FORD: CIP WILL HAVE TO FRONT UP IN BIGGEST CHALLENGE V AUSSIES
Danny Cipriani will face his toughest international challenge so far when England host Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, and defence coach Mike Ford has challenged the young fly-half to prove he is one of the best players on the planet by putting in a big tackling performance.
Earlier in the week Berrick Barnes, the green and golds’ No10 who will miss out playing Martin Johnson’s team because of a knee injury, warned Cipriani that he will be targeted by his team.
“One of his hardest things is that he has a lot of pressure on him,” said Barnes, 22. “Everyone is looking to him as the next big thing. He carries himself pretty confidently. It will be interesting to see him go up against Gits [Matt Giteau] this weekend.
“He will come up against some really good 10s in the next couple of weeks - Gits and [New Zealand's] Dan Carter. They will give him an indication, and everyone else, where he is.
“He is obviously a talent. He is a young guy with a lot of weight on his shoulders but he has an opportunity now to set himself up for the next 10 years.”
Ford believes that the Wasps starlet will shine against Australia, having impressed in defence in last weekend’s 39-13 win over the Pacific Islanders – he was only two tackles shy of prop Andrew Sheridan’s count of 15.
“Danny wants to be one of the best players in the world and he realises that one of the responsibilities of a No10 who wants to be No1 is defending,” said Ford of the 21-year-old. “The Australians are smart – they try and test you. But we expect every team we play against to come and attack that 10 / 12 channel and we are ready for that.
“We have not thought about (moving him out to the centres). If we move him to No13 teams will get him there; same as if we move him to the wing.
“He might as well front it up early in his career and get that right both physically and mentally. And he is doing his best to do that – 13 tackles from a fly-half is pretty good.
“Danny has trained very well this week so we are expecting a good game from him against Australia.”
Danny Cipriani will face his toughest international challenge so far when England host Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, and defence coach Mike Ford has challenged the young fly-half to prove he is one of the best players on the planet by putting in a big tackling performance.
Earlier in the week Berrick Barnes, the green and golds’ No10 who will miss out playing Martin Johnson’s team because of a knee injury, warned Cipriani that he will be targeted by his team.
“One of his hardest things is that he has a lot of pressure on him,” said Barnes, 22. “Everyone is looking to him as the next big thing. He carries himself pretty confidently. It will be interesting to see him go up against Gits [Matt Giteau] this weekend.
“He will come up against some really good 10s in the next couple of weeks - Gits and [New Zealand's] Dan Carter. They will give him an indication, and everyone else, where he is.
“He is obviously a talent. He is a young guy with a lot of weight on his shoulders but he has an opportunity now to set himself up for the next 10 years.”
Ford believes that the Wasps starlet will shine against Australia, having impressed in defence in last weekend’s 39-13 win over the Pacific Islanders – he was only two tackles shy of prop Andrew Sheridan’s count of 15.
“Danny wants to be one of the best players in the world and he realises that one of the responsibilities of a No10 who wants to be No1 is defending,” said Ford of the 21-year-old. “The Australians are smart – they try and test you. But we expect every team we play against to come and attack that 10 / 12 channel and we are ready for that.
“We have not thought about (moving him out to the centres). If we move him to No13 teams will get him there; same as if we move him to the wing.
“He might as well front it up early in his career and get that right both physically and mentally. And he is doing his best to do that – 13 tackles from a fly-half is pretty good.
“Danny has trained very well this week so we are expecting a good game from him against Australia.”
Labels: Australia, Daniel Cipriani, England, Martin Johnson, Mike Ford, Rugby Football Union
