CIP SNUB ‘BEGGARS BELIEF’

Lions legend stunned at Jones move

EDDIE JONES has been blasted for claiming he axed Danny Cipriani from his England squad for rugby reasons. Jones insisted Cipriani’s conviction for assault had nothing to do with his omission. But British & Irish Lions legend Brian O’Driscoll tweeted: “This PcAaGll EbSeg?g?a-r?s? belief, if

you’re to believe it’s ‘based on form’. Eddie owning headlines these days – some his doing, some not!”

Fly-half Cipriani played a match-winning role in England’s last outing on what had been his first Test start for 10 years.

Since then, he has inspired Gloucester to an unbeaten start.

And Jones bizarrely pointed to Cipriani’s sparkling club form to justify his controversial exclusion.

The one – notable – blot on his copybook has been that recent assault conviction.

Yet, a year to the day from the start of the World Cup, Jones insisted his decision was based “100 per cent” on playing form.