The Rebels thrashed Tonga 43-13 in their first trial game on Saturday night but Cipriani, who after the game was allowed to talk to the media for the first time since joining the Rebels last year, had limited impact in the 40 minutes he played.

Cipriani and former Western Force player James Hilgendorf, who played the second half, are competing for the No.10 jersey. Rebels coach Rod Macqueen could choose to play Cipriani at fullback, where he spent some time in English rugby, but the 23-year-old has said he prefers playing five-eighth.

Cipriani was hailed as England's long-term replacement for Jonny Wilkinson during his seven Test career up to 2008, but a loss of form resulted in his omission from the national squad. He then became regular tabloid fodder in England because of his celebrity lifestyle.

The Australian-born Lipman, who played for England alongside Cipriani, said both the flashy English import and Hilgendorf has shown the skills during pre-season to take the No.10 jersey.

''He and Jimmy Hilgendorf have got really good leadership qualities,'' said Lipman, who joined a growing injury list for the Rebels when he suffered rib cartilage damage at training last Monday.

Cipriani said there had been ''no inkling'' as to Macqueen's thinking but was confident he could lead the team around the field.

''I think with the position I play at five-eighth you always end up being a leader in some way because it's kind of like the quarterback on the field, you've got to get the team moving and get the plays moving,'' Cipriani said. ''Since I was young that was something that was put on me by a lot of my coaches, and that's something I've worked on a lot.''

The Rebels have put Cipriani in cotton wool since he arrived in Melbourne to keep him from the pressures he faced in Britain but he has still hit the social pages several times.

''I've had that since I was 18 so I'm dealing with it now,'' he said. ''It is what it is, and you've just got to deal with it. A lot of people will write whatever they want to write but you've just got to carry on with your job at the end of the day and do the best you can.

''That [media ban] was down to the coach to make that decision. It's obviously helped me and helped the situation, and I trust in his [Macqueen's] experience. [He's] a man who's won the World Cup, he's been in winning teams and he's had winning businesses so he knows the structure of winning.''

Meanwhile, Lipman said there was no panic among the squad about the amount of work still required before the Rebels play the NSW Waratahs in the Super Rugby season opener next month.

''There's … no panic buttons or anything like that,'' he said. ''Four games is more than enough trials.''

Hilgendorf said he hoped to be fit for Friday night's second trial against Tonga. The Rebels already have Stirling Mortlock (back), Adam Freier (back), Julian Huxley (osteitis pubis), Luke Rooney (calf) and Sam Cordingley (hip) on the sidelines.