Cipriani won’t play second-fiddle to Wilkinson

WASPS star Danny Cipriani linked up with the England squad on Monday and warned Jonny Wilkinson: “I am not here to be the number two”.

Cipriani has always set himself bold challenges — when he was 15 it was to make England’s 2007 World Cup squad — but the latest is just about as big as they come.

Wilkinson is expected to be a guaranteed starter for England in the RBS 6 Nations Championship and it will take a special talent to oust him from the number 10 jersey.

But Cipriani is seen by many as the man to do it. Wales coach Warren Gatland recently predicted the 20-year-old could become an even bigger superstar than Wilkinson.

Cipriani allows none of that hype to faze him and is instead determined tolearn all he can from Wilkinson — but also put the pressure on.

“It is obviously going to be a massive task to oust Jonny, he has doneeverything in the game but I am not coming here as number two,” said Cipriani.

“It is understandable that whenever Jonny has been fit he has started forEngland because he has done an amazing job. Jonny has changed the face of rugby by himself. If I can learn from Jonny that will help me.

“If I was to have a chance to start a game I would do that to the best of my ability.

“It is great to hear people like Warren say things like that — but in my eyes I haven’t made it yet. I want to get an England cap and then one day be a regular starter.”

Wilkinson, who yesterday signed a new two-year contract at Newcastle, was only 18 when Clive Woodward gave him his England debut in 1998.

Cipriani may be just 20, but he has long been tipped as an England international and, at Wasps, has been learning at the top end of European rugby.

This campaign, Cipriani has made the Wasps flyhalf jersey his own and isconfident he can match the demands of Test rugby.

“No matter if you are 19 or 35, you have to be the general of the side. Imagine trying to boss Lawrence Dallaglio about — but that is what I have had to do,” said Cipriani.

“There are World Cup winners throughout the side. I have played in some pretty big games and Josh Lewsey said the Heineken Cup final was the same intensity as international level.

“Being here and being around all the England players is what I have always thought about — but I still won’t feel fulfilled until I get that first cap. And then I will be striving for more.”