LONDON (AFP) - England hopeful Danny Cipriani admits he is on a steep learning curve as he tries to oust Jonny Wilkinson from the number ten jersey for the Six Nations opener against Wales on February 2.

Cipriani, 20, just missed out on selection for the World Cup - he was one of the last six men dropped from the squad - but picked up tips from Wilkinson in the pre-tournament camp.

And on Saturday night in Limerick he was powerless to stop Munster's Ronan O'Gara running the show in the Irish province's 19-3 European Cup victory over Cipriani's Wasps.

But the youngster, who had a chance to become a professional soccer player, says he is picking up knowledge all the time and will not be satisfied until he has broken into the starting XV.

At an England training day at Twickenham on Monday, the fly-half said: "It is going to be a massive task to move Jonny and I have got to make sure I improve as a player.

"If I don't make the starting XV but make the bench, or I am behind Charlie Hodgson, I will have to say 'what is there I can learn from that?'

"I will just try to answer all the questions. He has been around a long time and it is understandable that whenever he has been fit he has started for England. He has done an amazing job.

"But if I got the chance to start a game I would love the opportunity. If I did I would still have the opportunity to learn from Jonny in the week leading up to the match. I would love to get a cap.

"In World Cup training Brian Ashton said I had fitted in well and did not look out of place. I was only 19 and had been playing full-back but I felt good."

Cipriani is challenging Wilkinson despite having started only a handful of games at fly-half for Wasps.

He played at number ten in the same England under-19s team as Ryan Lamb and Shane Geraghty - also aspiring internationals - but had his path blocked at Wasps by Alex King and played at full-back in last year's European Cup final against Leicester.

But the youngster was quick to acknowledge the contribution of his club coach Ian McGeechan in helping him make the transition.

"I started the season at number 15, then Ian said he wanted me to think about playing ten," said Cipriani. "I was playing 15 in the first five or six games of the season and then switching to ten in the last 20 minutes.

"I have had a good run of games and we have got a lot of experienced players at Wasps. But whether you are 19 or 35 you have got to be the general of the side (at fly-half).

"With great players around me like Eoin Reddan and Riki Flutey, they have helped me to boss the forwards around and that's what I try to do."

In Ireland last weekend Cipriani watched O'Gara's skills at first hand as he kicked Wasps out of the European Cup with a consummate display of game management in driving rain.

Cipriani added: "Saturday was a pretty steep learning curve. O'Gara played very well because he was on the front foot most of the game but what he did was fantastic.

"It was a difficult situation but something I can learn from so that when I get into that situation I can handle it."