Danny Cipriani said he would have dropped himself after being left out by England manager Martin Johnson for Saturday's Test with the All Blacks at Twickenham.

The 21-year-old outside-half is on the bench after nothing went right for him during England's 42-6 thrashing by world champions South Africa at Twickenham last weekend – England's heaviest home defeat.

For the third time in his six-Test career the Wasps No 10 saw a charged-down kick lead to an opposition try.

Having struggled during the previous week's 28-14 loss at home to Australia, Cipriani was made to look all at sea by the Springboks and that prompted Johnson to replace him with Toby Flood.

“If I was coach I would have made the same decision,” Cipriani told reporters at England's training base after Johnson announced his team to play Tri-Nations champions New Zealand, on the brink of a grand slam after wins over Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

“Against South Africa I didn't make it easy for him to pick me again. It wasn't the greatest and it didn't go to plan.”

However, Cipriani insisted his confidence remained intact. “Mentally I am fine. I think I have learned a lot and this series has been a vital experience for me. I am not looking at it as a setback.

“We are playing the toughest team in the world and I could be on in the first minute. There is no way I could have a different mindset.

“My confidence won't dip at all. I know what I can do. I need to make sure when I come off the bench I am firing. I might have to make a vital decision so there was no way I could step off.”

Cipriani is now only seven matches into his return following a broken ankle which many believed was a potentially career-threatening injury.

However, he denied he'd been rushed back into Test rugby.

“It wasn't a case of too much, too soon because it is what I wanted but I am still getting back into it.

“I have shown glimpses of what I can do, and the breaks I can make, but I haven't shown the consistency I had wanted to.”

Cipriani was adamant in denying suggestions his poor recent displays for England could be linked to his high-profile relationship with the actress and model Kelly Brook, which have made him a regular in the gossip columns of British newspapers.

“There is no celebrity lifestyle,” Cipriani said. “I am just very lucky to have a gorgeous girlfriend.”

Only three of Flood's 21 England caps have come as an outside-half. But before the November international campaign he was in fine form for new club Leicester and Johnson said: “He deserves his go.

“Danny has got a big future but so does Toby. He is an international class fly-half.”

Flood, who began his career at Newcastle in the shadow of Jonny Wilkinson, said: “I hope to make a mark. I've been waiting with bated breath to get a chance. All you can do is give your very best. That is the main thing.”

Flood's last Test start in the No 10 shirt was in June when New Zealand beat England 44-12 in Christchurch, a match where All Black outside-half Dan Carter, his opposite number again on Saturday, scored 22 points.

“The physicality of the All Blacks and the pace with which they played really opened our eyes,” said Flood, who suffered a shoulder injury while in New Zealand. “They were very clinical.

“But it is all about us, our patterns and how we want to play the game. It's an exciting challenge. We had our 12 hours of feeling sorry for ourselves but now we move forward.”

AFP

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