Ackermann responds to speculation that Cipriani could quit Gloucester this summer
Johan Ackermann has dismissed speculation that Danny Cipriani could quit Gloucester this summer.
It was reported last weekend in the Rugby Paper that the out-half has a break clause in his deal which he can use one season into the two-year deal penned when he joined the Kingsholm club in 2018.
West country rivals Bath and Bristol were allegedly among the parties interested in Cipriani’s potential availability. However, Ackermann insisted the play-maker, out of favour for Eddie Jones’ England, is going nowhere.
“I can only speak on my behalf and what I know and that is that he’s signed for next season,” said the South African to local Gloucester media during his weekly media session.
“I’m not aware of any release clauses so, according to me, Danny is here with us for the 2019-20 season. Post that I’m not quite sure, that’s an ongoing process with the club and with Danny.
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“We have done our recruitment already and the squad is settled. When we talked about fly-half we said we’ve got Owen (Williams) and Danny settled and signed up.
“I’ve got no other information at the moment that is different, so I’m of the opinion that’s the fly-halves we’ll have available,” continued the coach who admitted that any talks with Cipriani are between the player and the club led by director of rugby David Humphreys, not Ackermann.
“When it comes to contracting, if the club feels they need to incorporate me and bring me in then I’ll get involved. But when it’s a financial decision it’s not me that must make the budget work. It’s up to the club to make that and that’s where the process is at the moment. It’s between Danny and the club for beyond next season.
Gloucester return to Premiership action this weekend having defeated third place Harlequins in their most recent match. It leaves them just two points behind the Londoners and seven clear of fifth-place Sale in the play-off race.
Midweek media duties for Head Coach Johan Ackermann after today’s training session at Kingsholm Stadium #GLOvWAS pic.twitter.com/QiOrG0tu7j
— Gloucester Rugby ? (@gloucesterrugby) March 19, 2019
Eliminated from the Champions Cup, Gloucester have only the Premiership to worry about unlike in previous seasons. But Ackermann refused to speculate whether or not fighting in two competitions this season will help their league title hopes.
“It’s not a good thing if you look at in one sense because we wanted to be involved in Europe and taking the season further. Last season we had to mix the Challenge Cup quarter-final and semi-finals in with the season and we had the pressure for the first time.
“Until late in the season we were up in fourth spot and people started talking about whether we would make the play-offs. It was a big challenge and I think mentally when the boys started to focus on the European Challenge Cup, we maybe lost a bit of focus on the Premiership. We speculated about how to handle that pressure.
Comments on RugbyPass
You’d think the first step would be taking responsibility for the stupid sh*t you did and to stop blaming other people. Does he seriously think that people believe him when he says it just magically got into his system without him knowing anything about it? You’re gonna notice if you’re on the juice, bruh.
2 Go to commentsI watch the Reds now, and many of their players, and think back to watching London Irish in their last two years under Michael Kiss. I recall Nick Phipps looking a very competent scrumhalf, Rob Simmons a lynch pin in the lineouts. Both men writen off by many on the rugby sites. There is no question in my mind that Kiss has a very different touch to any coach the Reds have had in years. It will take time, but this team could develop into a very good team, hard to beat by any one down here in the SH. You highlight two players especially, Nick. Vunivalu and Paisami are thriving this year, especially the latter. And so many others. The now heavier Fraser McReight, his great mate Harry Wilson, and the “Fardy” man, Liam Wright. That is only three, ut in reality every player is acroos the whole squad is the better for the new regime.
10 Go to commentsRecord Score Downloading…………..
1 Go to commentsWonderful insightful interview with Crusader Johnny McNicoll. He was exceptional in the wins over the Chiefs and Rebels and I am sure he will get a contract again for 2025. He was an excitement machine for Canterbury and the Crusaders in 2011-16 and he still is. He has added to the attack particularly. Had a fine career with Wales in the intervening years.
1 Go to commentsAmazing what decent coaching can do! I always felt Folau never improved much as a player and never had a great coach using his talents. Suli seems different at qld this year.
10 Go to commentsI’m sick to death of waiting 3 years for league players to become half decent. It cripples Australian rugby in the meantime. The Reds actually looked half competent without Vunivalu not starting last week. He’s just a liability of errors. Paisami is looking better than he has in previous years but I’d have Kerevi back in a flash. A kiwi wont tho …...
10 Go to commentsExcellent analysis Nick as we have come to expect. I was not really aware that NFL strategies have been adopted by rugby teams, especially in defence. One point I would make is that the Northhampton attacking player on the end of the chain in the video examples has not maintained the correct depth to be effective. In the footage shown the outside player is too flat to make the best of the opportunity his inside players have provided. In each case they have to reduce speed and turn their body backwards to secure the ball, losing all momentum and giving the impressive scrambling defence the chance to shut down the threat.
1 Go to commentsMorning, John. Do you think that it may be a good idea to rest both teams from the Madrid comp leading in to the Olympics
2 Go to comments« I am preparing myself for much more, something much bigger. I’m focussing on the next cycle, » You don’t say…
2 Go to commentsGeez plenty of time to come right before test season starts. Dont panic mr Mannering!!!!!
1 Go to commentsGreat read Nick. The Reds really have been great to watch this year, and the improvement of not only the players you mention, but the squad in general has been obvious. The Reds 10/12 play making axis is a nice counterpoint to the 10/15 partnership at the Brumbies and Rebels. If Schmidt was to pick say, Lolesio, Paisami and Wright / Kellaway, would this be too many play makers? I notice in a lot of those clips Tim Ryan playing across the field in support of Vunivalu. Is this a feature of Kiss’s structure?
10 Go to commentsSo sad, god rest him. Too young to be gone. RIP
2 Go to commentsRIP big man 🙏
2 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
4 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
10 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
4 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
7 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to comments