Danny Cipriani hopes that guiding Sale Sharks to a top-six Aviva Premiership finish will be enough to secure his first England call-up in six years.
The 26-year-old fly-half has not featured for England since 2008, and after occasioanly being blighted by controversy and even time playing the game in Australia, the Sharks playmaker has hit form with Sale after several troubled years.
One thing that could swing in the Manchester-based fly-half’s favour is the untimely premiership final on the 31st of May, just seven days before the first test in New Zealand – no doubt, forcing Stuart Lancaster to field a weakened side.
The England head coach must cater for that first Test without a host of regular starters, paving the way for fringe players to step into the breach.
Cipriani is understood to be in contention for the tour, and the seven-cap outside-half admitted he has his fingers crossed another chance has finally arrived.
"It all depends how the coaches look at it, there will be latecomers into the squad and there will be people who are new because of the way the Premiership is laid-out for the rest of the season," Cipriani told the BBC.
"This would be a good time to start, for the World Cup, to try to get back into the squad.
Cipriani's 2013/14 Season stats:
Club appearances: 18 (including 6 as sub)
Tries: 5 Cons: 33 Pens: 31 Drops: 2 Points: 190
Source: Sale Sharks' official website
Statistics correct on 30 April 2014
"But we have two games left this season to put in a performance for the boys who are leaving.
"We've got to show them the respect they deserve, and then after that perhaps we can talk and discuss that.
"And hopefully my form's been consistent enough throughout the season to warrant a place."
World Cup winner, British and Irish Lion and former Sale Sharks captain Jason Robinson knows better than most what it takes to perform on the international stage and is, therefore, well placed to judge whether Cipriani should be welcomed back to the fold by England head coach Stuart Lancaster.
“He has got his head sorted out and he is enjoying his rugby – that’s why Sale are in the form they are. If he keeps it going there is no reason why Stuart Lancaster won’t be knocking on his door.
“Will he go to New Zealand on the summer tour? I think on form he has to be given a chance”
Touring New Zealand is probably the hardest challenge in rugby union. England usually lose whenever they go up against the All Blacks in their own backyard, with the most recent trips in 2008 and 2004 both ending in a 2-0 series whitewash. However, in June 2003 Jason Robinson and his teammates pulled of a 15-13 win in a one off test in Dunedin.
“If you want to challenge yourself as a player, going out and playing New Zealand in New Zealand is a test for any rugby player.
“Are England going to win all their games? I doubt it, but what we want to see is them progressing. I remember just before the 2003 World Cup we got a great win in New Zealand and it gave us so much confidence. It’s a great place to prove what you have got.”
Sale host Leicester Tigers on Saturday before travelling to London Irish to complete a resurgent season that has seen boss Steve Diamond shortlisted for the league's director of rugby of the year award.
Cipriani's embryonic England career was first derailed when he suffered a nasty fracture dislocation of his ankle with Wasps, before the attack-minded playmaker got caught up in a number of compromising off-field situations.
After a controversial stint at Melbourne Rebels, Cipriani believes he is now finally settling down at Sale, albeit after he was hit by a bus during a pub crawl in Leeds in April 2013.
"It's something I've always thought about, it's why you play rugby," he said, focusing on his England aim.
"I had to do myself justice to put the best case forward for myself, I was conscious of that at the end of last season and I think I've done that.
"I haven't done that much differently from before, but I guess I've got to carry a bit more responsibility on how I behave."
Director of Rugby Steve Diamond has backed Cipriani as a player and role-model ever since his arrival at the Manchester-based club and, when speaking to the BBC, he maintained that “Danny offers something different,” to all of the other ‘borderline’ England hopefuls.
"I think it would be advantageous for them to take him to New Zealand and see what he is like in their environment.
"If they can manage him like we do - there's no secret recipe - then I think he will flourish in that environment."
