Perfect timing from Cipriani
JOHAN ACKERMANN described Danny Cipriani as “a driven person” after he played a pivotal role in Gloucester’s victory over Castres.
Cipriani kicked 14 points and did not miss a shot at goal as Gloucester became the first English club to win a Heineken Cup game this season.
The performance also came just four days before England head coach Eddie Jones – who was in the Kingsholm crowd – announces his squad for next month’s Twickenham Tests against South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia.
Cipriani was left out of the latest England training group last month and whether Jones feels he has done enough to earn a recall will soon become clear.
“I thought Danny was good,” said Gloucester head coach Ackermann. “Previously, how I explained it, when you start building a team you build relationships. When you are fortunate to have a team with four top players in a position and you have two guys in the seat, you have to ask the question, ‘What will the third guy bring differently?’
“Eddie has made up his mind that in Owen Farrell and George Ford he has guys that play the way he wants to play and then only when he needs Danny will he bring him in.
“I would have to work with those two before I can really see the main reasons why he selects them. How many guys can you pick in one position? If you’ve got two No10s, maybe you stock up on centres, wingers or backrowers? It is more a composition of the squad than individuals.
“Danny has his relationship with Eddie, his openness, he knows where he stands. The only thing for me is that Danny does as well as he can for us and does his talking on the field.”
Asked if he was confident that Cipriani would keep performing should Jones again overlook him, Ackermann said: “One thing that stood out for me when Danny came to Gloucester was that he never spoke about England, he spoke about making Gloucester successful and us a champion side.
“I do believe, regardless of what happens in the autumn Tests, he is a driven person.
“A lot of things can change between now and the World Cup. I’m a firm believer of picking on form. You never know, in six months’ time if he is still the in-form No10, Eddie can change his mind.”
Cipriani’s points apart, Gloucster’s only try came from scrum-half Callum Braley in the first half.
Wing Martin Laveau crossed for a try and fly-half Julien Dumora booted two penalties and a drop-goal for the French champions, yet their miserable European away record now reads just four wins from 41 matches. Ackermann said: “It was close and credit to them for coming back into the contest. They were in it right to the end.
“We missed a lot of opportunities to finish them off, but we always knew they were going to be tough. They are big boys, a quality side, and they are not the French champions for nothing.
“For me, it was the character that was show, right at the end, when it needed to be – we stopped their maul and got a crucial turnover.”