Saracens 19-14 Wasps

Danny Cipriani's bid for a place on the Lions tour to South Africa has been boosted a new pair of boots, designed to take the pressure off the foot he severely damaged last May.

Cipriani played in them for the first time in London Wasps' 19-14 Guinness Premiership defeat by Saracens yesterday and despite the result ending the club's defence of their league title, the match was a personal triumph for the fly-half, who was ignored by England during the Six Nations.

It was his most confident and accomplished performance of a difficult season that has seen him dropped by England after the November internationals and then struggle for form and fitness. Lingering pain from the right ankle he dislocated and broke has also been an issue which forced the 21-year-old to seek specialist help.

Cipriani decided to change the style of adidas boot he wears and has trained in a pair with a 'V-shaped' gap in at the back of the heel which reduces pressure on his Achilles tendon. It has proved such a success that he used them against Sarries to great effect, running with purpose and kicking with power.

Despite failing to feature for England in the Six Nations, Cipriani is a real contender for a Lions squad place this summer and has impressed Ian McGeechan, the Lions head coach and Wasps director of rugby.

McGeechan said: "The idea with the boots is that his foot does not suffer as much friction around the Achilles. He has been very professional this week, making sure every part of his preparation was spot on for the match.

"That was comfortably the best game I've seen Danny play since he's come back. That was pretty close to where he was last year before he got injured and I can't give him any higher praise. He needs to keep going and we need to see the fruits of that endeavour on the scoreboard for Wasps."

Cipriani, who kicked three penalties, said: "I think I have been performing well for a number of weeks. I always believed my best form would come back and it was only a question of time. I am very happy with my boots and I felt really good against Sarries."

Shaun Edwards, the Wasps head coach who will be the Lions defence coach, added: "I thought Danny was superb. I always knew he would get back to this form but thought we may have to wait until next season."

Edwards accepts the champions are now out of the play-off picture but hopes to gather enough points to finish in the top seven of the league and possibly qualify for the Heineken Cup.

He said: "We will give it everything we have got. The last time we didn't get into the Cup, in the 2002/3 season, we won the Premiership and six consecutive trophies."

McGeechan is to send a report on Saracens' use of substitutions, with prop Cencus Johnston being replaced after half an hour and then returning for the final 15 minutes, to the Rugby Football Union.

"I'm fed up with substitutions that shouldn't happen," said McGeechan who will this week speak at the International Board meeting about the effect of the experimental laws on the game.

He added: "The report will talk about the substitution area of the game. It will be confidential to me."

Saracens, despite all of the turmoil since the arrival of South African investors, are still in the hunt for a play-off place and Heineken Cup qualification. Head coach Richard Graham said: "Our attitude was fantastic. This certainly gives us a chance to make the top six."