The Maddening Genius of Danny Cipriani

As Sale Sharks came out victorious at a storm-battered AJ Bell Stadium on Easter Weekend, the England fly-half reminded Martyn Thomas of his mercurial talents.

Britain was battered by high winds for much of the Easter weekend, as Storm Katie left a trail of destruction while she waltzed her way across the UK and towards the North Sea.

Indeed in Manchester on Sunday evening, conditions were so bad that it took a pilot three attempts, and four hours, to land a passenger plane at the city’s airport.

Elsewhere, flights were cancelled and buildings damaged as gusts of up to 106mph took hold.

It would be fair to assume, therefore, that few made the trip to the AJ Bell Stadium – located around 10 miles north of the airport – in expectation of witnessing any running rugby as Sale Sharks hosted Leicester Tigers.

Yet, despite ferocious gusts in Salford that forced a temporary halt to proceedings during the second half, the 7,687 fans in attendance were given plenty to marvel at.

At the heart of a 27-20 victory for the hosts that ignites their push for a European Champions Cup spot, was the mercurial genius of fly-half Danny Cipriani.

Cipriani is a player who can fire and frustrate in equal measure but this was one of those days on which he leaves you aghast at his meagre haul of 14 Test caps – of which all but four have come off the England replacements’ bench.

He was undoubtedly the main man on Sunday, setting up Sale’s first try, providing the clearance kick that – following a somewhat fortuitous bounce on the right touchline – led to their second and then sniping for the line to grab the game-winning score himself.

Sale director of rugby, Steve Diamond, labelled the decisive try as “brilliant” and described Cipriani’s overall display as “a complete performance”.

When you consider the 28-year-old also contributed 12 points with the boot, it is easy to see why.

How Diamond must wish he had convinced Cipriani to extend his stay in the north-west of England beyond the end of this campaign.

Following a tumultuous few years, the playmaker has flourished in Sale and as his coach noted on Sunday he is not playing like someone who wants to leave.

But that is exactly what Cipriani will do. A return to Wasps beckons in the summer and it is a switch that he hopes will bring with it both silverware and greater England recognition.

“The good thing was that we had a sit down and he wants to get us as high up in the league as he can,” Diamond admitted on the weekend.

Given their current trajectory, Wasps should provide the perfect platform.

Whether he arrives at the Ricoh Arena next season having toured Australia with England only time will tell. Eddie Jones’ arrival at Twickenham had been perceived as a fresh start for Cipriani, however, he was forced to watch on as England claimed the Grand Slam.

Jones has not ruled out a recall but he has told the fly-half he must work for it. And like his predecessor, Stuart Lancaster, the Australian clearly feels Cipriani has plenty to work on.

Under Lancaster, it was a perceived lack of defensive ability that hindered Cipriani, and his performance on Sunday, however mercurial, would not have helped his cause in that regard.

While near-faultless in attack, Cipriani missed seven of 17 tackles and conceded a turnover. In international rugby, where weaknesses are targeted and ruthlessly exposed, it is understandable that coaches weigh up the pay-off of his undoubted talent.

At 28, time is not in plentiful supply for Cipriani, especially when there are players of the quality of Owen Farrell, George Ford and Henry Slade in contention to wear the No.10 shirt.

Slade could well end up becoming England’s long-term incumbent there, but Farrell will certainly not give anything up without a fight.

He has risen to the challenge of losing his Test place admirably, and provided 14 points – including an excellent try – as Saracens returned to the top of the Premiership with a 36-18 defeat of Exeter.

Twenty-four hours later, Diamond revealed an announcement on Cipriani’s successor “will be made in the next week or so.”

Cipriani’s will be huge boots to fill. Unless Farrell has been tempted into an unlikely return north, that is.

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