Lawrence Dallaglio's career as an England player is over, but he feels Wasps team-mate Danny Cipriani is ready to launch his in the coming RBS Six Nations tournament.
"Let's hope they don't wait until the summer tour," said captain Dallaglio after Wasps' 25-17 victory over Guinness Premiership bottom club Leeds Carnegie yesterday.
After kicking two penalties and two conversions from five attempts, plus setting up one of three tries, stand-off Cipriani was taken off with Wasps 25-3 clear.
He then watched almost in horror as the struggling Yorkshire club mounted a fine comeback, but although Wasps missed out on the expected bonus point the 20-year-old can now look forward to this week's England squad announcement with high hopes.
Jonny Wilkinson is, of course, the man in possession of the number 10 shirt, but Dallaglio makes a case for bringing in Cipriani sooner rather than later.
England open at home to Wales on February 2 and former captain Dallaglio, who this week announced his retirement from Test rugby and intention to quit playing altogether in May, commented: "If you are going to pick young players you pick them at Twickenham with experienced players around them.
"That's how it was with Wilkinson and I think lessons were learnt from Mathew Tait."
It was in Cardiff three years ago that Tait was given his first cap on the eve of his 19th birthday and after being dumped more than once by Gavin Henson he did not wear the shirt again for 16 months.
Wilkinson's debut was also at age 18 against Scotland at Twickenham in 1998, although he came off the bench to replace Mike Catt. His first start was in Australia - and England were hammered 76-0.
Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan said: "Danny has been playing consistently well for us. He's been putting his hand up and answering a lot of questions the last few months. It's a decision obviously for Brian Ashton."
Josh Lewsey's place is another decision for Ashton, but Lewsey also has a wedding to think about this week and because of it he is missing Wasps' Heineken Cup clash with Llanelli Scarlets next Sunday.
"He played like a man who is suffering guilt," joked Dallaglio. "His team-mates are delighted for him, but obviously he didn't go and ask Brian Ashton if he could miss England v Wales!"
After Llanelli Wasps have three tough away matches - Munster and then Premiership top two Gloucester and Bath. "The next four weeks will define our season," added Dallaglio. "Obviously we will step up the intensity and those are the games we are looking forward to."
McGeechan also stated that the club are expecting a written proposal from Wales on their plans to use the club's coach Shaun Edwards on a part-time basis.
Edwards was offered the role by his former colleague at Wasps Warren Gatland, who took over as coach of the Welsh national side following the World Cup.
"Wales are getting in touch with us," said McGeechan. "With something down in black and white the club can take it forward. That's what the board are quite keen to have in front of them. It's a work in progress."
Meanwhile, Leeds director of rugby Stuart Lancaster refuses to concede that his side are doomed to relegation after drawing another blank.
"I take a huge amount from that performance," he said. "We've come down to the European champions, they've picked an extremely strong side and we have come close to winning the game.
"If we keep working hard and believing in ourselves it will come right and we are a long way from the end of the season. We've emerged from the last three games with credit, but the trick is that we have to convert credit into points.
"We have a huge amount to be positive about, though. I thought all our replacements made a big impact in the game. In the second-half we dominated field position and gave Wasps a hard time."
Wasps touched down through Joe Worsley, finally back from the hamstring injury suffered in the World Cup final, Fraser Waters and Lewsey before Leeds hit back with a disputed try by Mike Macdonald and another by Joe Bedford, both converted by Alberto DiBernardo. He was on as a replacement for Leigh Hinton, who had opened their account with a penalty.
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