Johnson: Eddie’s right to leave out maverick Cipriani

MARTIN JOHNSON believes Danny Cipriani should be kept out of the England squad, despite the fly-half’s sparkling form for Gloucester.

The former England coach and captain claims Eddie Jones should ‘stick with what he’s got’ and pursue the combination of George Ford and Owen Farrell.

Johnson and Cipriani’s fractious relationship when they worked together in the England regime led to the playmaker being axed.

Cipriani’s season got off to a disastrous start when he was arrested in Jersey but the 30-year-old has since been the league’s standout player.

Jones will be at Kingsholm today to cast his eye over Cipriani one final time before naming his squad on Thursday.

‘It’s the million-dollar question isn’t it?’ Johnson (below) told The Mail on Sunday. ‘How do I answer this without making a headline? I’m not seeing a way out… I’d stick with what he’s got.

‘Danny has massive ability as a rugby player but it’s everything else that comes with it. He hasn’t been picked by Eddie or Stuart Lancaster before that so he has some people to convince.

‘He had his issue in Jersey which may or may not have been serious, but it’s still something you have to deal with. As a coach, you have to endlessly bat off questions.

‘All Danny can do is continue to play and work at it. He’s never been to a tournament so I’m sure he’d love to play in a World Cup.’

Johnson believes the fitness of Manu Tuilagi will be key to England’s midfield combination. In the past, the centre has ripped apart the All Blacks and, if fit and firing, Johnson believes he could partner Owen Farrell in the Tests against South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia. ‘Can Manu stay healthy?’ said Johnson, speaking on behalf of Land Rover. ‘If they’re going well and George is going forward, then that combination works.

‘If you’re in a difficult game and you need your 12 to get you over the gain line, then you’re looking at Owen and someone else.’

Farrell took over the captaincy during the summer tour of South Africa, in the absence of Dylan Hartley, but now Hartley is back to full fitness Johnson believes the hooker should be reinstated.

‘With all the turmoil, you’d probably stick with Dylan,’ said Johnson. ‘Eddie’s a little bit on the conservative side and he often goes with what he knows. Hopefully Dylan’s fresh and can have one last crack at it.’ Either way, Jones will be forced into making changes to the team that beat South Africa in Cape Town in June. Joe Marler, Joe Launchbury and Nathan Hughes all started but the trio are absent due to, respectively, retirement, injury and likely suspension.

Sam Simmonds, Ellis Genge, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Dan Robson, Ben Te’o, Marland Yarde and Beno Obano are also injured — yet Johnson believes it is the right time for a Test against the All Blacks.

‘From my experience, the England fans at Twickenham get behind the team more (against New Zealand) than anyone else. Playing the best is the best way of getting better.

‘England are not where they’d want to be but there’s no set formula.’