankle in May.
Cipriani's quicker-than-expected recovery has put him on track to be fully match fit by the time England begin their year-end Test series against the Pacific Islanders on November 1.
Barring any setbacks, the 20-year-old should step into the slot in Martin Johnson's squad that will be vacated by Jonny Wilkinson, who suffered a dislocated knee while playing for Newcastle Falcons against Gloucester in a Premiership match earlier this week.
That would put Cipriani in line for his first Test appearances against South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, but he insisted he was not thinking beyond his next match, which will be Wasps' Heineken Cup opener against Castres on October 12.
"It is very disappointing for Jonny obviously because you can't wish an injury on anyone," he said.
"Whether I get picked for England or not, I need to be playing well for Wasps first. So I can't be thinking too much about that. I need to be thinking about playing European Cup rugby and getting my match head on."
Cipriani kicked three penalties and a conversion on his return but could not prevent the English champions from going down to their fourth defeat in five matches this season.
"I was very happy to get through the match, but disappointed we lost," he said. "Obviously, I was a bit rusty at first. I made some mistakes, which I know I can eradicate from my game after I've looked at the analysis.
"I thought my goal-kicking was good, and I felt a bit more confident with my defence."
