Sport

Danny Cipriani must oust George Ford and Owen Farrell to reignite his England career.

Eddie Jones omitted Cipriani from England's training camp squad and the Elite Player Squad (EPS) on Friday, then challenged the Wasps playmaker to raise his performance levels.

Cipriani won the last of his 14 England caps in August 2015 and has not featured at all under head coach Jones.

Now Australian boss Jones has admitted he does not consider the 28-year-old as a back-up squad option, after promoting Saracens' 23-year-old Alex Lozowski into his 45-man EPS.

"I had a number of difficult conversations yesterday," said Jones of informing a host of players they had been overlooked for selection.

"Danny knows what he's got to do.

"Look he's a talented player but I said it quite clearly to him. At the moment he's not one or two in England in terms of stand-offs.

"We see George (Ford) and Owen (Farrell) together as one and two. They are 23 and 24 years old, they are the heart of the England side.

"They can organise the team, they are tactically smart.

"So for Cipriani to get into the squad he's got to be able to show he can be number one."