Danny Cipriani: Determined to realise World Cup dream

Alam Khan - Reporter 08:14 21/08/2014
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  • Eyes on the world: Danny Cipriani is hoping for a big year with Sale to ensure a place at the World Cup in 2015.

    On Danny Cipriani’s left arm is a tattoo bearing the words of French poet Paul Valery; ‘The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up’.

    You could say his eyes are open again after a notable moment in June when he stepped off the bench for a tense final nine minutes at Eden Park as England tried to beat world champions New Zealand in the first Test. His eighth cap for his country was his first for six years, a period where the fly-half had endured some difficult, dark days.

    Cipriani never gave up hope, never stopped believing as he worked hard to rebuild a repu­tation tarnished by off-field concerns.

    His penalty levelled a classic encounter at 15-15.

    Although Conrad Smith’s late try sealed a 20-15 success for the All Blacks, the match saw Cipriani’s return to the stage he was tipped to grace after a dazzling match-win­ning debut aged 20 against Ireland in 2008.

    For many, his potential is unfulfilled. For Cipriani, it is unfinished business as he pre­pares for a club campaign with the Sale Sharks that, with a World Cup to follow in England, could be definitive in his career.

    “I think it’s a big season for everybody, not just me,” he tells Sport360°. “When the new season starts any young English player, any ambitious player wants to do well with it being a World Cup year.

    “Of course that’s at the back of people’s minds, but it’s about how you play for your club, how you prepare and perform.

    “Those are the guys you spend every day to­gether with and you build up a special bond, so it’s important we all drive Sale forward in the best way we can and focus on that first.

    “There’s no distractions with the World Cup. It’s all about our daily habits, what you are doing in training and on the pitch, going out there every session to get better.

    “That’s been my focus for a long time now, to be a better player. It was always my goal to play for England again, always my aim and I didn’t stop believing.

    “I had to do some things to get there and last season I showed that and I still feel there’s a lot more still to come from me. People are going to be picked for England on form so I know I have to start the season well for Sale.

    “It’s everyone’s dream to play in the World Cup at home, in front of family and friends. It’s part of the reason why you get inspired to play, but also the option, one, that you get to do what you love every day and, two, to get out on that pitch and make a difference.”

    With ex-All Black full-back Christian Cul­len his rugby hero and an admirer of exciting and entertaining sporting legends such as Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane and Brian Lara – who hails from Trinidad like his own father, Jay – it was no surprise a young Cipriani tried to make a difference with moments of indi­vidualistic brilliance. He was a game-changer and seemingly destined for greatness as the heir to Jonny Wilkinson.

    A fractured ankle stunted his progress and then followed disciplinary issues and ques­tions about his focus as his private life came to the fore. Media scrutiny intensified into his relationships, namely with the British model and actress Kelly Brook, while he was left shocked by the death of friend, cricketer Tom Maynard, at 23, in 2012.

    Cipriani has suffered with depression too and was knocked over by a bus while on a bar crawl last year. Where there may have been arrogance in the past, there is now humility.

    “I’m not thinking about the past,” he says in hushed tones. “It doesn’t matter. It is what it is and you talk about it, but it’s not bad, it’s life. You learn from all these things and I’m glad it’s happened. Fortunately I’ve not done anything too bad, but it’s made me who I am today. As you get older it’s easier to deal with all that and I have got good mentors and peo­ple around me to help.

    “When you are younger you might not have that and it is more difficult. That’s partly why I went to Australia to play for Melbourne [Rebels]. Going to Australia gave me the chance to get away and not have to worry so much about things.

    “It served its purpose and I’ve come back and done what I set out to do, to get back in the England team and there’s a lot more still to come, to work on. This is just the start of it.

    “When I was younger there was a bit of expectation of what I could do, but it is what it is. Unfortunately I had a bad injury and the media did what they do best. It was tough, but it was a learning curve and I wouldn’t feel as strong mentally and physically as I do now if I hadn’t gone through all that. I don’t regret any of that whatsoever.

    “I’ve done it all, and I’m only 26 and I’ve still got time to do something.”

    Cipriani, whose mother Anne became a London cab driver to help send him to pri­vate school, adds: “I just feel there’s more to achieve. Anyone who is striving to achieve and be great in their position is always want­ing to do more and get better. I’m a couple of years off my prime and I’m going to keep try­ing, doing my best to get there.”

    Having rediscovered his form and become a key figure at Sale, it could well lead to him extending his contract with Steve Diamond’s side when it ends next year rather than returning to London or be lured by big-money overtures from French clubs.

    Manchester-based Sale want to improve on their sixth-placed finish in the Aviva Premier­ship last season and face Saracens, Munster and Clermont in the group stage of the new European Rugby Champions Cup.

    “Not yet,” says Cipriani of a move to France. “It’s not something I’d say no to, but I’ve still got some short to medium long-term goals with England so there’s things I want to do here. My best years are ahead of me. I am enjoying it at Sale. For the squad to move on we do need to sign three more top players, everyone knows that.

    "There’s a bit more ex­pectation after last season and every game is going to be tough, the Premiership or the European games. Everyone has recruited well and it’s going to be interesting. But we have some bite about us and we are looking for­ward to it. Every game is a challenge.”

    Life has been just that way for Cipriani too.

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