Danny Cipriani axed from England squad on 'rugby grounds', insists Eddie Jones as he drops Gloucester fly-half
Chris Ashton retains his place despite serving a seven-week ban while Manu Tuilagi is recalled for the first time in more than a year
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Your support makes all the difference.Danny Cipriani has been axed from Eddie Jones’ England squad after his conviction for common assault and resisting arrest during the summer, potentially ending his international career.
The fly-half was found guilty of the charges after an incident while on a pre-season tour of Jersey in August and fined a total of £4,000, with a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel finding him guilty of “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game”.
Despite flourishing for Gloucester in the Premiership this season, having played a starring role in their wins over Northampton Saints, Bristol Bears and the draw with Bath, Cipriani has been left out of Jones’ 36-man squad that will convene in Bristol this Sunday for a three-day training camp ahead of the November internationals against South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia.
Jones insisted on Thursday that Cipriani had been left out on “100 per cent” rugby grounds, and added that both Owen Farrell and George Ford are ahead of him in the No 10 pecking order - with Cipriani potentially dropping to fourth despite starting England’s most recent test in the summer.
“We’ve decided just to have two stand-offs in the squad for this particular camp because we want them to get a lot of training time, and Danny’s probably third or fourth choice, and he knows what he’s got to work on,” Jones said.
“He understands and knows what areas of the game he needs to work on.
“It’s a different circumstance. We’re selecting a squad now for September, so I’m looking at who we need now and what we need for this particular time and at the moment we’ve got Owen and George who I believe are the first two fly-halves, and then comes Danny and Danny’s got some areas of the game he needs to work on, he knows what he’s got to work on and the opportunity is there for him in the next three games to show that.
“[He’s] disappointed but he understands. He’s desperate to play for England, which is terrific.”
But the 30-year-old’s omission exactly a year before the start of the 2019 Rugby World Cup leaves him facing international exile unless he can convince Jones to recall him, and with the head coach already warning him that he was on a last warning due to his past history off the field, it is an ominous sign for his future in the England side.
While Cipriani has been cut, banned Sale Sharks wing Chris Ashton retains his place in the training squad even though he will not play a game this season before Jones is due to announce the players that will be involved for the autumn internationals on 18 October. This is because he is serving a seven-week suspension for receiving a red card in the pre-season victory over Castres. The 31-year-old returned to the Premiership from French side Toulon in order to renew his international career, but the seven-week ban means he will not be eligible to play again until 17 October, with just one Champions Cup game against Sale on 20 October coming between Ashton’s return and the first international against the Springboks two weeks later.
“I don’t need to justify it [his selection], it’s a judgement,” he added. “Selection is a judgement, and my judgement is that Ashton’s going to be important for us in November.
“We’ve kept close checks on what he’s doing training-wise, Sale have been very good in working with us on him and we believe that he could be potentially available for selection.”
There is also a recall for Manu Tuilagi, with the fit-again Leicester Tigers centre returning to the squad for the first time in over a year after he was sent home from an England camp last August. Tuilagi was involved in a late-night drinking session with Sale wing Denny Solomona ahead of training the next day, and Jones banished the pair from the team as punishment.
Tuilagi’s injury problems have prevented him from joining up with the squad since, but after starting all three of Leicester’s matches this season, Jones is keen to take a look at Tuilagi - who has made just one England appearance in more than four years.
“Well it’s great to see him get some game time and we’d like to have a look at him in camp to see where he actually is, and again it presents an opportunity for him to be available for selection in November.”
The three-day meet will also see England work with new defence coach John Mitchell for the first time, with the former All Blacks boss jetting in from his home in South Africa after the RFU agreed a £200,000 compensation deal to spring him from his Bulls contract.
“The training camp in Bristol is our last opportunity to get the squad together before the Quilter Internationals so it is vital we put down some parameters, particularly with John Mitchell coming in as defence coach,“ said Jones.
“We’ll implement a slightly different defence philosophy building on the great work Paul Gustard has done to keep advancing our defence. It’s a great opportunity for the players to work with John and for the team to keep evolving.
“It’s a chance to get the players thinking about England and the way we want to play for England and the way we want to beat South Africa. These players have the opportunity to press their chances for selection ahead of the first Test so they will have to be enthusiastic and ready to give their best.”
England squad for three-day training camp:
Forwards: Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Michael Rhodes (Saracens), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).
Backs: Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Nathan Earle (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Dan Robson (Wasps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
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