With the new English season still young, and his Sale side scoring a lot of tries but playing erratically, does he think he has done enough to make the squad?
"Everyone's got their role to play in it," he says.
Even if his international career has not been all it seemed it might be six years ago, public interest in him has not waned. Last week, former England coach Sir Clive Woodward said Cipriani would be his first choice at first five-eighths, moving Farrell to second-five.
The layman's view of Cipriani is that he should have achieved more over the last six years - that he got picked for England as a 20-year-old, started going out with Kelly Brook, became more interested in fame than he did in playing rugby and took his foot off the gas. The truth, as always, is more layered.
It was an ankle injury, rather than the tabloid cameras, that forced him from the England team and he returned to a new national management set-up under Martin Johnson, who had different ideas.
"Circumstances come into play, don't they?" he suggests. "The injury stopped me going on tour to New Zealand as No1. I've got ultimate respect for Martin Johnson but he was looking at a different route. So I went to Australia to Super Rugby to improve on my game. My personal life wasn't an issue. It was highlighted by the press but it wasn't fame that affected me. It was being young and not taking control of your day-to-day training.
"I'm not saying I didn't make any mistakes. It's just my mistakes were a lot more public. I don't know many 21-year-olds who ever get the world suddenly at their feet and are capable of analysing it, reflecting on it and always making the right decisions.
"Getting back in the England squad was a massive plus for me. Then playing for England against New Zealand, I felt comfortable out there, against the All Blacks."
The road ahead now, for all players not assured of their place at next year's World Cup, is a beguiling one. England will play next month's internationals and another Six Nations between now and the World Cup. There will be more than one opportunity for players to force themselves into the squad.
"You can't think about the competition and what they offer. You need to keep trying to be the best at the type of player you are.
"The coaching staff have it spot on. They're very diligent with their analysis. I learned an awful lot working with them over the summer. And I want to be part of it."
- The Independent
