Jeremy Guscott column: Scene now set for Danny Cipriani to realise his full potential

Today’s clash at the Ricoh Arena thrusts Danny Cipriani into the spotlight once again and there will be huge pressure on his shoulders to rise to the expectation levels of both the coaches and fans.
Aproaching 29 in November, he is at the peak of his powers physically and Dai Young has brought him back to the club to help Wasps hit the next level after a disappointing end to what had been a stellar season. They failed to get over the final hurdle in the league and in Europe and Cipriani at his best is the type of player who could help them get there this time around. He has been a big hit at Sale for the last three seasons and a big reason for their top six finish last season.
Wasps seem as if they are in a similar position to where Bath were after their 2014-15 season and must avoid a similar slump to the one that hit Bath so hard last season.
Like James Haskell, Cipriani has had a somewhat nomadic existence since departing Wasps in 2010 and he will be aiming to emulate Haskell, who’s been playing the best rugby of his career since returning to the club.
Not only will Cipriani have Premiership pressures to handle, this is the year to make Eddie Jones sit up and take note by proving he can be the catalyst in a title-winning team.
Last season, Cipriani looked to have tightened up defensively with better technique and a bigger appetite for the rough stuff – now the only thing holding him back from making a proper bid for the England No.10 shirt is consistency in front of goal. So the first job is to prove he’s better than Jimmy Gopperth, who starts in the 12 shirt today and has been a reliable kicker throughout his career. But Young has not brought Cipriani back to sit on the bench and even without the current midfield crisis – with injuries to Kyle Eastmond, Guy Armitage and Kurtley Beale – I believe Cipriani would have started.
Wasps proved last year they are a match at the breakdown and, with the number of tries they score,Cipriani should not be short on kicking practice. It looks a shrewd signing by Young and I’m intrigued to see if Cipriani can rediscover that consistency from his former Wasps days and really challenge the England pecking order.
Taulupe Faletau is another I’m very excited to see this season and I hope he can gel in the Bath back-row and reporoduce the form he shows every match for Wales.
His work-rate and engine are unreal for such a huge man and I’m hoping the new-look coaching panel of Todd Blackadder and Tabai Matson can get the best out of his athleticism. One of the hallmarks of Faletau is his ability to up the ante in the big matches, which must have been difficult while going from an underperforming Dragons side to the Wales lineup. In every game he produces a consistency which Bath were sorely lacking last term.
Faletau is already an established international class No.8 and this year, with more Kiwi coaching influences, I can see him establishing himself as one of the world’s very best alongside Kieran Read and Sergio Parisse.
He’s not the vocal type, but he leads with his actions and his hugely physical defence is up there with the best. This year I would like to see him develop the attacking elements and those lovely deft offloads we see on occasion. The Bath back row looks to have a nice balance with Francois Louw and Matt Garvey on the flanks, and it’s crucial Faletau can develop a good relationship with new No.9 Kahn Fotuali’i from Saints.
Saracens look good to go again this season and I’m expecting another massive campaign from Maro Itoje with Lions selection looming. He knows what is expected of him every game and he has an unerring desire to keep improving himself. A Sarries double-winner at the he age of 21, with ten England caps already, Itoje’s learning curve is limitless, and to already have the temperamant and ability to play lock or blindisde at international level is astounding.
I can see Itoje becoming the new Victor Matfield of lineout supremacy as not only is it near impossible to beat him on his own ball, his timing and tempo on opposition ball means it is rarely 100 per cent clean, allowing his team to disrupt and slow play. He has superior fitness and a very decent rugby brain and I’m glad he’s English. And although he was pinged once or twice in Australia at the breakdown, it shows to me Itoje’s intellignce as a player that he is pushing boundaries, learning what he can and can’t get away with – like Richie McCaw used to do.
The other player who could have a real impact on the Premiership this season is Matt Toomua, below. It is a massive coup by Richard Cockerill and Aaron Mauger to attract a prime Wallaby at the peak of his powers. While the Brumbies stick to quite a confined gameplan, Mauger gives his Tigers backline freedom to express themselves and will encourage Toomua to cut loose. He has the ability to play 10 or 12 at Test level so it will be interesting to see where he does play in the long-term, with Manu Tuilagi back in the mix now with his try-scoring comeback on Friday night at Kingsholm.
Saracens have moved in front over the past couple of seasons due to their incredible efficiency and consistentcy. Toomua will give that to Tigers; Faletau should do the same at Bath – the big question is can Cipriani do likewise and help Wasps win their first title since 2007-08 – the season he scored 192 points before the sickening ankle injury which derailed his career.