"He's a guy that's had lots of things written about him - positive and negative - and I think that's clouded the opinion on him."
Saturday 23 June 2018 15:35, UK
James Haskell has described England fly-half Danny Cipriani as being "a bit like Marmite" because "you either love him or hate him".
Cipriani is preparing to make his first start for his country in a decade in the final Test of their tour to South Africa on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
Haskell was not included in the England squad for the tour, but he believes he is similar to Cipriani in many ways.
The flanker said: "Danny's a player that is similar to me in a lot of respects - a bit like Marmite, you either love him or hate him.
"He's a guy that's had lots of things written about him - positive and negative - and I think that's clouded the opinion on him which is that he's a very hard-working player."
With the World Cup just over a year away, the Test in Cape Town could be Cipriani's best chance of forcing his way into the England team on a permanent basis after so long on the periphery.
"It's been an uphill climb", said Haskell. "George Ford has been awesome for England, and he still is very good for England, but I think this is a great opportunity to try something different.
"There's no fixed on positions in that England squad and that's the one thing Eddie's made very clear from the very first meeting we ever had. You've got to be prepared to move aside, step forward. Sometimes form dips.
"I think with Danny, it's actually a nothing to lose game for him because he's been out for 10 years, he's consistently proven himself at club level, he knows he's coming up against world-class opposition.
"I think he just wants to go out there and enjoy it."
