Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'I know the size and magnitude of the game' - Cipriani

By
England fly-half Danny Cipriani

Danny Cipriani is going to be “the calmest guy in the room” on Saturday after finding out he has been recalled to the England side for their third Test against South Africa. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Cipriani has not featured in the England starting line-up since November 2008 and has been selected for the match in Cape Town following his impressive performance off the bench in the last match. 

The fly-half has been selected ahead of George Ford after the tourists slumped to their fifth successive Test defeat when they lost 23-12 to South Africa in Bloemfontein.

Cipriani wants to repay the faith that Eddie Jones has shown him with a composed performance, as England look to avoid losing the series 3-0.

“I’m excited for Saturday and obviously I know the size and magnitude of the game,” he told Sky Sports News. 

“But, you know, if you ride the wave too high or too low then you will end up all over the place.

“I’m pretty calm and that’s my position, and where I’m going to be on Saturday is to try and be the calmest guy in the room.”

ADVERTISEMENT

There are three changes to the starting XV with Joe Marler named in the front row replacing Mako Vunipola (Saracens), who returned home for family reasons earlier this week.

Chris Robshaw replaces Brad Shields at blindside flanker due to illness.

Eddie Jones said: “We’ve had a really upbeat training week. We are up for the battle and are going to rip in on Saturday. We want another committed performance where it will be crucial to maintain our composure when the heat is on.

“We are expecting a wet and windy old day at Newlands and have elected to play Danny Cipriani ahead of George Ford to give us a left-foot kicking option. We will need to jump out of the blocks quickly again and make sure we maintain that pressure and make good decisions.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I’ve been really impressed with the fortitude of the squad under Owen Farrell, who is a young captain, and with a number of young players who have really stuck to the task.”

Continue reading below…

Video Spacer

Starters
15 Elliot Daly (Wasps, 20 caps)
14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 36 caps)
13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 60 caps) captain
11 Mike Brown (Harlequins, 71 caps)
10 Danny Cipriani (Gloucester, 15 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 76 caps)

1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 58 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 27 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 12 caps)
4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 53 caps)
5 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 21 caps)
6 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 65 caps)
7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 3 cap)
8 Nathan Hughes (Wasps, 16 caps)

Finishers
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps)
17 Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)
18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs, 10 caps)
19 Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 0 caps)
20 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 3 caps)
21 Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps)
22 Ben Spencer (Saracens, 2 cap)
23 Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks, 4 caps)

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

LONG READ
LONG READ Return of 30-something brigade provides welcome tonic for Wales Return of 30-something brigade provides welcome tonic for Wales
Search