League award for Cipriani two weeks after England snub

DANNY Cipriani has been named Gallagher Premiership player of the month for September - a fortnight after Eddie Jones overlooked him for an England training squad on the grounds of form.

Cipriani started the most recent Test against South Africa in June and has launched his debut season at Gloucester with a string of outstanding performances.

Jones, however, was unconvinced and omitted the 30-year-old from the squad which last month gathered in Bristol for a three-day camp ahead of the autumn series, declaring him to be only his third or fourth-choice fly-half.

England’s head coach stated it was Cipriani’s performances and not convictions for common assault and resisting arrest in August that shaped his decision, yet the award points to a player in form.

“Credit to Danny, when he joined us there was a lot of pressure on him from changing clubs and everything, but he has slotted in really well both on the field and off the field,” Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann said.

“On the field it was quite evident that we could see his skill from the first training session.

“He has got a big belief in his ability in how we can play and he is not shy to try things.

“I think that suits us, we want to give players that freedom and he has slotted in really well on that.”

The player of the month award is judged by a panel of experts, with Cipriani edging out Exeter duo Sam Simmonds and Henry Slade.