WHY WON’T ENGLAND PICK CIPRIANI?
After yet another dazzling season, everyone is asking...
DANNY Cipriani will find out in the next 48 hours if his dazzling auditions over recent years will lead to the England recall he craves.
There is a sense that a make- or- break moment looms for the highly talented playmaker who remains unfulfilled in terms of international recognition.
His cause is being championed far and wide after a storming end to the domestic campaign for Wasps, but national coach Eddie Jones won’t be swayed by the noises from public and pundits.
The Australian has not picked Cipriani so far but the evidence in support of doing so has been stacking up of late. Last Saturday, the latest powerful statement came in the form of a try, two assists and a swashbuckling man-ofthe-match display as Wasps swept past Newcastle at Kingston Park.
A week earlier, the 30-yearold delivered a performance of breathtaking attacking class and audacity as Northampton were swamped. These were not freakish occurrences but an extension of normal service from a No 10 sorcerer tormenting opponents with his distribution, his awareness, clever kicks and chips, outside breaks — the whole box of tricks. In addition, the old gripes about defensive lapses have long since faded.
This observer picked Cipriani as the Premiership’s leading fly-half of the season. Most other neutrals have done the same. In these pages yesterday, World Cupwinning former England head coach Sir Clive Woodward claimed it would be a ‘ disgrace’ if Cipriani is not given a chance to add to his 14 caps in South Africa next month.
Ex-players now working as TV pundits have queued up to bang the drum on Cipriani’s behalf. Nick Kennedy described him as the ‘ best attacking 10 in the league’, adding: ‘I would get him on the plane to SA. He would get the back line firing.’
David Flatman echoed that sentiment, saying: ‘ Cipriani could light England up.’ Will Greenwood added: ‘ My Premiership Team of the Year: Danny Cipriani makes the XV — will England take note?’ Alex Corbisiero offered a firm endorsement, saying: ‘ He offers something no one else in the league does. Give him a run.’
Jones has been regularly quizzed about omitting Cipriani. Having initially suggested there were performance shortcomings, he then hinted at different factors, saying: ‘I don’t judge any player just as a player. I select a team that can work together. I’m looking at every aspect of how they behave.’
However, whatever his misgivings, he has always kept the door ajar.
From an early age, Cipriani has been prepared to speak up in relation to tactics or training workloads or myriad issues within a club or national team set-up. That has sometimes put noses out of joint. In his early years, there were concerns about a celebrity lifestyle, but those have receded. Gone are the excesses and controversies. For several years, he has been dedicated to his profession. The upshot has been consistency, first at Sale and latterly at Wasps.
Now he hopes to have another shot with England but knows time is running out. He has yet to decide where he will play from next season. There are understood to be offers from France and Japan, as well as interest from two leading English clubs. Potential Test opportunities will be a priority factor in the decisionmaking process. If Jones opens the door for an international comeback, three years after Cipriani last played for his country, it is likely he would stay in the Premiership.
England’s tour squad is due to be announced on Thursday morning. Whether Owen Farrell is taken to South Africa or rested may come into the selection equation. But no matter who else makes the cut, Cipriani has done enough to prove there should be a place for his match-winning wizardry, even if George Ford and Farrell are both included. Meanwhile, ex-England head coach Stuart Lancaster has ruled out taking charge at Harlequins as a replacement for director of rugby John Kingston. Lancaster, who has rebuilt his reputation as an assistant with Leinster, said yesterday: ‘I’ve had no communication from Quins and I am 100 per cent committed to Leinster.’