"Jonny dislocated his knee cap in a ruck and when did you last see that happen?
"Back rowers get hit like that all the time without suffering a similar injury.
"Danny was involved in a normal tackle and was left looking at his ankle wondering whose it was because of the unusual angle it was left in. That was a freak of nature.
"I need a full 80 minutes and, hopefully, I will be able to step up the level of my performance beyond last season.
"With Brian Smith [former Irish director of rugby] now in charge of the England backs, I know the way he likes to play.
"He wants to keep the ball alive and keep defences guessing.
"I am sure Brian can translate that from the Premiership to the international stage and we saw some of the ideas he was bringing in during or first squad get-together."
While Quins have been defeating Scarlets and Ulster in the Heineken Cup, the Irish have been disposing of lesser lights in the European Challenge Cup, with Rovigo hammered 78-3 and Connacht defeated 27-10 on their own ground.
With Mike Catt, their backs coach, only now coming back from injury problems of his own, Irish have been short of options at No10, which makes Geraghty's first start all the more welcome.
Quins have rested No9 Danny Care in recognition of the England games on the horizon and have also given captain Will Skinner and a host of first-team regulars a break.
London Wasps have, however, selected Cipriani for tonight's EDF Cup match at Newcastle, because he needs as much playing time as possible.
Cipriani also acknowledges the need for the Premiership champions to start winning again after a poor start in which they have won only two matches.
He said: "This is a massive game for us. It is a chance for us to refocus and go out and show ourselves as the strong side that we are."
Lock Simon Shaw is given a break along with captain Rafael Ibanez and scrum-half Eoin Reddan, so England flanker Tom Rees leads a team that features Jeremy Staunton at centre and Mark van Gisbergen back at full-back after injury.
Saracens are home to Northampton in the Cup on Sunday and welcome back Adam Powell, David Seymour and Tom Ryder to the squad.
Powell and Seymour both return after knee injuries, while Ryder has been on loan with Taranaki in New Zealand.
Springbok prop Cobus Visagie makes his first start of the season in his 100th appearance for the club and England captain Steve Borthwick plays his final match before linking up with the national squad for the November internationals. Andy Farrell captains the side from inside centre.
