Graphic: Cipriani's bad timing

Danny Cipriani’s propensity for having kicks charged down and gifting tries to opponents, could be rectified by learning from American football. That is the opinion of Jon Callard, England’s kicking coach, who last year watched sides start to target the 21-year-old’s weakness.

The issue has come to a head again after the London Wasps fly half twice had attempted clearances blocked in the 24-18 Guinness Premiership win over Harlequins on Sunday. The second occasion led to the concession of a five-metre scrum and a penalty try. Shaun Edwards, the Wasps head coach, admitted that it had become a “real issue” for club and country and was a habit that needed to be broken as a matter of urgency.

Cipriani, who is on the verge of agreeing a new contract at Wasps worth between £170,000 and £200,000 a year, as The Times revealed yesterday, has in seven internationals for England handed scores to Italy, the Pacific Islanders and South Africa.

After the defeat by the Springboks in November, Martin Johnson, the team manager, said: “We have to deal with that because teams will target us in that area until we can put it to bed.”

Edwards admonished Cipriani for being too slow and taking too many steps in clearing the ball and for failing to generate sufficient trajectory on his kicks. He said the tendency for kickers to adopt the drop punt — when a ball is kicked end-over-end, rather than in the traditional spiral manner — is a part of the problem. “I think the drop punt is a nightmare for defensive coaches because it is much easier to charge down,” Edwards said.

Callard said yesterday that he is keen to work with Cipriani to eradicate the fault when England reconvene later this month and indicated that the NFL may hold the answer. “When you receive the ball on the back foot and under severe pressure, you need to have a snap and then to get the ball away within one pace, like they do in American football.”

He believes that Cipriani, who also works privately on his kicking with Dave Alred, Jonny Wilkinson’s guru, is feeling his way back after his serious ankle injury and that may be a contributory factor. “Some players like two or three steps to get into their kicking stride,” Callard said. “If your confidence is sapped and you are struggling for a good connection, you would probably like to have a little bit more time on the ball to make a good contact.”

Cipriani is not the only guilty party at Wasps. Eoin Reddan and Riki Flutey had kicks charged down in the 41-11 Heineken Cup defeat away to Leinster in October. “Charge-downs have been a nightmare for us this season,” Edwards said.

The Leicester board will meet on Thursday to discuss changing the club’s second head coach within a year. Marcelo Loffreda’s contract was terminated last June after the Argentinian had been in the job for no more than seven months and now Leicester must plan for the possibility that Heyneke Meyer’s stay will last no longer.

The South African returned to Johannesburg last week because his wife’s parents are seriously ill. Rumours abound that he will remain there and return to the Bulls.

Meyer agreed a three-year contract with Leicester last June and the club are prepared to give him as long as he needs to resolve his family situation, but, in the middle of a hectic season in which costs must be pared to the bone, they cannot remain in coaching limbo. Richard Cockerill, the former England hooker who played for Leicester for a decade, has grown in stature as a coach and is a realistic contender for the top job on a permanent basis.

Luke Abraham, the Sale Sharks flanker, has been banned for two weeks for striking Alex Crockett, the Bath centre, with his head during the Premiership match at the Recreation Ground on December 20.

Roger Wilson, the Northampton No 8, has been suspended for five weeks for a dangerous tackle on Will Skinner, the Harlequins flanker, and will not play again until February 10.