Cipriani: 'I deserved the axe but I'll return a stronger player'

The 21-year-old has paid the price for his part in the record 42-6 defeat by South Africa and admitted Martin Johnson is right to leave him out of the XV for Saturday's match, which will see Toby Flood play at fly-half.

Cipriani says he has struggled to recapture his best form since returning from a broken ankle last month but is sure it is only a matter of time before he comes good.

The London Wasps No10, who will be on the replacements' bench at Twickenham, said: "I am disappointed, but if I was the coach I'd have made the same decision. I didn't make it easy for the coaches to pick me again and there is a lot more to come from me and I am just feeling my way back into things. I expect a lot more of myself.

"Last week wasn't the best and it's only my seventh game after the injury. I spoke to Shaun Edwards (Wasps' head coach) and he told me it took 10 games after his first major injury to get back into things.

"Mentally, I feel fine and I have a different job against New Zealand and have to make sure I am fresh when I come off the bench. I don't think it was a case of asking too much too soon after the injury and I made it clear I wanted to be back as soon as possible. I felt good against Australia but it didn't go to plan against South Africa.

"It's a learning curve and people who understand rugby realise that. My confidence is not going to dip and I know what I can produce. I didn't expect to be a world-class player seven games into my return but I did expect to be producing some sort of form and it's only been in glimpses. I'm going to make sure that when I am back at Wasps I am consistent."

Cipriani believes he will play some part against New Zealand and said: "If I come on I would love to score the winning try. I am going to analyse my matches in this series and learn from them."

Team manager Johnson insisted the young No10 still had a "huge international future".

Johnson said: "He [Cipriani] has been inconsistent in games but you have to recognise that most guys wouldn't be on the pitch at just 21.

"We have been realistic about his comeback from injury and he did fantastically well to do it in such a short space of time."

Lock Simon Shaw has lost his place to Nick Kennedy while flanker Tom Rees, despite being outstanding against South Africa, makes way for Michael Lipman.

Johnson said: "Tom had his best game of the series but has started in all three of them and Michael is fresh."