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http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3...5945151,00.html
Will Carling revealed he has scrapped plans to manage Dan Cipriani because he believes the fly-half is not hungry enough about playing for England.
Carling, who captained England to three Grand Slams during the 1990s, wanted to help Cipriani get his international career "back on track".
But, after spending the last six weeks talking to Cipriani, Carling has concluded the 22-year-old's desire to reclaim the England number ten jersey "is not as strong as it needs to be".
Carling fears Cipriani could become one of English rugby's great wasted talents.
"The reason the whole concept appealed to me was that I believed here was a guy with a special talent, who desperately wanted to play for England, and maybe I could help him work things through with Wasps and England, as I know the key personnel in both camps," Carling wrote on his blog at Rucku.com.
"I have spent the last six weeks trying to focus Danny and, without laying the blame at anyone's door, the main reason that I have decided not to go ahead is that I do not believe that Danny's focus is on playing for England.
"That and that alone was my main motivation for getting involved with him. It is not about money and certainly not about profile, it was about helping him earn the England number ten shirt.
"And, rightly or wrongly, I have concluded that his desire to earn that shirt is not as strong as I want it to be and as strong as it needs to be."
Carling consulted manager Martin Johnson, Wasps head coach Shaun Edwards and former internationals Josh Lewsey and Matt Dawson during the process.
Johnson told Carling that, despite speculation of a fall-out, he had not written Cipriani off.
The consensus of opinion Carling gathered was Cipriani is a "great talent" but with an "ability to alienate team-mates".
"I sincerely hope that it is not a talent that is never fulfilled in an England shirt but I worry that might be the case and I just hope that sometime soon Danny focuses on England and the hard work that will be necessary to earn his place in the team," Carling continued.
Cipriani won his last England cap off the bench against New Zealand in the 2008 autumn internationals, since when his representative appearances have been restricted to the second-string Saxons.
Cipriani's Wasps contract expires in the summer and the club will announce next week whether he features in their plans for next season.
Cipriani has been in contact with the new Super 15 franchise Melbourne Rebels, a move that would halt his international career.
Will Carling revealed he has scrapped plans to manage Dan Cipriani because he believes the fly-half is not hungry enough about playing for England.
Carling, who captained England to three Grand Slams during the 1990s, wanted to help Cipriani get his international career "back on track".
But, after spending the last six weeks talking to Cipriani, Carling has concluded the 22-year-old's desire to reclaim the England number ten jersey "is not as strong as it needs to be".
Carling fears Cipriani could become one of English rugby's great wasted talents.
"The reason the whole concept appealed to me was that I believed here was a guy with a special talent, who desperately wanted to play for England, and maybe I could help him work things through with Wasps and England, as I know the key personnel in both camps," Carling wrote on his blog at Rucku.com.
"I have spent the last six weeks trying to focus Danny and, without laying the blame at anyone's door, the main reason that I have decided not to go ahead is that I do not believe that Danny's focus is on playing for England.
"That and that alone was my main motivation for getting involved with him. It is not about money and certainly not about profile, it was about helping him earn the England number ten shirt.
"And, rightly or wrongly, I have concluded that his desire to earn that shirt is not as strong as I want it to be and as strong as it needs to be."
Carling consulted manager Martin Johnson, Wasps head coach Shaun Edwards and former internationals Josh Lewsey and Matt Dawson during the process.
Johnson told Carling that, despite speculation of a fall-out, he had not written Cipriani off.
The consensus of opinion Carling gathered was Cipriani is a "great talent" but with an "ability to alienate team-mates".
"I sincerely hope that it is not a talent that is never fulfilled in an England shirt but I worry that might be the case and I just hope that sometime soon Danny focuses on England and the hard work that will be necessary to earn his place in the team," Carling continued.
Cipriani won his last England cap off the bench against New Zealand in the 2008 autumn internationals, since when his representative appearances have been restricted to the second-string Saxons.
Cipriani's Wasps contract expires in the summer and the club will announce next week whether he features in their plans for next season.
Cipriani has been in contact with the new Super 15 franchise Melbourne Rebels, a move that would halt his international career.