Clamour for Cipriani

The issue topped the head coach's agenda at last night's selection meeting.

He has to decide whether he can afford to keep the 20-year-old Londoner on the bench with England needing to do more than merely beat Scotland on Saturday if they are to reduce the likelihood of Wales winning the title on points difference.

James Simpson-Daniel's 11thhour summons points to him revving up the attacking options.

While Ashton will agonise over whether the time has come to change hookers — dropping Mark Regan and rewarding Lee Mears for his patience — the more intriguing decision will be at full back where he has stood foursquare behind Iain Balshaw.

Having excluded Josh Lewsey from the entire championship hitherto, Ashton's reluctance to make a further change has been put to the test by the nature of England's wins in Rome and Paris.

Jonny Wilkinson's recovery from the fleeting crisis of last month's collapse against Wales has ended the argument at fly half, at least for the time being.

Unless Ashton redefines his view of Cipriani as a fly half first and last, the best young English back of his generation is likely to sit out most of the remaining fortnight without adding to 20 minutes in the centre against Wales and 13 more at stand off against Italy.

Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan began the clamour for Cipriani to be redeployed as full back three weeks ago, urging England to do as the former European champions did last season. Lawrence Dallaglio duly followed suit and now head coach Shaun Edwards has joined in — wearing his Wasps hat as opposed to his Welsh one.

"Danny is an option for England at 15 and, if I was picking the team, I would contemplate that," said Edwards. "But it's not my job to tell Brian what to do and that's something I wouldn't dream of doing. I know Brian really likes him as a 10 and that's his choice. It's pretty clear that he will end up playing there for England but, in the meantime, full back is a logical alternative."

Cipriani at full back would remove the need for England to pick a specialist goalkicker on the bench as cover for Wilkinson. That would make room for Ashton to double his strike reinforcements by putting Simpson-Daniel alongside Mathew Tait among the substitutes.

Scotland responded to a second row shortage yesterday by sending for their most-capped player, Scott Murray. The 87-Test veteran joined uncapped Edinburgh lock Craig Hamilton after injury prevented Nathan Hines and Scott MacLeod from taking any part in training.

Centre Nick De Luca has been ruled out because of a sprained ankle.