Cipriani "axed" from England team

juvenal

Danny Cipriani has been dropped from England's team to face Scotland because of what the Rugby Football Union has described as "inappropriate behaviour".

The Wasps player was set to make his first England start on Saturday after being named at full-back.

The matter is believed to revolve around Cipriani, 20, being pictured leaving a London nightclub soon after midnight on Thursday morning.

Iain Balshaw, who was dropped to make way for Cipriani, is recalled.

The RFU says no further disciplinary action will be taken against Cipriani but he has been warned and advised about his future conduct.

England head coach Brian Ashton said: "I have taken the decision regarding Danny and the matter is now closed. I will keep an open mind on selecting him for future games."

Cipriani will not travel to Scotland with England later on Thursday and has been included in the Wasps squad for their Premiership game at home to Harlequins on Sunday.

Balshaw's place on the replacements bench for Saturday's Six Nations game at Murrayfield has been taken by Sale fly-half Charlie Hodgson. Cipriani has won two England caps, coming on as a replacement in the 2008 Six Nations games against Wales and Italy.

Eoin

Must be bad if they're willing to keep using Balshaw - he is (still) having a horrible time at FB.

simonrooneyzaga

an absolute disgrace, he was gone by 12.15! He obviously wasnt drinking either - leave the kid alone... bloody tabloids.

zAbbo

simonrooneyzaga wrote: »

an absolute disgrace, he was gone by 12.15! He obviously wasnt drinking either - leave the kid alone... bloody tabloids.

A few days before his first international start probably isn't the best idea to be out clubbing.

It's possible the squad were under orders as well.

Marshy

He might've been meeting up with his lady friend...who subsequently turned out to be an M2F.

he apperently dropped tickets off. unless he was drinking it is a complete over reaction.

Stealdo

LittleNipper wrote: »

he apperently dropped tickets off. unless he was drinking it is a complete over reaction.

Think about that for a minute - how likely is it that a player would be dropping off tickets at a nightclub at 12:15am? Who in their right mind would ask them to do this? And how much of an idiot would the player have to be to agree.

It probably will get sugar coated as being something like this mind you, but there's just no way.

Sherifu

zAbbo wrote: »

A few days before his first international start probably isn't the best idea to be out clubbing.

It's possible the squad were under orders as well.

If he was under orders then he should have expected to be punished, if not and he wasn't drinking he should be left alone.

Super Sidious

Prob been outted by his team and he pulled a freaker...maybe he asked the lads to try on some skirts or something...he likes that dont he?

simonrooneyzaga

rugby players i know who play at a high level (provincial and ail) are incredibly disciplined with their drinking.. however, they often come out driving to a nightclub on a wednesday or thursday just to socialize with their mates for a while! they have to have some kind of social life as well! sure i know a leinster academy player who runs a wednesday student night in a dublin city centre venue!

its about balance and as long as he wasnt drinking he has no case to answer in my opinion, and i think cipriani is a gob****e so he'd get no overdue sympathy from me...

simonrooneyzaga

Marshy wrote: »

He might've been meeting up with his lady friend...who subsequently turned out to be an M2F.

lol, id say he'll never be allowed forget about that! i feel sorry for his future children!

phog

It just goes to show that he has a lot to learn, I don't care whether he was drinking or not he should have realsied that he was puting his position in doubt if he was seen at the club.

Otacon

tbh I think it was the correct decision. Get the young guy to follow the rules early and punish him by keeping him away from a game they will probably win without him anyway.

I don't think they would have done it for next weekend's match though.

RuggieBear

waffler banned and post deleted.

Oriel

Players should not be banned for their behaviour off the field.
This banning is clearly not going to benefit the team's performance on Saturday.

Jigsaw

Oriel wrote: »

Players should not be banned for their behaviour off the field.
This banning is clearly not going to benefit the team's performance on Saturday.

They should expect punishment if their behaviour off the field is likely to cause a detrimental effect to their performance on it.

However, I am not necessarily saying that is the case in this particular instance.

toomevara

Ridiculous over reaction, Shaun edwards, his Wasps boss, distinctly unimpressed with Ashton....still Scotland are gonna love reigning bomb after bomb down on the hapless Balshaw....

Ulstermell0

i think it depends on a few factors:

a) is he telling the truth about just dropping tickets off for a mate - surely theres better places to do that?

b)related to the above - had he definitely not touched a drop of drink.

c)what had the players been told / what are the rules? If it was made clear that you're not to go into night clubs then i think its a fair punishment.

at least Ashton gets to have a say, if it was a premiership footballer he would have probably told his manager where to go.

Marshy

Oriel wrote: »

Players should not be banned for their behaviour off the field.

Well I think you have to judge each case on its merits. It must depend on the gravity of the offence in question. This escapade aside, players, whether they like it or not, are in the public eye and have to take responsibility for their actions.

I'd be inclined to say Cipriani was hard done by in this instance, provided he hadn't been under orders not to go out past his bed-time.

davyjose

What would bother me is Ashton's willingness to crucify his brightest young star, for what? So he can make up for the lack of direction/leadership he was accused of in the world cup.

By the way, there was no curfew, and I think it is very unlikely that he was drinking, but I doubt Ashton considered this, in fact he seemed to be telling anyone who would listen that Cipriani was dropped before he even had a chance to hear reason.

Stev_o

davyjose wrote: »

What would bother me is Ashton's willingness to crucify his brightest young star, for what? So he can make up for the lack of direction/leadership he was accused of in the world cup.

By the way, there was no curfew, and I think it is very unlikely that he was drinking, but I doubt Ashton considered this, in fact he seemed to be telling anyone who would listen that Cipriani was dropped before he even had a chance to hear reason.

But you see what would it have signalled to other people in the squad? I think its a bit of a over re-action and if anyones to blame its the media. The fact is if he had of gone un punished for being in a nightclub at 12.30 in the morning what would the impression of Ashton's leadership been? It would have looked like he had no control over his players. Still dropping him completely seem's harsh and whats worse is that Balshaw is still wearing 15

chicoben

If Cipriani goes unpunished here, there's no telling what other players might do if he hadnt dropped him. The rules are either for everyone or noone. Now I'm not saying that banning him was the right thing to do, unless it was the night before the test, he could've dropped him to the bench or something. I suppose Ashton has to be seen as taking a firm line here.

Laslo

Moronic overreaction.

davyjose

chicoben wrote: »

If Cipriani goes unpunished here, there's no telling what other players might do if he hadnt dropped him. The rules are either for everyone or noone. Now I'm not saying that banning him was the right thing to do, unless it was the night before the test, he could've dropped him to the bench or something. I suppose Ashton has to be seen as taking a firm line here.

But you see what would it have signalled to other people in the squad?

In fairness I can't see Wilkinson going partying because Cipriani gets away with it - the most junir member of the squad. I think in terms of what would I think if I were a member of the squad, it would be along the lines of "this guy has just stabbed a kid he's known from the age of 14, in the back. And why? To appease the media!"

At the end of the day, if Balshaw plays like he did against Wales, and England lose, it could be Ashtons job. And I hope it is the case.

Oilrig

Pathetic decision. Typical Ashton. As the Granny used to say "cut your nose off to spite your face"

This issue should have been dealt with in-house, collective punishment, senior player word in the ear etc. lost opportunity for squad building IMHO.

Ashton has once again placed his personal bent ahead of results.

Don't understand why the RFU persevere with this arrogant, autocratic tactically inept tosser TBH.

The IRFU need to get their finger out quick in contracting a replacement for EOS 'cause the RFU will be hunting soon with a big swag bag...

chicoben

davyjose wrote: »

In fairness I can't see Wilkinson going partying because Cipriani gets away with it - the most junir member of the squad. I think in terms of what would I think if I were a member of the squad, it would be along the lines of "this guy has just stabbed a kid he's known from the age of 14, in the back. And why? To appease the media!"

At the end of the day, if Balshaw plays like he did against Wales, and England lose, it could be Ashtons job. And I hope it is the case.

Yeah true, Maybe he knows Cipriani is going to be an amazing fly half or something and doesn't want him to think he can go off or something stupid?

jayteecork

I think there's more to it than that.
According to the BBC Cipriani was sporting a black eye when he came on for Wasps earlier.