Johnson: Cipriani still has England desire

England manager Martin Johnson believes Danny Cipriani still has the hunger to play international rugby.

Will Carling revealed on Friday he had scrapped plans to manage Cipriani after concluding the 22-year-old lacked the drive to reclaim the England fly-half jersey.

But Johnson said: "I think Danny wants to play for England. He tells me he wants to play for England."

He added: "I spoke to Will, he told me what he was trying to do and he has since told me he is not doing it any more.

"If in the opinion of Will he doesn't have the focus he deems necessary, that is strictly Will's opinion."

Cipriani's last cap was off the bench against New Zealand in 2008, since when his representative rugby has been limited to the second-string Saxons.

Cipriani has fallen behind Jonny Wilkinson, Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty in the fly-half pecking order and he was forced to play at full-back for the Saxons against Italy A last weekend.