It would be easy to pigeonhole the confrontation between Ronan O’Gara and Danny Cipriani as a master facing a pupil, the present versus the future. That is too simplistic. In the unforgiving environment of international rugby, you are either good enough or not. Experience is crucial but so, too, is talent.

The fly halves have faced each other twice this season in the Heineken Cup, with the ledger even, one win apiece. O’Gara is the gnarled 30-year-old veteran who is leading his country for the first time, who has been through it all and, in the past 12 months, has become Ireland’s most valuable player. Opposite him is Cipriani, the new gunslinger, a 20-year-old of precocious ability in his first start for England, who has the knack of making rugby look ridiculously easy. Already he has proved to be a maverick.

O’Gara plays within a more structured game plan, based on forward control, which allows him to dictate via one of the most potent boots in the world. In the swamp of Thomond Park in January, O’Gara was in his element as Munster ended London Wasps’ interest in Europe’s premier club competition. Cipriani could only look on admiringly.

O’Gara is not flashy or overly quick but is tough and effective and hassuccessfully expanded his repertoire. England talk of bolting on an expansive game to their traditional forward strength and view Cipriani as the catalyst. He has all the basic skills and possesses the belief, confidence and pace to look beyond the obvious. He is unflappable. Nothing fazes him. If he makes a mistake, it is instantly erased.

Today it will be a question of England adapting to him and what he brings, as Wasps have done. Otherwise why pick him? “Danny’s running game is very, very powerful and one on one he is very dangerous,” Ian McGeechan, the London Wasps director of rugby, said. “He is big and strong and he can attack defences. Our own back row love him because they can follow him in as a target or wait for an offload. The England back row will have to be very aware of what is required to play with Danny. He will have demanded what he wants from the forwards.”

Brian Ashton, who has witnessed his development at first hand, speaks of the authority Cipriani exudes. “He has been very vocal, which is part of his role,” the England head coach said this week. “He has called some of the senior guys lazy and they have responded. The key thing is what happens when the game kicks off and he has to do that in the heat of battle. You never know with any player, but my bet is he will do it out on the field.

“I don’t believe one player can take a game by the scruff of the neck — a group of players can. But Danny has to stand on his own two feet at No 10 and make the calls about where and how we play things. He has a maverick element that has been controlled pretty well by Wasps into some good decision-making. I would hate to see the maverick streak disappear.”

Eddie O’Sullivan is equally effusive about O’Gara. “He is well capable of managing the team,” the Ireland coach said. “He has captained Munster and it has not hurt his game. He has filled a senior player’s role and been the leader of the team unofficially. He is in a position where he is going to have to make more decisions. But he is captain material. I have no problem at all.”

And the man himself, who does a good line in the casual shrug and understatement? He is keen that his Ireland at least try to lift their spirits. “This weekend will be all about going out to have a go, express ourselves,” O’Gara said. “Let’s go and play and if we are beaten by a better team, accept that. Last weekend [against Wales], we didn’t play rugby.”

Tale of No 10s

Danny Cipriani

Born November 2, 1987 in Roehampton, London

School Whitgift, Croydon

Club London Wasps

Caps 2

High point Being chosen for his first full cap against Scotland

Low point Dropped within 24 hours of that selection for visiting a nightclub

Ronan O'Gara

Born March 7, 1977 in San Diego, California

School Presentation Brothers College, Cork

Province Munster

Caps 81

High point Scored all his team's points in famous 17-12 win over South Africa in November 2004

Low point World Cup in 2007, for several reasons