Jonny Wilkinson said in his most recent book, Tackling Life, that he had found peace through reading a combination of quantum physics and the teaching of Buddha, not by winning a World Cup. Now, just as everyone would seek to pit the rising star, Danny Cipriani, against him, the England fly half has transcended expectations.

Wilkinson said yesterday that the thought of a return to the England team is not what is motivating him in his latest comeback from injury, his dislocated left knee that is likely to keep him out until March, and that Cipriani, of London Wasps, is a worthy successor.

“The key for me is going out there and playing without fear and being the best I can be,” Wilkinson, 29. “If I'm being the best I can be, there is nothing else. It's irrelevant being an England player or not. If I wanted to play for England, I could maybe get back in there like I did before, and I could hang in there for a bit and not really enjoy myself.

“I could squeeze through a few games and spend the end of the week slumming into my pillow and [trying to] find a way to get through, not get much sleep and work towards the next one, finish my career and work out what to do with myself. Or I can have a fantastic time, with whichever team I'm with, trying to help them get better, and let the best of me come out.”

Wilkinson was generous in his praise of Cipriani, who is battling Toby Flood, Wilkinson's former team-mate at Newcastle Falcons, for the No 10 shirt. “Danny's an explosive character who burst on to the scene with a huge amount of talent, and that talent is ready to come out,” Wilkinson said. “He's played a hell of a lot for his club and he's played under seriously high pressure. I'm expecting him to be outstanding. I've been in the squad when he's been playing and he's incredibly authoritative, he knows what he wants, and that's a great sign of a guy in a decision-making position.”

Jannie du Plessis was celebrating his 26th birthday at home with some of his “mum's Sunday afternoon best” when he was called up by South Africa. One brother's misfortune is another's opportunity, as Jannie, the tight-head prop, gets his chance because of the thigh injury to his younger sibling, Bismarck,whose place at hooker will be taken by John Smit, the captain.

Du Plessis is one of two changes, enforced by injuries, to the XV that scraped past Scotland 14-10 last Saturday. Danie Rossouw, the No 8, replaces Juan Smith, who was concussed against Scotland, as open-side flanker in the other change. The uncapped flanker, Heinrich Brussow, and Chiliboy Ralepelle, the prop, move up to the bench.

Fourie du Preez, the scrum half, may not have recovered from a quadriceps injury, but South Africa have seven of their 2007 World Cup final XV starters, compared with England's three.