Cipriani vows to stay grounded after first taste of the high life

Four days on from that astonishing first Test start against Ireland at the climax of the RBS Six Nations, the 20-year-old Wasps fly half is already becoming accustomed to the demands of his instant celebrity status.

Everyone wants a piece of the pretender to Wilkinson's title as the nation's rugby darling. But he is taking deep breaths and trying to remain level-headed, thanks in part to the fabled no-ego culture at his club.

Just in case he threatened to become too big for his prodigious boots so soon, Cipriani knows there are plenty of people on standby to put him in his place.

"Saturday was phenomenal. I really enjoyed it and it was one of the best moments of my life, but I can't get carried away by it," he said.

Ian McGeechan, Wasps' director of rugby, and Shaun Edwards, the head coach, congratulated him, but Cipriani added: "Shaun is not one to go on too much about it, neither is Geech. They told me to get my head right and get my Wasps head on. Shaun's way is to tell you where you've gone wrong. He likes to hammer the England boys a bit when they get back to make sure they're in Wasps mode."

The wonder boy is already wise enough to recognise that outside elements — of which there will be an increasing number — should not be allowed to detract from the business at hand.

"I'm going to have to find the balance," he said. "I'll stay focused on my rugby.

"It's my job and I'll never get away from that. Hopefully I'll get the right people in place to help manage the attention.

"I'll look to do things that I can relate to my rugby. As soon as you lose sight of your main focus, which is playing rugby, that's when things go downhill. There's no worry about me losing focus."

While his audacious display at Twickenham won him many admirers, Cipriani insists he has to improve 'every aspect' of his game. But he is already excited about the idea of going to New Zealand with England in June.

"Naturally I think about the summer tour — it's part of my dream," he said. "Playing against Dan Carter would be amazing but I have to keep playing well for Wasps to make sure I get back in that position."

Danny Cipriani was speaking at the launch of Rugby Expo, the world's first global business-to-business rugby convention.