Danny Cipriani: Not one Australian player would get in the England side

Danny Cipriani has invited unwanted attention on to England on the eve of their critical clash with Australia by declaring that not a single Wallaby would be good enough to be selected in Stuart Lancaster’s team.

Only victory over the Rugby Championship winners at Twickenham on Saturday will prevent the hosts exiting the World Cup at the group stage, a fate made possible by their 28-25 defeat by Wales.

Cipriani narrowly missed out on selection for the 31-man squad and Lancaster is sure to be cursing a viewpoint that will have raised plenty of eyebrows.

“Not one Australian would get into that England team right now,” Cipriani said on his Paddy Power blog.

“England’s players know what they can do and they only just touched the tip of the iceberg against Wales.

“They didn’t quite put the nail in the coffin, but if it all clicks together on Saturday, Australia won’t have an answer.

“The Aussies will be fired up, but when it comes down to it, head-to-head England are too strong.”

Australia could justifiably argue that flankers David Pocock and Michael Hooper, centre Matt Giteau, full-back Israel Folau, scrum-half Will Genia and hooker Stephen Moore would be selected by England.