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Don't recall flaky Cipriani if Flood's out, says Guscott
Sam Peters17 Mar 2009
Jeremy Guscott has warned against England recalling "flaky" Danny Cipriani for Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland.
Martin Johnson is waiting on the results of a scan on Toby Flood's injured shoulder after the Leicester No10 was forced off just before half-time in yesterday's emphatic 34-10 win over France.
Flood suffered a partial dislocation of his right shoulder and faces a race against time to be fit for England's final Six Nations game of the season.
Andy Goode failed to impose himself as a second-half replacement at Twickenham, meaning the door is again open for Cipriani to resume his stuttering international career.
But Guscott does not think the London Wasps player is ready for England, insisting he has not fully recovered from the ankle dislocation he suffered last May and questioned his defensive capabilities.
"I think Martin Johnson needs someone sensible and solid at 10," said the former England centre.
"There will be a huge debate as to whether Danny Cipriani should come back in but I think he's a bit flaky at the moment. I don't think he is the player he was 12 months ago and he can't tackle either."
The situation is further complicated after Wasps coach Tony Hanks admitted Cipriani had "played through the pain barrier" in Saturday's Guinness Premiership defeat to Gloucester.
Hanks said: "Danny's problem was his ankle that he injured last year. There are times when it just becomes really sore. He played through quite a bit of pain."
Gloucester playmaker Olly Barkley would be in line for a return should Flood and Cipriani fail to convince Johnson they are fit to face Frank Hadden's team.
England suffered a humiliating defeat at Murrayfield last year the week after pulling off a shock victory over France in Paris and No8 Nick Easter is determined not to let the euphoria of yesterday's win affect preparation.
He said: "Scotland are a good side. We went up there a bit over confident last year and they shut us out. We know exactly what they are capable of."
France, meanwhile, today named an unchanged squad to face Italy despite their mauling in England.
Head coach Marc Lievremont said: "We thought this squad could win at Twickenham and we still think they can win in Rome."
Reader views (6)
I don't understand why people rate Cipriani, he is no good in defence. If i was the opposition i would run down his channel all afternoon. I know Will Greenwood and Mike Catt have critisiced him and there are two great centres. Cipriani should take peoples critisicm and improve his game. There should be more guidance in developing Cipriani and that is coming from a Scotland supporter!
- Geordie Walker, London, 18/03/2009 09:39
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Cipriani was great last season and I emphasise 'last season'. He clearly is still shaky after a horrendous injury and only time will tell if he ever gets back to that level. Flood was good on Saturday, but Andy Goode is really limited and isn't an international standard. Why isn't anybody looking at Tom May of Newcastle. He's talented, can play anywhere in the backline, is built like a tank and unlike the others can tackle. Can't see international back rows targeting him, like they have with Cipriani, Goode and Flood, so why not give him a go, he's turned Newcastle's season around.
- Carl, London, 17/03/2009 12:19
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Phil's comments sum it all up but England are going nowhere and Wasps need the points.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England, 17/03/2009 12:09
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Guscotts comments are verging on a vendetta against Cips. Cipriani's only crime this season was returning too early from a career threatening injury which meant he wasn't 100% match fit and certainly not as sharp as he was. Now he has the 12-15 games under his belt that would be required to get him up to speed he is as competent as any and a darn more inventive than most. Guscott confuses the media's interest in his off pitch life with lack of professionalism. He keeps trying to put Cips down, when in fact it was Cips dedication and determination to return from injury that brought him back to play so quickly and perhaps the England management made the wrong call by including him in the team before he had regained 100% match fitness. Cipriani is a class above and needs our support and not Guscotts constant sniping. Flood is fairly limited in his ability and Goode is generally only a decent kicker. Flood did nothing wrong on Sunday other than run down a few dead ends but Goode was woeful. there is no way on earth that Cipriani can be left out in preference to him. And in the words of Forrest Gump..... and thats all I have got to say about that!
- Phil In Dubai, Dubai UAE, 17/03/2009 05:03
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I am not sure about Keith's comment but if Cip's name was Kelly he would fill a hole in the Irish side. Seriously if fit he should be playing for Wasps next weekend, this England talk is getting boring every week. They did well on Saturday but were lucky that the penalties they earned did little harm.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England, 16/03/2009 17:39
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Jeremy is rigght on this one. Cips is a liability in international rugby. He wouldn't make the Scottish team !
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 16/03/2009 15:58
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