The reason Cipriani is a perfect fit for Gloucester lies in Johan Ackermann's past
Following his recall to the England team last week, Danny Cipriani has joined Gloucester, with the club announcing his signing earlier today.
Cipriani’s future has been one of the longest-running transfer sagas of the season, after Wasps confirmed the arrival of Lima Sopoaga for the next campaign and announced, back midway through the season, that Cipriani would be leaving in the summer.
The 30-year-old fly-half, who came through the London Wasps academy back when the club was based in High Wycombe, has had spells at the Melbourne Rebels and Sale Sharks sandwiched between two stints at his boyhood club and it had looked a few weeks ago as if a move to France or Japan beckoned.
His recall to the England team for the tour of South Africa has clearly changed Cipriani’s plans, however, with the dangling carrot of a spot in England’s Rugby World Cup squad next year too appetising for the playmaker to turn down.
He will compete with George Ford and Owen Farrell this summer to add to the 14 England caps he currently has to his name, before he joins up with Johan Ackermann and David Humphreys at Kingsholm in preparation for the 2018/19 season.
On the surface, it looks as if it’s a remarkably good deal for club and player alike.
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With Gloucester beginning to resurge under Ackermann’s tutelage, it is exactly the kind of club Cipriani needs to be at to showcase his abilities ahead of the RWC. The Cherry and Whites will be back in the Champions Cup next season after a five-year absence from the competition and this will pit Cipriani against the best in Europe.
Gloucester also made the Challenge Cup final in Ackermann’s debut season as head coach and took the scalps of Saracens and Exeter Chiefs in an Aviva Premiership season that was encouraging, at the least. On paper, they look to be a team that will be challenging in the top half of the competition next season and that’s a good fit for Cipriani.
As for Gloucester, they get a top-tier fly-half who has been instrumental to the high-octane and relentless rugby that Wasps have played in recent seasons. If they are keen to improve on their 7th place finish this season and make waves in the Champions Cup, then Cipriani is the kind of first receiver that can run a similarly ambitious and expansive side, not to mention create moments of individual magic that can swing games.
Perhaps the key point in this move is the similarity of Cipriani, as a player, to South African fly-half Elton Jantjies.
Jantjies was an integral part of the rebuilding job that Ackermann did with the Lions down in Johannesburg and the pair turned around the franchise from perennial Super Rugby strugglers and underachievers, to the undisputed top team in South Africa.
Although neither Ackermann nor Jantjies were able to lift the Super Rugby trophy, they did make the last two finals and came particularly close to denying the Crusaders last season, in a tournament that has become extremely Kiwi-dominated.
As a playmaker on the gain-line, an exploiter of space and a dangerous runner with ball-in-hand, Jantjies helped spearhead that Lions revolution and the similarities in playing style to Cipriani are obvious.
If Ackermann is keen to develop and evolve Gloucester into something resembling that Lions side, there is arguably no better 10 in English rugby to put behind the wheel than Cipriani.
People will point to the pressure valve Jantjies had outside of him in Rohan Janse van Rensburg and claim there’s not a like-for-like centre in that mould currently at Kingsholm, but van Rensburg, if the rumours are to be believed, could well be joining Cipriani in the south-west.
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Just stop for a moment to think of the damage Cipriani could do on second phase, following a powerful van Rensburg carry and quick recycling of the ball. It’s a lot of ifs, buts and projections at the moment, but it is an appetising combination for Gloucester fans to ponder on.
You feel somewhat for Billy Burns in this situation who, stylistically, isn’t too different from Jantjies or Cipriani, and has shown he is capable of orchestrating the Cherry and Whites’ back line this season, but top clubs need competition and depth, especially at a key position like fly-half.
Welcome @DannyCipriani87 #AnnounceCipriani ? pic.twitter.com/IjvBrgFuuU
— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) May 14, 2018
Competing in the Champions Cup, rather than the Challenge Cup, will require Gloucester to rotate more in the Premiership if they are to look after their squad properly and there will still be opportunities for Burns. Don’t rule out playing time at 15, either, should Jason Woodward be injured, involved with England or deployed on the wing.
Having waited late to make the decision and clearly been influenced by the England recall, it’s easy to grasp and assume this move is a short-term one for Cipriani, to give him one last hurrah in the Premiership and a shot at the RWC, but it can be much more than that.
With maturity, a refined game and an end goal he’s passionate about and driven to achieve, Cipriani could be the style-specific spark plug and lieutenant that Ackermann needs to turn Gloucester into a genuine title challenger.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments