Cipriani dives over to score against the Islanders at Twickenham last weekend © Getty Images

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Preview: England v Australia - Match Pack

Matches: England 14 - 28 Australia

Players/Officials: Danny Cipriani

Teams: England

England fly-half Danny Cipriani faces the biggest challenge of his burgeoning Test career against Australia tomorrow and he predicted a ferocious encounter.

Cipriani will make his third Test start against the Wallabies having guided England to victories over Ireland in the Six Nations and the Pacific Islanders last week. But a Wallabies side containing the bewitching skills of fly-half Matt Giteau, the breakdown brilliance of George Smith and the power-running of captain Stirling Mortlock poses an altogether different threat.

Cipriani has been told it is vital he "fronts up" in defence against the Wallabies if he is to develop into a world class fly-half. But the 21-year-old has been waiting for this moment and insists he is ready.

"It is going to be a ferocious game. It is going to be massive," said Cipriani. "When I was younger I used to watch the big three (Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) when they came over and I used to look forward to watching it, never mind playing in it. Now I can't wait to take the field and be part of the England side with the guys."

Cipriani rated his performance against the Islanders last week at just five out of 10. Against Giteau, who ranks alongside Dan Carter as the best fly-half in Test rugby, Cipriani will be able to judge just how far he is from being world class.

"You find out what you are about when you play these guys," said England manager Martin Johnson. "I am glad Danny marked himself low. It means he has expectations of himself to play a lot better. We have expectations like that as a team."

While he was entirely at fault for the charge-down which led to the Islanders' early try, Cipriani knows he must up his game against the Wallabies. "There is a lot for me to improve on, things like communication with (scrum-half) Danny Care and (inside centre) Riki Flutey," he said. "There is a lot of responsibility on Danny and I this weekend to make sure our forwards are playing in the right areas. I think we have a better understanding of how we can move forward and hopefully I can help the guys do that."