Tuesday 17 February 2015 11:07, UK
Danny Cipriani has dropped a large hint that he will not be leaving for Toulon this summer because of his increased desire to play for England.
The Sale Sharks fly-half marked his return from seven years in the Test wilderness with a try in the 47-17 win over Italy on Saturday as England made it two wins from two in the Six Nations.
Cipriani said he was "humbled" by the rapturous reception he received from the stands and has pledged to do everything within his power to keep on the right side of coach Stuart Lancaster.
He had been linked with a summer move to European champions Toulon, but his comments would seem to point heavily that he will decide to stay in the Aviva Premiership to enable his international career to continue.
Lancaster is on record saying he will not consider players who move overseas unless there are extraordinary circumstances, with the likes of Steffon Armitage among those who have been ignored since he moved to the Top 14 in France.
"I was in a fantastic Wasps side and things happened a certain way, so when I came into the England side under Martin Johnson I had to adapt to a different system," said Cipriani.
"I just thought it would have gone the same way as it did at Wasps, but it didn't. I had to be a different person in those situations and learn from it. I probably took it for granted a little bit.
"At the time I didn't say I took it for granted but you don't really appreciate the moments as they come along.
"That's what I'm doing now: every moment and every experience I am appreciating and there's no way I want to be out of this England side ever again, for as long as I'm playing.
"I'm very focused on making the best of my ability."
Cipriani's form at Sale led to a call-up to England's summer tour to New Zealand in May 2014, before head coach Lancaster made space for him in the wider Six Nations squad.
With Owen Farrell sidelined by a knee injury, Cipriani is in pole position to back up George Ford at No 10 with, he thinks, his peak years still to come now he is working with Jonny Wilkinson's long-time mentor Steve Black.
"It does feel like I have been away for a while but to get the reception that I did was very humbling," added Cipriani of his try-scoring cameo. "I'm just a bit older and uglier I guess!
"It was one of the highlights of my career to get back out there. I've learned a lot of lessons in the last seven years.
"If someone had told me to meet Steve Black when I was 20 and in that position, I probably would have politely declined and said, 'I feel fine now'.
"You don't think about those things at that age but as you get older you mature and see things in a different light.
"I just feel like I'm in a much wiser position and more stable in that way. I'm only 27 so I'm a good three or four years off my peak - I've still got a bit of 'toe' so I can still shift about a bit! There's a lot more for me to do. I want to carry on being a valuable member of the squad: I have to keep learning under Andy Farrell, Mike Catt and Stuart Lancaster."
