Time for Cipriani to tackle his shortcomngs

Danny Cipriani has been told it is vital he “fronts up” in defence against Australia this weekend if he is to develop into a world-class fly-half.

For all his attacking qualities, Cipriani does not boast anything like the brutal defensive game that made Jonny Wilkinson such a feared opponent.

England expect the Wallabies to unleash their powerful midfield runners Stirling Mortlock and Ryan Cross on rookie half-backs Cipriani and Danny Care, who are both 21 and starting only their third Tests.

Cipriani’s club Wasps move him away from the heavy traffic when they are not in possession – but England’s defence coach Mike Ford believes there is no place to hide at Test level.

Care has already vowed he will not be pushed around and Ford insisted it is vital for Cipriani’s development that he also stands up the challenge at Twickenham on Saturday.

Ford said: “Danny wants to be one of the best players in the world and he realises one of the responsibilities of a fly-half who wants to be number one is that he has got to defend in that channel.

“If we hide someone in defence and the opposition don’t get him in the first phase, they will get him second. My experience at international level is that they will find him out.

“We understand that and Danny does as well. So he might as well front up now, early in his career and get that part of his game right both physically and mentally – and he is doing that.

“Cipriani made 13 tackles against the Pacific Islanders at the weekend so we know he can tackle."

If Cipriani can stop the likes of Mortlock in his tracks, Ford believes that will be a major factor in helping England regain the Cook Cup.

“Mortlock is a talisman. He will come at that channel and try to dent our defence. He does that as well as anybody in the world and we feel if we can get parity in that area it will go a long way to stopping Australia,” said Ford.

The Wallabies average over two tries a match this year and their back division, even without the injured Lote Tuqiri, mixes brilliance with brute force.

While the threat from Mortlock and Cross is direct, Matt Giteau has the ability at fly-half to conjure an opening almost from nothing with a slip of the hand.

“Giteau is a magician. He gets the ball in space and some of the offloads he gets away are unbelievable at times,” said Ford.

“He will probably get the ball 90% of the time. If we can control him we will do well.”

Most of the pre-match focus this week has been on the scrum and the breakdown, fuelled by England’s dominance in both areas in last autumn’s World Cup quarter-final victory over Australia.

England are desperately trying to downplay the relevance of Andrew Sheridan’s destruction of the Wallaby scrum last year and at Twickenham in 2005.

The English also succeeded in knocking the Wallabies back with a ferocious approach to the contact area during the Marseille World Cup clash.

But England’s forwards coach John Wells is convinced new Australia head coach Robbie Deans has addressed all those areas of weakness.

“Australia are aware of what put them under pressure in the World Cup quarter-final. They are a more physical team now and they have worked on their scrummage,” said Wells.

“With the size of their pack and their backs, they have increased their physicality in the side as a whole.

“Judging by the way they have been playing I suspect it will be an all-out battle this weekend.”