Dallaglio: Wilkinson gunning for Cipriani

LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO has brought England sensation Danny Cipriani crashing back down to earth by warning: “Jonny Wilkinson wants his place back.”

Cipriani, 20, lit up Twickenham with a star turn in Saturday’s 33-10 drubbing of Ireland to mark his full Test debut in champagne style.

But Wasps team-mate and former England skipper Dallaglio knows Wilkinson — the man Cipriani deposed — will be desperate to reclaim the fly-half jersey.

“When I was playing for England it was all about competition and it’s no different now,” he said.

“Make no mistake about it, Jonny will go away and work incredibly hard on making sure he pushes Danny all the way.

“If that makes Danny a better player, then great.”

Cipriani returns to club duty for Saturday’s EDF Energy Cup clash against Leicester knowing his life will never be the same after his headline act against Ireland.

But Dallaglio expects the new golden boy of English rugby to take the intense scrutiny that now pursues him in his stride.

“Danny made a super debut and we’re delighted for him at Wasps. The pressure on him was great,” he said.

“As an England fly-half there will always be a level of attention on him — he replaced Jonny at number 10 so he better get used to it.

“But he’s at a club which is used to attention so I don’t think it will be an issue,” he added.

Wasps announced that Josh Lewsey has agreed a one-year contract extension that ties him to the European champions until 2009.