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Danny Cipriani breaks his silence over England World Cup selection snub

By Liam Heagney
Danny Cipriani stretching at an England training in July (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Danny Cipriani has broken his silence about his England World Cup squad omission, claiming he has no axe to grind over the decision taken by Eddie Jones not to pick him for Japan 2019. 

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The Premiership player of the year had been picked in Jones’ first two training squads in July but was then omitted and his absence from the list of 31 names announced last Monday for the finals came as no surprise to him while he holidayed in the United States. 

In a column for the UK Telegraph newspaper, the maverick out-half, who was overlooked for the 2011 finals by Martin Johnson and again in 2015 by Stuart Lancaster, wrote: “I would have loved to be involved in England’s World Cup squad. It has been a seven-year goal with different challenges along the way.

“But I can’t be disappointed because there was honestly no expectation from my side. It was never my right. I never thought: ‘Last season went pretty well, I should be picked’.

“All in all, I had two weeks in camp, then a week on my own with my sprint coach Margot Wells after being told I needed the extra conditioning. Then there was one final training session with game-based drills on the Friday, led by Eddie Jones.

“Afterwards, later that afternoon on my way back down to Cheltenham, he rang to say I would not be going out to Italy. Three days later, on the following Monday, I flew to Los Angeles and I have been here since.”

Cipriani added that there has been no contact since from Jones on whether he is on the replacements list should Owen Farrell or George Ford, England’s chosen two out-halves, suffer a tournament-ruining injury.  

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“For me, right now, all I can focus on is how I can become better for my experience with England, and not just as a rugby player – as a leader and as a person, too.

“Eddie has said that everyone needs to be ready and the best way to do that is for me to be the best version of myself at Gloucester. I have not been told where I am in the England pecking order, but if the stars align and the call does come at any point, I’ll be ready. I felt ready seven years ago.”

WATCH: Eddie Jones speaks at last Monday’s England World Cup squad announcement

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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