Cipriani’s quality helped propel me into England squad, reveals Heinz
SCRUM-HALF Willi Heinz believes his Gloucester team-mate Danny Cipriani played an influential role in propelling him into England’s World Cup squad.
Cipriani’s superb debut season at Kingsholm was recognised with two prestigious individual awards, yet it is his unheralded New Zealand-born half-back partner who will depart for Japan on September 8.
Heinz made his Test debut in Sunday’s victory over Wales and, having come from relative obscurity to supply cover to first-choice Ben Youngs, he is grateful for Cipriani’s hand in his shock promotion.
“I think the quality Danny brought to Gloucester obviously helped all of us,” Heinz said.
“Danny really helped my game and put a lot of pressure on me to deliver good ball for the team.”
Eddie Jones has gambled by naming only two scrum-halves in his 31-man squad, meaning Heinz and Youngs will be involved in every game in Japan.
Providing emergency cover in the position is Leicester fly-half George Ford, a prospect Sunday’s captain at Twickenham embraces.
“There have been fallow weeks in the Six Nations where I have spent all week training at nine.
“And quite a lot sometimes to the point that I have thought, ‘am I being transformed into a scrum-half here?’.”
As England celebrated victory last weekend, their opponents’ firstdefeat for almost 18 months last Sunday was accompanied by another rare event – lock Adam Beard losing a Test match.
It was also the first time in 14 games for Wales that Ospreys forward Beard had finished on the losing side since being handed a Wales debut against Samoa in Apia more than two years ago.
“We would have liked to keep the winning streak going, but we know what we have got to work on now going into this weekend,” Beard said, ahead of Saturday’s return fixture against England in Cardiff.
“As disappointing as it was, we’ve just got to respond.
“The main target is what is coming in six weeks (Wales’ World Cup opener against Georgia) so we will work on the negatives from Twickenham and right those wrongs at home.
“You can do all the training in the world, the fitness and the physical work in the gym, but there is nothing like getting out there on the field.
“You need those carries and big tackles to prepare for what is to come. The physicality was right up there and will stand us in good stead.”
Wales boss Warren Gatland fielded 13 of the starting line-up at Twickenham that delivered a Six Nations title and Grand Slam-winning victory over Ireland in March.
He has indicated it will be a similar team at the Principality Stadium – his starting line-up is announced tomorrow – although at least one change is guaranteed after fly-half Gareth Anscombe suffered a World Cupending knee injury three days ago.
Centre Hadleigh Parkes added: “It was good to get a hit-out. It’s building to what is going to be an exciting couple of months for those that are lucky enough to go to Japan.
“There is disappointment (after Twickenham), but there is a bigger goal, a bigger picture.”
Meanwhile, Ireland fly-half Joey Carbery appears on course to be fit for the World Cup.
The Irish Rugby Football Union said Munster No.10 Carbery is expected to be available for selection in four to six weeks.
He went off after suffering an ankle injury during Ireland’s opening World Cup warm-up game against Italy last weekend. But Carbery will continue his rehabilitation with the national squad during a warm-weather training camp in Portugal.
Ireland’s opening World Cup encounter is against Scotland in Yokohama on September 22, followed by an appointment with host nation Japan six days later.
The IRFU added that lock Devin Toner’s ankle knock “has not presented any further issues”, while hooker Rob Herring has recovered from a back spasm.
Three players, meanwhile –Finlay Bealham, John Cooney and Mike Haley – have returned to their provinces.
You can do all the training in the world, the fitness and the physical work in the gym, but there is nothing like getting out on the field