Martin Johnson to Leave Danny Cipriani Out of England Tour Party
The Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani, who is on standby for the Lions tour of South Africa, is set to play in the Churchill Cup for England's second team
England are set to re-open the debate over how best to handle Danny Cipriani by omitting the fly-half from their two-Test summer series against Argentina. The 20-year-old said over the weekend that he expects to be included in the second-string Saxons squad for the Churchill Cup in the US.
Cipriani, who by his own admission has only latterly started to rediscover his form after a painful autumn, is officially on standby for the Lions tour of South Africa. It would appear the Lions management are bigger fans of the Wasps player than England, who are expected to turn to Leicester's Sam Vesty and, possibly, Northampton's Stephen Myler when the squad is unveiled on Tuesday.
Despite official denials, there have been sharp exchanges between the player and certain England coaches and the team manager, Martin Johnson, seems to have decided that Cipriani needs bringing down a peg or two. Vesty and Myler are unselfish team men but neither possesses the attacking skills which Cipriani displayed on his first start for England, against Ireland 14 months ago. "I can't pretend that I'm not massively disappointed," said Cipriani. "They have told me to go out and show that I can lead a side and also that I need to get in some game time."
It would be ironic if Cipriani were to be summoned from Colorado, where the Saxons will face Canada, USA, Ireland A and the Argentina Jaguars, to join the Lions in South Africa. It would also be a travesty if a player of such talent were to become disaffected. Johnson, however, is adamant that the England team must come first.
"I understand the need for balance in life but we judge players on what do they do on the rugby field and also how they interact with the team off it," he told the Guardian last week. "The world is tempting and they're signing lucrative contracts at a young age. That's fine but they've got to work for it. It's not just Danny Cipriani. Other guys have potential lifestyle issues." A further consideration is the metal plate in Cipriani's right ankle, inserted at the end of last season, which is due to be removed in July.
In the meantime Vesty, a strong defender and a good reader of the game but not blessed with searing pace, is understandably keen to seize his opportunity against the Barbarians this month and against the Pumas in June. "I'd love to go if they think I'm playing well enough," he said. "Who wouldn't? It's a schoolboy's dream."
The Lions, meanwhile, are awaiting news on whether Munster's Alan Quinlan plans to appeal against a 12-week suspension for making contact with the eye area of an opponent before announcing a replacement, which will almost certainly be Leicester's Tom Croft. The injured Welsh center Tom Shanklin will not be replaced, leaving a 36-man squad.
Cipriani, who by his own admission has only latterly started to rediscover his form after a painful autumn, is officially on standby for the Lions tour of South Africa. It would appear the Lions management are bigger fans of the Wasps player than England, who are expected to turn to Leicester's Sam Vesty and, possibly, Northampton's Stephen Myler when the squad is unveiled on Tuesday.
Despite official denials, there have been sharp exchanges between the player and certain England coaches and the team manager, Martin Johnson, seems to have decided that Cipriani needs bringing down a peg or two. Vesty and Myler are unselfish team men but neither possesses the attacking skills which Cipriani displayed on his first start for England, against Ireland 14 months ago. "I can't pretend that I'm not massively disappointed," said Cipriani. "They have told me to go out and show that I can lead a side and also that I need to get in some game time."
It would be ironic if Cipriani were to be summoned from Colorado, where the Saxons will face Canada, USA, Ireland A and the Argentina Jaguars, to join the Lions in South Africa. It would also be a travesty if a player of such talent were to become disaffected. Johnson, however, is adamant that the England team must come first.
"I understand the need for balance in life but we judge players on what do they do on the rugby field and also how they interact with the team off it," he told the Guardian last week. "The world is tempting and they're signing lucrative contracts at a young age. That's fine but they've got to work for it. It's not just Danny Cipriani. Other guys have potential lifestyle issues." A further consideration is the metal plate in Cipriani's right ankle, inserted at the end of last season, which is due to be removed in July.
In the meantime Vesty, a strong defender and a good reader of the game but not blessed with searing pace, is understandably keen to seize his opportunity against the Barbarians this month and against the Pumas in June. "I'd love to go if they think I'm playing well enough," he said. "Who wouldn't? It's a schoolboy's dream."
The Lions, meanwhile, are awaiting news on whether Munster's Alan Quinlan plans to appeal against a 12-week suspension for making contact with the eye area of an opponent before announcing a replacement, which will almost certainly be Leicester's Tom Croft. The injured Welsh center Tom Shanklin will not be replaced, leaving a 36-man squad.
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