Cipriani

[psychic duck]

Will he ever get anywhere near fulfilling his early potential and get back to international rugby?

It's been nearly 5 years since he last played for England in that thrashing against South Africa in 2008 after he came back so quickly from a big injury. Before that he was talked about by the media as the next England star player for years to come after a good performance against Ireland earlier that year.

Cipriani had a mixed time with Sale last season which included being publicly criticised by the coach for crap tackling in the 62-0 loss to Toulon and at times dropped for Nick MacLeod.

The fly half will be 26 in November, surely it is now approaching make or break time in his career this season about whether he will properly fulfil his talent and potential and at least get a firmer grip over MacLeod as the first choice fly half. Even if he will now never fulfil his potential as an established international against, will he ever even get another cap again?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Nope.

Aside from him being an egotistical prat of the highest order, he has not looked anywhere near as good as he did at Wasps before his injury.
Even then he just had potential. He's already a has been IMO.

 

[Peat]

Cipriani just doesn't seem to have the right stuff inside his brainbox, and I don't see how you can correct that. A shame, but there we go - I've mostly written him off already.

 

[r0cky flanker]

There's an interesting article about Danny in todays Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...e-Sharks-director-of-rugby-Steve-Diamond.html

 

[Packman]

As the guy who was driving the bus that night in leeds, I think my actions speak louder than words.

 

[SelimNiai]

So many parallels betweeen Cipriani and The Orange One

All the potential to be a world class player - check
Had a sudden breakout moment - check
Got lost in the celebrity world -check, although Gavin more than Cipriani
Have an ability to rub teammates the wrong way - check

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

At least the orange one can claim to have achieved something before he lost it...

Cipriani's wasted it all.

Pivotal to wasps in 2007-8 but was injured before he could play in the final.
Couple fo good games for England.
...pretty much it..

Although I suppose he was also part of wasps heineken cup winning squad

 

[Patchey]

Henry, would you be adverse to him coming back to Wasps? Obviously Goode is going to be the main fly-half for the next couple of seasons but should Cips have a bad season at Sale and be let go would he do any better down south?

 

[Gavin]

The fella has never been the same since his horrible injury. I do think it affected him a lot, but he really needs to wise up and realise his potential

 

[windsorroberts]

Danny Cipriani has been recalled to the Sale Sharks match-day squad for their clash with Wasps. http://rugbypigs.com/?p=1868 Can Danny Cipriani prove the doubters wrong this season?

 

[psychic duck]

So many parallels betweeen Cipriani and The Orange One

All the potential to be a world class player - check
Had a sudden breakout moment - check
Got lost in the celebrity world -check, although Gavin more than Cipriani
Have an ability to rub teammates the wrong way - check

Henry Chinaski's already mentioned it, but just to reaffirm there a few key differences.

Henson is a two time Grand Slam winner and starting Test Lion. When he was at his best he was the best 12 in the 6 Nations and was a world class player. Cipriani had 8 caps several charge downs and one good game against Ireland he also missed a game through a nightclub incident before his international career had even begun. I wouldn't say Henson's or Cipriani's emergence was sudden either, Henson was named IRB young player of the year in 2001, Cipriani was equally talked about early on from his teenage years. Another difference is I never recall Henson getting dropped for someone like Nick MacLeod either.

Draggs & I discussed this before, but looking at the evidence a bit deeper, the celebrity part of Henson gets overhyped in terms of the effect it had on his career whilst the injuries gets ignored. He has achieved his potential when he's get on the pitch, just sadly not had the chance to do it for 90 caps. Cipriani has never achieved his potential.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Who's that blues centre who dull hates? He probably started ahead of Henson when he was there.
That "night club incident" was nothing as well: he picked a friend up from a bar, not even that late, it's not as if he was out and steaming the night before the match.

 

[Draggs]

Gavin Evans.
dull loves him, probably his awesome hair.

 

[psychic duck]

Who's that blues centre who dull hates? He probably started ahead of Henson when he was there.

Henson plays a different position to Gavin Evans. I wouldn't read too much into that Cardiff Blues period in general either as it was as more a case of idiocy and hypocrisy on the Blues part, he went okay when he was on the pitch.

 

[Draggs]

Henson plays a different position to Gavin Evans. I wouldn't read too much into that Cardiff Blues period in general either as it was as more a case of idiocy and hypocrisy on the Blues part, he went okay when he was on the pitch.

I think we are all trying to forget the B+B era.

 

[r0cky flanker]

Cipriani had a good game yesterday, He scored 21 points against Wasps. He just needs to be more consistent as he definitely has something to prove.

 

[LittleGuy]

Cipriani had a good game yesterday, He scored 21 points against Wasps. He just needs to be more consistent as he definitely has something to prove.

Yeah it's almost like he read the thread LOL...I actually thought Danny was starting to get it together at the end of his tenure with the Rebels, but after his hamstring injury and return to England he didn't carry back that form. I do think he can still have an effective professional career he won't reach the heights that many thought he would but being an Aviva Premiership starting FH is surely salvaging some quality rugby.

 

[Zed]

We have Western Force players come and play for our club when the S15 season finishes, we've had Digby Ioane, Phoenix Battye, Chris O'Young, Junior Pelasausau and other clubs have had other Force players and what's interesting is, it's not that they're particularly better than the club players, they are just more consistent. They don't miss tackles, they don't drop the ball, their kicks go exactly where they are supposed to go. There are club players who will never make it at Super level, but at their best are better than some of the Force guys. The problem is they can't reproduce that performance week in week out. They lack the ability to be consistent and maybe that's something that can't be taught, maybe it's innate. And that's Cipriani, unfortunately. At his best a 10/10 at his worst a 3/10 whereas someone like Jonny Wilkinson at his best 8/10 at his worst 7/10. Reliability & consistency is everything at international level and will always beat razzamatazz.

 

[Peat]

Henson plays a different position to Gavin Evans. I wouldn't read too much into that Cardiff Blues period in general either as it was as more a case of idiocy and hypocrisy on the Blues part, he went okay when he was on the pitch.

There's been no shortage of idiocy at Sale for the last couple of seasons either.

 

[psychic duck]

Bump. Calls for Cipriani to return to England squad setup seem to be gathering momentum now Flood has left.

I'd have picked Cipriani for Six Nations opener against France - Sir Clive Woodward (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ru...priani-Six-Nations-opener-against-France.html)

Danny Cipriani is a remarkable talent who is ready for an England recall - Dean Ryan (http://www.theguardian.com/sport/bl...priani-remarkable-talent-ready-england-recall)

Danny Cipriani steals show for Sale Sharks and proves England credentials - Sir Ian McGeechan (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...le-Sharks-and-proves-England-credentials.html)

Danny Ciprani can dig Stuart Lancaster out of hole left by Toby Flood's departure - Matt Dawson (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/matt-dawson-england-danny-ciprani-2961072)

'England have got to pick Danny' - Mark Cueto (http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/exclusive-mark-cueto-insists-danny-6417343)

Cipriani deserves England chance - Steve Diamond (http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...anny-cipriani-deserves-england-chance-6453300)