Yates at summit
Cipriani passes first test
REPORTS DANNY CIPRIANI has won over his new Gloucester team-mates a fortnight after bringing unwanted attention to the club. The England fly-half, convicted of assault during a pre-season trip to Jersey, marked his Premiership debut for the club with a man-of-thematch display in the 27-17 win over Northampton. “We know the truth behind what happened in Jersey,” said Gloucester captain Ed Slater. “We back Danny to the hilt. There is no hesitation from any player that we are behind him.”
Cipriani delivered the decisive moment in front of England boss Eddie Jones with a spectacular pass that cut out three Saints and looped 20 metres to try-scorer Charlie Sharples.
Wales’ Dan Biggar, the other Test fly-half making his debut at Kingsholm, fluffed three restarts in a Northampton display that fell way below expectation.
“I’m grumpy,” said new coach Chris Boyd. “I don’t think I have ever been in a game where a side’s been penalised 21 times.
“Dan was a mixed bag. The guy sets incredibly high standards. Three skill errors at the kick-off. He won’t be happy.”
England flanker Tom Curry was knocked out after a clash with the knee of Aaron Morris in Sale’s 51-23 loss at Harlequins.
Exeter ran in six tries in a 40-6 thrashing of Leicester that Tigers head coach Matt O’Connor called “deflating”.
A late penalty from Billy Searle gave Wasps a 21-20 victory at Worcester. SIMON YATES snatched the lead of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday.
The Briton dug deep on the Vuelta’s tough summit finish in La Covatilla to finish ninth behind stage winner Ben King and take the lead by one second.
He called it “a surprise, but a nice one”.
His lead ahead of Spain’s Alejandro Valverde confirms his status as favourite for the Spanish Grand Tour. But Yates said: “This race has only just begun.”
Germany’s Andre Greipel claimed the honours on the opening stage of the Tour of Britain in Newport yesterday.
Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome, competing at his national tour for thr first time since 2009, both finished safely in the pack.