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Fri 22 Jan 2016 | 03:46
Danny Cipriani sets up Nev Edwards with another great bit of attacking play

9
Comments

Danny Cipriani helped Sale Sharks to a convincing 38-5 bonus point victory over Newport Gwent Dragons last night, earning qualification for the European Challenge Cup last eight, and a home quarter-final as Pool Two winners. 

The 28-year-old's excellent run in the second half gave old mate Nev Edwards a try in the corner, further stretching their lead.

Cipriani was left out of Eddie Jones' England squad for the Six Nations, so this recent showing - that included a flawless kicking display of 11 points - will no doubt add fuel to the fire for those who would love to see such a dynamic number ten playing for their country.

When asked about his form after the match, Sale boss Steve Diamond said:

"He was outstanding, wasn't he? I think the England coach has picked his team probably a fortnight early with the way Cipriani's in form.

"All he's got to do is carry on doing that and he'll get some recognition, no doubt."

We reported on the Cipriani-Edwards history of friendship last month, so it's nice to see them linking up once again, and doing so when it matters in Europe.

Posted By: Grant Constable

9 Comments

  • drg
    1:52 AM 26/01/2016

    ...ok... Original point in case... Cips gets on with the game proving to a shadowy few how good he is (and what they missed), rather than worrying about the individual players in front of him...a la Angry Mike Brown....

  • 10stonenumber10
    8:32 PM 25/01/2016

    everyone expresses anger differently. Brown starts on people twice his size and probably shaves his head with a Rambo knife at half time... Cipriani needs to be roughed up a bit to get the brain going and take it to the oppo

  • drg
    4:35 PM 25/01/2016

    But Mike Brown is still the sort of player that gets into people's face. Cips plays like there is no one else on the field... Or that he speaks a different language.

  • stroudos
    2:29 PM 25/01/2016

    Re Hartley as captain, I believe this is just a way to maintain a full team of 15 players on the pitch. Much like a scrum half I play with; if he's captain, he has some licence to chunter away at the ref all game, moaning and questioning everything with a much lower likelihood of being yellow-carded for it.

  • stroudos
    2:26 PM 25/01/2016

    Ha! Maybe you're into something. Hopefully his exclusion is just a mid-term management technique by Eddie "moves in mysterious ways" Jones.

  • stroudos
    2:25 PM 25/01/2016

    I come at it from a different angle but draw same conclusion. I've always rated Cipriani, I believe he's a more honest, hard-working professional than he's given credit for. And he's by far England's most exciting player, especially at flyhalf.

  • 10stonenumber10
    12:45 PM 25/01/2016

    It is simpler than that. A bit like Mike Brown, to get the best out of him he needs to be in an angry mood about something. Missing initial selection motivates a player like Cipriani

  • drg
    1:31 PM 24/01/2016

    Agreed! I'm a massive fan of Cips because I find his arrogance almost seems aimed at his former self and those in.charge of selection, rather than other players. Farrell has got this "I'll get in your face" cocky attitude. Cips is sort of like "I'll just play how I want and show everyone that shuns me who I am"....

    I think a lot can be said about his style... Shame he missed initial selection.

  • 10stonenumber10
    12:35 PM 24/01/2016

    I had my reservations about Cips for the longest while. I am very happy to see this level of backyard-ery being implemented into the playbook. Despite his perceived fragility by detractors (myself included), it is refreshing to see an English fly half genuinely attacking the line. Faceplant Farrell might have been consistently average, but I seriously doubt he would ever try this in a game.

    Like Hartley's inclusion for the captaincy race, england need his aggression... they also need Cip's swagger, arrogance, and every other intangible quality that makes a prodigious fly half.

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