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England fans demand answers following Danny Cipriani's latest snub by Eddie Jones
Fans are demanding answers after Danny Cipriani was left out of the England squad for the 12-day warm-weather training camp in Treviso.
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Prop Ben Moon has also been excluded, but Harlequins duo Mike Brown and Joe Marchant are travelling to Italy with the squad.
This is the second week in a row that the Gloucester fly-half has been omitted after doing specialised strength and conditioning work last week off-site with Bath’s Sam Underhill and Anthony Watson. This is despite being named in the official 38-man World Cup training squad at the beginning of July.
As it has so often been the case throughout Eddie Jones’ tenure – and throughout Cipriani’s career – fans are questioning why he has not been picked.
It is understandable if he was completely snubbed, but the fact that he was called up to the training squad – and has since been dismissed twice – has left fans scratching their heads.
Eddie Jones excludes Premiership player of the year from England warm weather camp https://t.co/F8hxqDYOpq
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 22, 2019
While his fitness may have not been up to the standard that Jones desired last week, this latest decision by the Australian is all the more perplexing, and fans want to know why he has done this.
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After England supporters had demanded a recall for Cipriani throughout the season, some feel that his selection was only a token gesture by Jones and that he was never going to make the World Cup.
If so, it would have been better if he were completely snubbed like Alex Goode, another player many fans wanted in the squad, rather than wasting his time.
Of course, there may be a good reason for Cipriani missing out the last two weeks, but it is the lack of clarity that some fans are finding strange. This is what has been said:
Eddie sent him and a couple of others away to work on fitness and conditioning didn’t he? He’s either not happy with his fitness or Cips didn’t impress him in the weeks training he had with him. Not much point in calling him up really. All seems a bit of a token gesture
— James Connor (@jmconnor6) July 22, 2019
Unbelievable!!! Not even a mention on the England RFU Website, that Cipriani has been dropped. Absolute Joke. Surely they must even find it embarrassing, hence why there is no mention of it.
— MikeNeville (@mickeyneville) July 22, 2019
What’s happening with @DannyCipriani87 ?? Not even a mention in the latest training squad let alone a spot, is he still doing strength and conditioning or been dropped completely? ?
— Chrizzy696 (@Chrizzy696) July 22, 2019
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Piers Francis ahead of Cipriani is utterly baffling.
— Alex Quantock (@alexquantock) July 22, 2019
well shock bloody horror- Cips not included….. #jonesmustgo
— Bill Kelly (@wfmkelly) July 22, 2019
No Cipriani ???? joke
— Ryan Exley (@ryanexley1) July 22, 2019
Jones needs to tell us what he has against Cipriani. https://t.co/YMjBOsT26a
— Philip Sambu (@wekesa) July 22, 2019
Probably it was always Eddie’s plan. He was just messing Cipriani about
— Kevin T (@notsouniquename) July 22, 2019
Eddie Jones has strung cipprianni along the whole time.. should be sacked on that alone… disgraceful by Jones… big sarries fan….
— Stephen king (@Stephen91314828) July 22, 2019
@EnglandRugby Eddie Jones you are a disgrace, every 'English' rugby fan wants to see the Premiership player of the year wearing an England rugby shirt, except you! If you insist on the predictable Farrell and Ford show we don't stand a chance in Japan
— Richard Youhill (@RichardYouhill) July 22, 2019
What does @DannyCipriani87 have to do to be included?
— Nathan Bacon (@CharityNatBacon) July 22, 2019
Never rated Jones and his handling of Cipriani is just disgusting and embarrassing. He will cost us this World Cup through his stubbornness!
— Oliver Jackson (@Ollie_Jackson89) July 22, 2019
We knew it was the case..using the player to get the press off his back after the awards Cips picked up…win or lose this world cup I have a dislike for the way Jones messes with players careers…hopefully he will leave ASAP
— Fightnfitpixs (@fightnfitpixs) July 22, 2019
The 31-year-old made his return to the England squad last summer for the June series in South Africa, starting the third Test and guiding his team to victory.
Many thought that he would then become established in the England team, but an off-field incident in the summer once again made him an outcast, although Jones never admitted that was why he was not picked for the November internationals or the Six Nations.
However, after being named the RPA Players’ player of the season and the Premiership player of the season, calls for Cipriani to add to his 16 caps were hard to ignore. But some fans must feel in the same position they were last November with this latest exclusion.
Fans will still hope that the fly-half will get a chance to prove himself in at least one of those England’s fixtures before the World Cup. But for now, questions are being asked regarding Jones’ latest decision to overlook him.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments