Cipriani facing fight for number 10 shirt,
THE battle for the number 10 jersey at Gloucester Rugby is heating up. Before kick-off on Saturday the big question on most people’s lips was where is Danny Cipriani?
The Cherry and Whites’ star fly half was not included in the matchday 23 to face his former club Wasps having had a below average game in the opening day defeat to Leicester Tigers.
However after the final whistle the questions were significantly quieter as his replacement, Lloyd Evans, put in a man of the match display to help Gloucester beat Wasps 40-24 at Kingsholm.
After the match head coach George Skivington confirmed Cipriani and skipper Lewis Ludlow had missed the game after being unable to train in the first half of week. Ludlow was returning to play after picking up a concussion at Welford Road.
“Danny was one of a number of players who couldn’t train on Monday or Tuesday so we decided after what happened against Tigers we needed the full team training together for a week,” Skivington explained.
He continued: “Lewis Ludlow was part of that as well. He was really frustrated to be left out because he could have played but it was the decision I made. If people couldn’t train Monday or Tuesday I thought it’d be better if we could roll with a team that could play together all week so that is the reason behind selection.”
Now Evans, who has just signed a new contract extension at Gloucester, has set the standard for performances in the 10 jersey this season, throwing down the gauntlet to Cipriani.
Discussing Evans form, attack coach Alex King said: “I was really pleased for him because he is still young, he has a lot to learn, but he took his chance really well.
“Everyone has to play to the standards we expect from Gloucester, Lloydy did that this weekend and we will choose the team we think will get us the victory.
“Everyone has to be up to the level to play, if Lloydy keeps putting in performances like that he will play.
“He has been great since I have been here and even before then.
“He had an opportunity at the weekend and I thought he played really, really well. I thought Billy Twelvetrees and Mark Akinson carried really well in the centres and got us over the gain line and there was real clarity in what we were trying to do in that 10,12,13, axis.”
“At the back end of last year everyone got a chance to play. With the internationals away now those guys who were behind them have been given an opportunity.
“Like every team we miss that depth of the squad but I think they guys have come in and done really, really well and it will just build the squad which is really important with 28 games on the bounce and Europe just around the corner.
“We need guys to stay fit and perform at a high level to make selection decisions as tough as possible.”
Evans said he is not letting any rivalry for the 10 jersey distract him from delivering for the team.
He said: “I’m not too focussed on that. It’s more about executing the game plan, what the coaches want and fronting up physically and I think we did that in large chunks of the game against Wasps.
“There is a lot to improve on in terms of game control and letting them have moments in the game that let the pressure off, so it is all learning, and we keep moving forwards.”
The Gloucester coaching staff were understandably keeping their cards close to their chest as to who will play at fly-half against Harlequins on Sunday, although it seems likely flanker Ludlow will return.
Scrum half Willi Heinz and number eight Ben Morgan are both close to returning from injuries but this weekend looks to be slightly too soon.
Prop Fraser Balmain is still recovering from a minor surgical procedure during the very brief off season.