Cipriani has earned his England reprieve through his own fine endeavours for Sale, helping the Cheshire club to a qualify for Europe in sixth position, as well as through the rotten luck that has deprived Stuart Lancaster of three fly-halves for the series opener at Eden Park – Farrell, of Saracens, and Northampton’s Stephen Myler, both of whom are involved in the Aviva Premiership final on May 31, and now Ford. Farrell and Myler will be available for the two remaining Tests.