STARS BACK CIPRIANI
England coach urged to stick by Gloucester star, »
JAMES Simpson-daniel reckons it would be premature and harsh for England to ditch Danny Cipriani after he was arrested following a nightclub incident this week.
The altercation, which saw the Gloucester fly-half fined £2,000 after pleading guilty to common assault and resisting arrest and pay £250 to a female police officer who was injured, has led to a debate over whether he will play for England again.
Cipriani was brought out of the international wilderness when he was named in England’s squad for the summer tour in South Africa, making his first start in 10 years in the final Test, but was warned by Eddie Jones about his future conduct.
However, former Gloucester and England wing Simpson-daniel does not believe Cipriani’s actions would warrant the axe.
“I’ve talked to a couple of the lads at Gloucester and from what I understand a bit more has been made out about it than what actually happened. It’s been blown out of proportion a little bit,” said Simpson-daniel.”
“At first you’re thinking it’s horrible but when you hear a bit more I do think it’s been blown up because he’s a high profile player and he’s been known for his off-field stuff previously.
“The fact that the club came out and they’re supporting Danny tells me again that the incident isn’t as serious as some of the tabloids make it look.
“The way I view things is quite simple. If the club are behind you I don’t see why your country would be against you.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Eddie contacts Cips or contacts Johan (Ackermann, Gloucester head coach) and if he’s happy with what they say I think he will proceed as normal.
“I think it would be premature and harsh for him to be out of the squad for this incident.
“What it has shown is he can’t afford to have anything crop up in the near future.
“If something else happens in the coming months people will understandably be calling for his head.”
» What next for Cipriani and Gloucester?
Cipriani is yet to play for Gloucester having joined in the summer from Wasps and was on a night out with the team during the pre-season tour to Jersey when the incident happened.
He has been charged by the RFU with “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game”, while Gloucester have said they will deal with it in a “robust but balanced way” and that Cipriani “will receive our full support.”
Cipriani did not play in Saturday’s friendly against Ulster but it is thought he would’ve sat that game out anyway as he joined the club late in pre-season due to England duty.
Simpson-daniel believes the squad will stick together to ensure they are not thrown off course with the new season just two weeks away but has warned Cipriani not to put himself in a similar situation in future.
He said: “They can’t allow that to creep in and become a distraction. They will be saying let’s stick together as a group and move on. He’s said sorry so I don’t think it will be a distraction for these guys.
“I think there will be banter and they will probably be saying ‘can you believe how big this is?’
“If it’s your average Joe Bloggs it’s not making the local paper never mind the nationals. Everything he does is micro analysed.
“He could go out in Cheltenham and people will stop him, they’ll want pictures and people will try to wind him up so he’s got to know how to react and keep his cool.”
» What are others saying about Cipriani’s England future?
Former Gloucester and England stars Phil Vickery and Mike Tindall are among those who believe Cipriani should remain part of Eddie Jones’ plans.
However, former England World Cup winning coach Clive Woodward believes it is the final straw for a player who has courted controversy in the past.
After Cipriani’s recall to the England squad, Jones said: “If he’s on the front page for any reason other than rugby he won’t be with us.”
Vickery, inset, who played with Cipriani at Wasps, told Talksport that he thinks Jones will stick by Cipriani though.
“I don’t think this one incident on its own is something where I would think if I was Eddie Jones that’s the end of Danny Cipriani’s international rugby career,” he said.
But he added: “Danny’s been playing brilliantly for the last two or three seasons and Eddie hasn’t picked him so I don’t think it’s going to take a huge amount of excuses not to pick him again and this is in the slot to knock him out of the park.
“I sincerely hope not because as an England fan and as a sports fan who wants to watch our game grow and get excited by it, when Danny plays you say ‘wow, what a talent.’
“I think as a human being he’s in a much better place than he was five, six or seven years ago perhaps but he’s 30-yearsold now and he’s not a kid anymore.”
Former England scrumhalf Matt Dawson, left, thinks Cipriani should avoid drinking in public in future but does not think he deserves to be dropped over the Jersey incident.
“I think Eddie will do his homework here and work closely with Gloucester to find out exactly what went on,” Dawson told the BBC.
“He will know what went on, make
his own decision and I think he will make the right one in keeping Cipriani in the squad.”
However, Woodward, a long-time admirer of Cipriani, thinks that Cipriani’s England career should come to an end.
In his Daily Mail column, he wrote: “Enough is enough. That was my first thought when I first the news.
“When a few more details came through - especially laying hands on a female police officer while resisting arrest - I’m afraid that just confirmed my initial reaction.
“I say this with no pleasure, but when will Danny stop shooting himself in the foot? When will he start acting like an adult, a professional athlete and a role model?
“Danny was publicly backed on Thursday by Gloucester, who have demonstrated an uncommon loyalty to a player who has yet to represent them. I admire that because Danny needs help, support and structure in his life.
“But I doubt if Eddie Jones will be so sympathetic when it comes to England which, for the first time, I will fully understand. The balance of an international team is always on a knife-edge.
“If an incident like this occurred during the World Cup next year, it would cost England the tournament. You have to trust every player on and off the pitch, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“Can Cipriani be trusted by Eddie and the rest of the team who are also under scrutiny but remain disciplined in their personal lives and behaviour? I suspect Eddie will now decide that he can’t and who could blame him?”
Club’s anger at RFU over hearing; court case news; Cipriani’s statement, p10 See gloucestershirelive.co.uk for the verdict from Cipriani’s hearing