Johnson drops Cipriani for Italy opener

RUGBY: England golden boy Danny Cipriani has plunged from hero to zero after being shunned for next Saturday's RBS 6 Nations opener against Italy.

Cipriani, who finished last season’s Six Nations by producing a scintillating display in the 33-10 victory over Ireland, finds himself demoted to second-string England Saxons duty.

Instead of being involved at Twickenham, the Wasps outhalf faces an appointment with Ireland A at Donnybrook in Dublin on Friday night.

The request for 21-year-old Cipriani to be part of the Saxons squad was made by England manager Martin Johnson. Leicester scrumhalf Harry Ellis is also part of that 24-man group.

Johnson said: “Harry and Danny will spend this week with the Saxons as they prepare to play Ireland A on Friday.

“Both players remain in my plans for the RBS 6 Nations, but I would like to see them get some game time with the Saxons.

“Harry benefited from playing with them last week, and I will be in regular contact with Saxons head coach Stuart Lancaster during the course of the week.”

Cipriani was dropped to the bench for England’s final autumn Test against New Zealand just over two months ago following a poor display in the 42-6 drubbing by world champions South Africa a week earlier.

Leicester’s Toby Flood is expected to wear the England number 10 shirt against Italy, with either his Tigers fly-half predecessor Andy Goode, who was called up today, or London Irish’s Shane Geraghty on bench duty.

Goode, Gloucester wing James Simpson-Daniel and uncapped Saracens prop Tom Mercey have all reported to England’s training base.

Goode currently plays club rugby in France with European Challenge Cup quarter-finalists Brive, where his team-mates include England World Cup winners Ben Cohen and Steve Thompson.

Simpson-Daniel, meanwhile, will provide injury cover for Harlequins’ Ugo Monye (sore back), with Mercey doing likewise for Wasps’ Tim Payne (sore abdominal muscles).

Cipriani is among eight capped players in the Saxons squad, alongside the likes of Ellis, Harlequins wing David Strettle, Bath full-back Nick Abendanon and Leicester number eight Jordan Crane.

Despite winning seven caps last year, including four starts, Cipriani has struggled to regain top form after suffering a serious ankle injury last May.

It sidelined him for five months and, although he made a remarkable recovery ahead of schedule, Cipriani could not prevent Wasps from making a Heineken Cup pool-stage exit or help them significantly to climb the Guinness Premiership table into play-off contention.

He might find himself back in contention for the Millennium Stadium encounter against Six Nations champions Wales on Saturday week, but nothing can be guaranteed as England look to recover quickly from their autumn horrors.

Johnson is due to name his line-up to face Italy tomorrow morning.

And it could include the first brothers to feature in the same England side since wings Rory and Tony Underwood 14 years ago.

London Irish duo Delon and Steffon Armitage are both expected to make Johnson’s starting XV.

Full-back Delon was the star of England’s November Tests, producing high-class form despite comprehensive defeats against Tri-Nations visitors Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

Johnson watched him complete a second successful comeback from a foot injury when Irish lost to Premiership rivals Gloucester on Saturday, having been released early from England’s pre-Six Nations training camp in Portugal especially for that Kingsholm clash.

And uncapped 23-year-old flanker Steffon, who is two years younger than Delon, looks poised to fill England’s number seven shirt.

Injuries have deprived Johnson of openside options Tom Rees, Lewis Moody and Michael Lipman, although Armitage’s consistently impressive form in Irish colours means he deserves his chance.

They would become the ninth set of brothers to represent England in the same Test team, an elite group whose first members were Reginald and Louis Birkett against Scotland in 1875.

The Underwoods played for England a record 19 times together, scoring tries in the same Test match on more than one occasion.

Back-row prospect Armitage is set to pack down alongside Wasps flanker James Haskell and Harlequins number eight Nick Easter.

Elsewhere, Gloucester centre Mike Tindall and Sale Sharks prop Andrew Sheridan are expected to be recalled.

Today’s Arctic weather conditions meant England trained at The Dome, Reading Football Club’s indoor facility at the Madejski Stadium, where they will continue preparations tomorrow.

The Twickenham pitch, though, has been well-protected, with ground staff laying covers three days ago and there are no concerns about the Italy fixture.