Danny Cipriani was, in many people’s eyes, harshly culled from the England World Cup squad when it was announced a couple of weeks ago.
The maverick fly-half isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but has proved in the last couple of years at Sale that he can get his head down and let his rugby do the talking, gracing the back pages far more often than the front.
Since his exclusion from the squad, however, it was announced today that Cipriani would be writing for controversial bookmaker Paddy Power during this World Cup, giving insight into the England squad – an interesting strategy for a man who has sought to shun the limelight.
In his first post for the Paddy Power blog, Cipriani claims that he is keeping himself ready for a call-up, insisting that it will only take one injury for him to make the squad:
“I’m still really up for the World Cup whether it’s as a fan or an injury replacement. I don’t wish harm on anyone, but the reality is, I’m only one injury away from being in the squad. Mentally, I’m still switched on and prepared to be involved in this World Cup.
“I can’t let up for one second because if I do get called in, I need to be up to speed immediately. I’m back with Sale now, but even during my weeks off I was training hard because there’s always a chance that call will come and I want to be sharp if it does.”
Cipriani also offered his thoughts on the two men selected ahead of him for the fly-half jerseys, Owen Farrell and George Ford:
“England go into the tournament with a wealth of talent at number 10. I wouldn’t rank one higher than the other – they both have different skills that will be useful at different times.
“Owen Farrell is very battle-hardened and George Ford is very skilful – they’re two fantastic players and whoever Stuart goes with, it doesn’t weaken the team.”
As to England’s chances of winning the World Cup, even without himself there to help them along, Cipriani thinks there will be no doubt amongst the players that they can emerge as champions.
“There are a lot of world class players in there and with the advantage of home soil, it right to be optimistic about England’s chances. I’m not saying the players are sitting there saying ‘we’re going to win the World Cup’, but I don’t see how you can go into a World Cup thinking it’s not possible.
“What would be the point in turning up? They’re not being arrogant, but its seven games – you’ve got to think you can win seven games or why are you even going? That’s not arrogant, it’s just the right mind-set. These guys mean business.”
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
You can read all of Danny’s thoughts on the Paddy Power blog.
As you know by now, we are hilarious, and you should be following us on Facebook and Twitter.
Why this ‘Maverick’ tag still? I mean the author acknowledges that Cip ‘has proved in the last couple of years at Sale that he can get his head down and let his rugby do the talking’. And ok, so Cip visited a night club with tkts for his mates 100 yrs ago & got punched out by Stuart Abbott @ Wasps, but hasn’t Danny Care been copped for being Brahms & Liszt twice? Isn’t he therefore a ‘Maverick’ too? Nah. He’s reformed.
The English seem to hate, or simply don’t trust, real creativity in their players unless they give blood, sweat & tears, have the Dunkirk spirit & are of the bulldog breed 1st, 2nd & last. Why can’t they (esp Lancaster, or Mr. Conservative, of the mediocre int’al track record) look @ what a player CAN do instead of looking @ the empty glass?
Roll on the injury I say. Hopefully to the 2 dimentional Farrell. England could do with a bit of imagination in their pivot.. & Georgie Boy ain’t all that when the hair dryer’s on. Recall the 1st 7 minutes v France over there?
Cip is unlikely to play in reality, so why not give the SP to Paddy Power?
On the other hand, Cip’s ‘opinions’ of his rivals & ‘bigging up’ England with ‘a lot of world class players’ (not in Paris there weren’t), should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Yeh, bloody Lancaster creating a boring England side that has scored the most tries in the past two 6 nations in a row…
Get a grip, England have a host of skillful players in the back line, Cipriani is simply not as good as Ford or Farrell, and England have opted for two 10s.
England aren’t a boring side but they have also conceded plenty of tries .They have won nothing under SL and have a dismal record against the SH sides. Players like Ford and JJ are only in because injuries forced SL to pick them.
Cips is way better than Farrell and potentially better than Ford – but he has never been given a chance to display this as SL distrusts anyone who’s a bit “flash”.
As long as a coach picks players based on stats, being “good in training”, being a “good pod leader”, being a good bloke and being “the last one talking at the end of meetings” rather than what they can actually do in a game – England are in trouble.
There isn’t really a great deal of evidence to support any idea that we concede too many tries surely?
Ford played whilst Farrell was fit in the AI’s. JJ would definitely have played anyway, he would have played with Barritt with everyone fit in the 6 nations. Farrell Snr. had been raving about him all through January.
An opinion that Cips is a better player than Farrell or Ford is yours. Not fact. And not supported by any real evidence based on what, Prem form? European cup form?
SL has managed to beat NZ, Aus twice and draw away in SA. Not been perfect but been as good as anyone outside of SCW when it comes to SH sides.
Jacob
At last some positivity and common sense, good on you. Keep up the good work in this sea of negativity
For instance, would have won the 6N title v Fr they hadn’t conceded a shed load.
WHEN given more than 3 mins & 20 last up when England blew up v Fr, Cip created his try when the game was afoot, so to state. Also had a hand in another.
A few back, before he became ‘demonised’ for not being of the right stuff, he carved Ireland up on his own.
He’s more exp & what can Ford do that Cip can’t? Perhaps kick down the oppo throats when under the pump. drop out on the full, miss a catch & miss a penalty touch, all within the 1st 7 v Fr over there. V Fiji, he looked pretty shaky when the hairdryer was on & when he again missed a catch & dropped a straight fwd pass. Pretty basic stuff & it ain’t going to get any easier with more astute & tougher teams than the PI’s.
Lancaster beat an NZ side with a virus as you well know, but you’re either pathetically attempting to needle & or are deluding yrself about a lucky 1 off. Lost 6 on the bounce since v the SH & also taken England to 4th… which is where he came in & has a record (ho hum, again) almost id to Johnno’s. But what the hey, why not ignore facts that don’t suit.
You’re putting a gloss on the bottom line brother. Knock yrself out Alastair Campbell.
And perhaps Fordy WILL shine v Wales.
Pretty boring v France over there I must admit. Maybe you’ll agree?
And in what regrd is Cip ‘simply not as good as Ford or Farrell’? Poss in scoring TRIES when given MORE than 3 mins on the paddock, i.e., when the chips are down & with almost his 1st touch v Fr?
Also, what ‘host of skillful players’? Barritt?
The back 3, esp Brown (all round), are skilled to a degree, going fwd, but not so clever on ‘D’. Think Huget. And there are better defences yet to come. Ford is orthodox & plays to a pattern, but hardly carves a back line & bottles it under pressure as eluded to elsewhere. Farrell’s a kicker & a tackler… with a short fuse & warned by the ref off shooting his mouth v Ire; his 1st game time for a while! JJ’s tricky with his feet, but then so is Eastmond, who was ignored, but is the former also that elusive when pressured? I’m thinking Int’al, not club.
Bottom line is, are they collectively better than they SH’s top 3, who are like Scrooge in defence?
You only offer opinion without substantiating it. Still it’s a free world I suppose & if u continue over rate yr guys, it can only be good for the SH methinks.
Pretty sure it was Josh lewsey who stuck one on him. Other than that I agree with all of the above!
Agree with the Farrell V Cipriani debate but not on Lancaster who has done a good job with the England set up which would be difficult for any Coach. Unfortunately for Cips Slade will probably be the 3rd choice 10 with Luther Burrell called up as a replacement for back line injuries
He’s won nuthin’. Compare with J. Schmidt in the 6N. 2 titles in 2 yrs. Hello.
Can’t believe that these guys are agreeing with someone who is wishing harm on a player. Shame on you all.
It may be a little simplistic to quote verbatim, but surely the phrase “I don’t wish harm on anyone” suggests the he wishes no harm on a player?
C’mon mate get real. You know exactly what he means. Thanks to Lancaster’s dismissive attitude toward him, he’s just stating the fact that his only way back into the squad is if something untoward befell one of the others in his position.
Given his abysmal treatment by Bomber we should just be glad he is still up for playing for England TBH.
Yes. he’s been a “lad” and may well do something daft in the future but he’s a hell of a talent. If I was SL I would have backed him and picked him.
Finally,yes SJB ,it was Mr Lewsey who introduced his right fist to Cip’s jaw!
It was a somewhat tongue in cheek comment regds injury, but my pt was that England can ill afford to ignore talent & it’s only injury that’s likely to change this. I mean SL only picked JJ due to injury diddn’t he. Nart mean?
No one is wishing injuries to our settled England squad just debating Cips statement, yet more mind games from our Welsh cousins who are spending too much time being brainwashed by Gatland. Oh and I took no pleasure from the tragic injuries Wales have suffered, no sane person wishes injury on any rugby player
Col, on “yet more mind games from our Welsh cousins who are spending too much time being brainwashed by Gatland” – if you speak to a Welsh person he isn’t, at that point, representing the whole of Wales, ok? Too much of this is creeping into the comments here – “You English..” this and “The Welsh …” that.
As to your weird point – WP was simply referring to the bit “Roll on the injury I say. Hopefully to the 2 dimentional Farrell” in Don P’s reply so I think WP had a valid point when some people then said “Other than that I agree with all of the above!” which could, if you read them in sequence, look like a 2nding of Don P’s call for a Farrel injury.
Jeez – it’s going to be a long world cup if every time someone opens their gob someone else sees that as an open invitation to start slagging off that entire country’s fans as a collective…
As for a rugby point – “Lancaster who has done a good job with the England set up which would be difficult for any Coach” – what do you think makes the England setup difficult? Are you implying it’s more difficult than some other setups?
I agree the English fans (generic) are this and Welsh fans (generic) are that, is getting really boring. I thought this was the sport where we could have a bit of banter before the game and a pint after. It’s not the round ball game!
Jazus steady on there Brighty! – never seen such ARROGANCE!!!!!
I’m shocked – SHOCKED!
If this is what rugby supporters have become – I want nothing to do with it!! Horified!
Kindest regards
DNDD
“Pacific not Aran!”
PS – “Jeez – it’s going to be a long world cup if every time someone opens their gob someone else sees that as an open invitation to start slagging off that entire country’s fans as a collective…”
Won’t be long for Wales!!!!
Pew Balistic Pew!!!!
PLARP! – what was that noise – Sellafield of Brighty? – waiting for the nuclear fallout!! LOL
HAPPY WORLD CUP!
As for Cips – isn’t this a bit of a stupid thing for him to come out with? As far as I can see SL values humility, team ethic, etc. so isn’t it a bit odd for Cips to be stating out loud that he knows he is the next choice 10? It might be obvious to him, it might even be a conversation he’s had with SL, but I can’t imagine SL invited him to tell everyone this and it just doesn’t come across as a particularly “team” thing to say?
Brighty, I think that Lancaster stated himself that the players dropped from the squad in the final “cull” were all only an injury away from being called back, so I don’t think there is anything wrong with Cipriani’s comments.
He doesn’t say that he is the next choice 10. Although he probably is.
Brighty, didn’t Lancaster say that the players dropped from the squad were only an injury away from being called back in?
Cipriani, doesn’t say he is the next choice 10. Although he probably is.
Agreed Blub, and SL will look pretty damn duplicitous if ,should the need arise,he selects someone else.