Tonight:
4°c
Cipriani's back as Wilko is dropped
Chris Jones, Evening Standard11 Mar 2008
Danny Cipriani was today asked to save Brian Ashton's job only one week after the head coach threw the London Wasps youngster out of the England team.
Cipriani won an instant recall to face Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday, taking the place of record-breaking fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, who has been axed from the Test team for the first time since 1999.
Saturday's 15-9 defeat by Scotland has left Ashton in a precarious position with England having won only twice in the Six Nations.
That has prompted today's decision by the head coach to bring in Cipriani at No10 with Wilkinson, who has struggled throughout the championship, dropped to the replacements' bench.
Cipriani had been due to play at full-back at Murrayfield but was denied the chance of a first England start after he was punished for his late-night visit to a Mayfair club. That earned a reprieve for Iain Balshaw, who played against Scotland and now keeps his place for the Ireland game.
Defeat for either Ashton or his opposite number, Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan, would mean the sack, with World Cup-winning coach Jake White the favourite to replace whoever goes.
