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England fans send message to Eddie Jones
By Josh Raisey
One of the biggest campaigns from England fans this season on social media has been the call for Danny Cipriani to be selected for England.
The Gloucester fly-half has been imperious all season, and was rewarded for his great form yesterday by being named the RPA Players’ Player of the Year. As expected, there has been a torrent of calls from fans on social media for the 31-year-old to be selected by Eddie Jones for the World Cup later this year.
Cipriani has long been shunned by Jones, and although he featured for England in the summer tour of South Africa in 2018, he was omitted from the Autumn internationals and Six Nations. This is despite his consistent form for Gloucester, where he has been the driving force of their success this season, where the Cherry and Whites sit in third place in the Premiership.
Many England fans are astonished that Jones still has the temerity to say that Cipriani’s form has not been good enough, and feel this is the clearest message that the 16-cap international should be going to Japan in September.
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This is what the fans have said on Twitter:
Throughout Jones’ tenure in charge of England, the Australian has always favoured Owen Farrell and George Ford, either playing as a 10-12 axis, or bringing Ford on from the bench. However, there were times during the Six Nations where Jones did not show a lot of trust in Ford. This was highlighted when he did not bring the Leicester fly-half on against Wales at the Principality Stadium, despite England’s attack grinding to a halt.
Equally, Farrell came under some heavy criticism over the Six Nations, particularly for his game management against Scotland. While both of these players are still likely to make the World Cup, many feel Cipriani is worthy of a place as well, as he can bring an attacking dynamism that his peers cannot.
However, this argument from the fans has fallen on deaf ears over the past 12 months, and while many may have given up hope that Cipriani would represent his country again, this award has only stoked the flames regarding this ongoing campaign.
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Latest Comments
In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..
If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.
My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.
ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.
Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.
Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.
It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.
So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.
After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.
Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.
Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.
Go to commentsI agree what a load of crap! The ABs are elite sportsmen and ALL sportsmen want to challenge themselves against the best. And where better than Eden Park - some say that is our fortress. Well the ABs will relish the chance to build on that notion I am sure.
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