Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
Forums
Featured
2024 Guinness Six Nations
Was it the right decision to drop Cipriani?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Hieu" data-source="post: 181364"><p><strong>BBC Sport - news.bbc.co.uk - Last Updated: Sunday, 9 March 2008, 13:04 GMT [</strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Woodward slams Cipriani decision</span></p><p></p><p>Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward says current boss Brian Ashton made a "massive error" with his controversial decision to drop Danny Cipriani.</p><p></p><p>Ashton axed Cipriani from the side to face Scotland after the 20-year-old was pictured leaving a London nightclub in the early hours of Thursday morning.</p><p></p><p>"It was a massive over-reaction," Woodward told BBC Radio 5 Live.</p><p></p><p>"I think that a lot of those England players will be feeling pretty poor about what happened."</p><p></p><p>Cipriani was set to make his first Test start at Murrayfield after being named at full-back, but he was dropped after meeting friends at the Number 50 Dover Street club in Mayfair.</p><p></p><p>England went on to lose 15-9 on Saturday and have been widely criticised for lacking inspiration.</p><p></p><p>Ashton said Cipriani's behaviour had been "inappropriate for an international rugby player", but Woodward believes the coach missed a chance to form a close bond with his players.</p><p></p><p>"Cipriani is a highly professional person and someone England should be building their team around," said the 2003 World Cup-winning coach.</p><p></p><p>"To me he has not done anything wrong. I think they made a massive error there.</p><p></p><p>"They had a big opportunity to put their arm around him behind closed doors and say 'come on, that was a bit of a daft thing to do' - but no more than that.</p><p></p><p>"If I dropped every player who had not got to by bed by one o'clock I wouldn't have had anyone in the team.</p><p></p><p>"When I was in charge, people like Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio were not 'yes men'.</p><p></p><p>"If they thought one of the team had been hung out to dry that would have caused a lot of problems within the team group so I wouldn't underestimate what that can do to a team environment." </p><p></p><p>Earlier in the week, Wasps coach Shaun Edwards also came to Cipriani's defence. "In my eyes he has done nothing wrong," Edwards, who is also the Wales assistant coach, told BBC Radio 5 Live.</p><p></p><p>"He wasn't drunk, didn't offend anyone and to me that's not a crime."</p><p></p><p>Edwards said Cipriani was used to a much more relaxed coaching regime at Wasps.</p><p></p><p>"It was his day off before the biggest game of his life and the last thing he wants to be thinking about is his rugby," said Edwards.</p><p></p><p>"I would actually encourage him to go out with his friends and relax.</p><p></p><p>"Maybe he went out because he's only been used to the environment at Wasps where it would have been absolutely no problem.</p><p></p><p>"I'm not concerned about England, I'm just sticking up for my friend and player."</p><p></p><p>Former England player and BBC pundit Matt Dawson said he was "flabbergasted" by Ashton's decision.</p><p></p><p>"His reputation has been tarnished and Brian Ashton has a lot to answer for," said Dawson.</p><p></p><p>"It was a fantastic opportunity for him to form a real, hard relationship and friendship with his players but goodness knows what they are thinking now.</p><p></p><p>"They're going to be fearful about getting chopped from the team." </p><p></p><p>--------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p></p><p>What are your thoughts on the drop following the result yesterday? Personally, pre-match I thought it made no difference but when the coach axes someone like that it shows what a negative impact it was on team. It's history now so no looking back but in all honesty that was a shocking result yesterday for England. Ashton and Robinson are both the same - they will never bring England silverware. And when Jonny Wilko retires, England will definately be in a 3rd class team then.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Hieu, post: 181364"] [b]BBC Sport - news.bbc.co.uk - Last Updated: Sunday, 9 March 2008, 13:04 GMT [[/b] [SIZE=3]Woodward slams Cipriani decision[/SIZE] Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward says current boss Brian Ashton made a "massive error" with his controversial decision to drop Danny Cipriani. Ashton axed Cipriani from the side to face Scotland after the 20-year-old was pictured leaving a London nightclub in the early hours of Thursday morning. "It was a massive over-reaction," Woodward told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I think that a lot of those England players will be feeling pretty poor about what happened." Cipriani was set to make his first Test start at Murrayfield after being named at full-back, but he was dropped after meeting friends at the Number 50 Dover Street club in Mayfair. England went on to lose 15-9 on Saturday and have been widely criticised for lacking inspiration. Ashton said Cipriani's behaviour had been "inappropriate for an international rugby player", but Woodward believes the coach missed a chance to form a close bond with his players. "Cipriani is a highly professional person and someone England should be building their team around," said the 2003 World Cup-winning coach. "To me he has not done anything wrong. I think they made a massive error there. "They had a big opportunity to put their arm around him behind closed doors and say 'come on, that was a bit of a daft thing to do' - but no more than that. "If I dropped every player who had not got to by bed by one o'clock I wouldn't have had anyone in the team. "When I was in charge, people like Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio were not 'yes men'. "If they thought one of the team had been hung out to dry that would have caused a lot of problems within the team group so I wouldn't underestimate what that can do to a team environment." Earlier in the week, Wasps coach Shaun Edwards also came to Cipriani's defence. "In my eyes he has done nothing wrong," Edwards, who is also the Wales assistant coach, told BBC Radio 5 Live. "He wasn't drunk, didn't offend anyone and to me that's not a crime." Edwards said Cipriani was used to a much more relaxed coaching regime at Wasps. "It was his day off before the biggest game of his life and the last thing he wants to be thinking about is his rugby," said Edwards. "I would actually encourage him to go out with his friends and relax. "Maybe he went out because he's only been used to the environment at Wasps where it would have been absolutely no problem. "I'm not concerned about England, I'm just sticking up for my friend and player." Former England player and BBC pundit Matt Dawson said he was "flabbergasted" by Ashton's decision. "His reputation has been tarnished and Brian Ashton has a lot to answer for," said Dawson. "It was a fantastic opportunity for him to form a real, hard relationship and friendship with his players but goodness knows what they are thinking now. "They're going to be fearful about getting chopped from the team." -------------------------------------------------------------------------- What are your thoughts on the drop following the result yesterday? Personally, pre-match I thought it made no difference but when the coach axes someone like that it shows what a negative impact it was on team. It's history now so no looking back but in all honesty that was a shocking result yesterday for England. Ashton and Robinson are both the same - they will never bring England silverware. And when Jonny Wilko retires, England will definately be in a 3rd class team then. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Featured
2024 Guinness Six Nations
Was it the right decision to drop Cipriani?
Top