Cipriani making both teams tense at No10
DANNY CIPRIANI has South Africa running scared ahead of his return to the England No10 jersey at Newlands today.
The Springboks have a 3-0 series sweep in their sights but admit they are concerned about England’s mercurial playmaker, who is back after a 10-year absence as a starting stand-off.
“I’m nervous with him at 10 – he’s making us nervous,” said South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus. “He’s going to test us with his little kicks and late passes and late picking of lines to put people through holes. It’s going to be a hell of a test.
“I like characters in the game. If there aren’t characters like Danny in the game all the kids are robots. I like when people bring something to the party and it spices the game up.”
The mystery element Cipriani will bring to England extends to Eddie Jones’s side as well, with captain Owen Farrell crossing his fingers their new combination will work.
Jones says he picked Cipriani for his leftfooted kicking option, with Farrell beside him in the No12 jersey able to boot the ball off his right, and Cipriani is looking forward to seeing how their partnership can blossom.
“He’s an extremely talented guy, very driven, you see how he leads and MYSTERY: Cipriani to return after 10-year break how he plays with his heart on his sleeve,” Cipriani said of Farrell. “It’s exciting to try to get some good chemistry within that, getting the balance right, and I feel like we’re getting that. “It has gone really well in training and I know on Saturday that vibe is going to be there as both of us have that same bigger picture and want England to do well. That’s what it comes down to. “I think one of the great parts about rugby is having to work and learn with different players. Constantly as a 10 you’re trying to think about the best solution.” IN CAPE TOWN EDDIE JONES is back where he started with England both in terms of morale and geography ahead of today’s third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. It was here on Africa’s southern tip that he met with Ian Ritchie, thenchief executive of the Rugby Football Union two and a half years ago, and was asked to restore a side on its knees after a dismal home World Cup.
Jones was eight days into a new job as coach of the Stormers, looking forward to a new life in one of the world’s most photogenic cities.
The challenge – and the £750,000 salary – was too much to resist.
With his natural chutzpah, Jones injected the confidence and direction England needed, turning them around in a flash. But, back in the shadow of Table Mountain today, the glory days have faded.
If the Springboks complete a series whitewash at Newlands today, England will hit a 12-year low for successive losses.
“I woke up this morning, looked at Table Mountain and thought: ‘It’s a nice place’ – particularly when you’re on top, not so much when you’re looking from the bottom, so we need to get back on top,” said Jones.
“We’re a committed team but at the moment we have a young team that is struggling a little bit. Everyone knows we are struggling.
“We don’t have enough experience. We won two Six Nations with sides that had 750 caps. You win a World Cup with 1,300 caps.
“We have a team with 400-450 caps and that’s why at times we struggle to make the right decisions and to have the right composure.
“We went through a great period with a settled senior team. We don’t have that now. We are going through this renewal period and it’s tough.
“Someone has to take the team through it and I’m taking it through.”
Jones’s argument does not hold up. England’s starting line-up today contains 552 caps, South Africa’s 346 and one man – Tendai Mtawarira – accounts for 100 of those. It is not