Discussion
a311 said:
Can't disagree with any of that. However Lancaster will only pick 2 specialist 10's in his final squad so Cips will hopefully make the squad as a utility back as Farrell will be nailed on I would imagine. I think Cips is plenty good enough and IMO deserves it as he could have buggered off to France/Japan for big money but wants to play for England.
you see this is an interesting one - SL wants loyalty and role models and to that end has dropped MT & DH. He won't pick SA or NA as they are in France chasing £££ (or should that be €€€?) and he I suspect he likes people who are reformed (and obviously those who 'buy in' to his vision). Cips has turned his s
t around, hasn't gone £££ chasing and is (IMO) still the most exciting 10 to watch in the UK. The problem is Ford in currently in pole position and I can't see Fazlet or Izno not making the squad (bear in mind that Cips can also cover 15) so I predict heartbreak for Cips 
irocfan said:
a311 said:
Can't disagree with any of that. However Lancaster will only pick 2 specialist 10's in his final squad so Cips will hopefully make the squad as a utility back as Farrell will be nailed on I would imagine. I think Cips is plenty good enough and IMO deserves it as he could have buggered off to France/Japan for big money but wants to play for England.
you see this is an interesting one - SL wants loyalty and role models and to that end has dropped MT & DH. He won't pick SA or NA as they are in France chasing £££ (or should that be €€€?) and he I suspect he likes people who are reformed (and obviously those who 'buy in' to his vision). Cips has turned his st around, hasn't gone £££ chasing and is (IMO) still the most exciting 10 to watch in the UK. The problem is Ford in currently in pole position and I can't see Fazlet or Izno not making the squad (bear in mind that Cips can also cover 15) so I predict heartbreak for Cips I hope Cips does make the squad. I also agree with sentiments that the WC has come too early but would suggest the Lancaster and the England set up haven't helped themselves by not trying certain options based on merit earlier.
again a shame as DS seems to have been one of the form wingers in recent years. Does this open the door for Wade? Possibly though I would imagine his drop whilst trying to score would have been viewed rather dimly!!
I'll grant you that the BaaBaas were not exactly top-notch but it's hard to see what else Cips could have done in that match. SL doesn't seem to like too much flair/individuality and so Cips has tailored his game accordingly. 11/11 kicks from all over the pitch must have showed the benefit of taking him rather than goode seeing as he can cover then same positions (and his last try was a "full-back's try" (ie come into the line and then force a defender to chose - whichever way the defender had chosen would have been wrong)
I'll grant you that the BaaBaas were not exactly top-notch but it's hard to see what else Cips could have done in that match. SL doesn't seem to like too much flair/individuality and so Cips has tailored his game accordingly. 11/11 kicks from all over the pitch must have showed the benefit of taking him rather than goode seeing as he can cover then same positions (and his last try was a "full-back's try" (ie come into the line and then force a defender to chose - whichever way the defender had chosen would have been wrong)
The Mad Monk said:
Nobby Diesel said:
The ticket prices are outrageous, in my view.
I have a number of debentures at Twickenham and my ticket price is £101 for grade A games.
Compare that to England pool matches in the RWC, where my seats are £765!!!
Errrr, no thanks.
True, long term fans have been priced out of the RWC at Twickenham. There will be a dominance of corporate blaggers watching the games. Shame.
How does that work, then?I have a number of debentures at Twickenham and my ticket price is £101 for grade A games.
Compare that to England pool matches in the RWC, where my seats are £765!!!
Errrr, no thanks.
True, long term fans have been priced out of the RWC at Twickenham. There will be a dominance of corporate blaggers watching the games. Shame.
The top price for a final ticket is (should be) £715. See attached thingy which lists all the ticket prices.
Why are they asking you for £765 for a pool game??
https://tickets.rugbyworldcup.com/site/assets/Fixt...
In fact, the thing which decided me completely against applying for any RWC tickets was the fact that I only paid £56 to watch England beat NZ, so why on earth would I want to pay more to watch something daft like Portugal against Belgium in Kettering or whatever b
ks the clashes of the minnows are...irocfan said:
I'll grant you that the BaaBaas were not exactly top-notch
I thought this too, but as someone on the commentary team said England only had a week together as a pretty scratch side. But they will have spent that week training whereas the Barbarians at least used to spend their time together socializing and drinking! 
Makes for interesting reading
World Rugby to monitor player discipline before World Cup
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/32953649
2 Irish and 1 French player who all have managed to not be cited just before the World Cup
Yoann Huget's stamp was absolutely disgusting and I'm amazed they haven't banned him for it
World Rugby to monitor player discipline before World Cup
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/32953649
2 Irish and 1 French player who all have managed to not be cited just before the World Cup
Yoann Huget's stamp was absolutely disgusting and I'm amazed they haven't banned him for it
greygoose said:
Cipriani arrested for drink driving after a crash in his C63 according to the news, wonder if he will be out of the squad now too, may not be many players left at this rate....
I suspect that will depend on whether the outcome is slightly over the limit or rip-roaring drunk. Either way, as mitigating circumstances go, at least the other car he hit was a Prius! 
It also looks like Strettle has just taken himself out of contention by signing to play for Clermont next season.
irocfan said:
yeah I just heard this
What a total seeing as he was likely to be a marginal choice anyway! It's (potentially) a disaster for him, one can only hope that it's something like a smidge over (though IMO if you're driving then you should lay off the sauce)
At that time of day I would think he was either completely hammered after being out all night or still pissed from the night before having got up early.What a total
seeing as he was likely to be a marginal choice anyway! It's (potentially) a disaster for him, one can only hope that it's something like a smidge over (though IMO if you're driving then you should lay off the sauce)Madness60 said:
If he gets charged, no matter if its just over or way over, Lancaster will drop him from the squad instantly!
I agree.He has just played one of the best games of his life and then does this? Muppet.
It's almost as if he pushes a button to ensure anything good gets cancelled out by jumping in front of a bus, delivering his family and friends tix to mates at gone midnight or getting up and driving home after 'winding down' in the arms of Kelly Brook.....
And by 'best game' I mean he did exactly what they wanted at exactly the tight time. 11 out of 11 from all angles didn't do him any harm either.
Then he goes prodding that little self destruct button again!
Although has he even been charged yet?
Madness60 said:
If he gets charged, no matter if its just over or way over, Lancaster will drop him from the squad instantly!
I would totally agree with this, but it's now been a whole week since the incident occurred, and there hasn't been so much as a squeak of any news since the day itself. Is that normal?Obviously something happened - if it was a case of mistaken identity, we'd know that by now as we would, I would've presumed, if he'd passed the test at the police station - so to have not a single statement of any sort from Cipriani, Sale, England, the police or anyone else who might be involved just seems a little odd.
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