Cipriani "a catastrophic dud", "a flake", "damaging for England"

Gregor Paul in the NZ Herald

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11265410

There we were starting to believe in England when they go and do something silly. They have selected Danny Cipriani and, with that, all credibility has disappeared...Bottom line for England, if they pick Cipriani to start at first-five in the opening test-as they have suggested they might - they will lose much of the respect they have earned in the last two years...If Lancaster can be convinced by a flake such as Cipriani, has he made similarly poor judgement elsewhere?

Its a cunning plan from Lancaster to lull us into a false sense of overconfidence.

Cipriani is there because he's played consistently fairly well over the course of the season and has impressed with his attitude. Given the culture SL has built up it's hard to see how he could not have picked him - he's done everything SL has asked of him. Of course this tour will be a big test of his defence, but he's earned the opportunity to show he can defend his channel at the highest level.

And, faankly, there is no one else available for the first test at that position who played remotely well this season. Wouldn't be surprised to se Myler in that secod test.

Silly article and as far as I'm concerned not reflective of NZers thinking, Cips selection neither here nor there. He's had his off field moments, but so have a lot of our players and when he wants to play he can- one try for the Rebels a couple of years ago was a beaut, though was a bit of a diamond amongst the rough at the time.

At least he's familiar here. One week to go...can't wait.

Gather they don't follow the Premiership at all from that.


Also, if England win T1 through a brilliant Cipriani display, can we all send video responses to Paul reminding him of this prediction?

Chequered, Gregor Paul writes a lot of rubbish and this article is just another example.

I assumed he did, he's a sport journo for a mainstream newspaper

The herald have a rugby staff of about ten, made up of journalists,opinion writers and contributors.

The best one in my opinion is Richard Loe, By a mile.

Must be something in the name. I've been known to write a load of rubbish on 606 too.

gregortree wrote:Must be something in the name. I've been known to write a load of rubbish on 606 too.

I thought he'd done a copy & paste job of one of your comments to be honest Greg!   

Cips has played very well this season, if it had been for a slightly trendier club around London or the south then he'd have got a lot more recognition, as it is he's the best choice for the first test.

Here's a bold prediction for you. Cipriani has a decent game on Saturday, Burns comes on for 20 odd minutes and has a decent go of it.

Farrell is either left at home, thereby forfitting the shirt, or comes out knackered and lacking form (Charlie was certainly an improvement yesterday) at the end of another long season and offers poor comparison to Cipriani and Burns.

Lancasters hand is forced by the simple logic presented on the pitch and Cipriani is number 1 consideration for the autumn.

England first choice;
Care/Young
Cipriani
Wade
Burrell/Twelvetrees
Tuilagi
Yarde
Brown

Young
Twelvetrees
Watson/Eastmond

Saturday;
Care/Young
Cipriani
Yarde
Twelvetrees/Eastmond
Tuilagi
May
Brown/Pennell

Young
Burns
Eastmond/Pennell

Saturday is actually all about the Forwards, especially the front row and about any impact from the bench.

If Care's fit, he's gonna start

yappysnap wrote:

gregortree wrote:Must be something in the name. I've been known to write a load of rubbish on 606 too.

I thought he'd done a copy & paste job of one of your comments to be honest Greg!   

Cips has played very well this season, if it had been for a slightly trendier club around London or the south then he'd have got a lot more recognition, as it is he's the best choice for the first test.

I am his ghost writer. I told him what a great season Cips has had, but then my Kiwi cousin messed with my copy before publishing.

Make you wander if the NZers are scared of facing Cipriani, and therefore have taken too slagging him off.

I'll say this much for Gregor Paul. He gave his opinion and backed it up by highlighting the areas where he thinks Cipriani is weak. After watching Cipriani for 2 seasons he has had time to form an opinion.

You'd have to wonder why didn't the top English teams sign Cipriani. Its not like they would be afraid of a big ego.

This is an England team missing Farrell, Ford and Myler having lost Flood to France in January. If Cipriani starts he starts as 4th choice fly-half, with our 3 most experienced international fly-halves still playing - Wilkinson (in exile in France and retiring from rugby), Hodgson (internationally retired) and Flood (in exile in France) unavailable for future selection.

This guy is either seriously under-informed or just on the wind-up.

If Cipriani has a good tour it's possible he'll be on the bench in the autumn The way Ford fell to pieces in the semi (and who knows how much of that was down to his shoulder) shows he's far from the finished article (as you'd expect from someone so young).

It is a shame that Ford can't tour though, as it would have been good for his development.

Cipriani came back as damaged goods, but he's worked hard, improved and has earned this chance.

The New Zealand Herald's panel of rugby 'experts' has already written off England's chances - Gregor Paul, Wynne Gray, Patrick McKendry and Kris Shannon all predict a 3-0 series win for the All Blacks (newspaper article on 30 May)).

They may be right or wrong in that view but it's hardly surprising, given the All Blacks' record in their own backyard almost every time they've face England there. Plus the fact that they're writing in NZ.

I agree with some others that Gregor Paul's criticism of Danny Cipriani is unwarranted, considering the forced circumstances for England's selectors in the first test - but again it's hardly surprising. Best noted and ignored, I think.

Must have been some unused Rattue material which Gregor decided to copy

The very fact cips is being spoken about should be taken as a compliment

Cips,


A poor mans Stephen Myler.