Injuries strike at Wasps

Danny Cipriani: Set for lengthy rehab

It would have been a great day for Lawrence Dallaglio, but Wasps' semi-final win over Bath which gives Dallaglio a Twickenham send-off was overshadowed by the injuries to Danny Cipriani and Tom Voyce.

Cipriani was stretchered off with a suspected broken ankle, while Voyce dislocated his shoulder after setting up his team's third try.

Cipriani will miss England's summer tour to New Zealand and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after having his right leg trapped beneath him following a tackle by Ollie Barkley.

The 20-year-old fly-half received oxygen treatment on the pitch, before being carried off on a stretcher and taken to London's Lister Hospital, where he is undergoing tests.

"We don't know anything yet about Danny," said Wasps Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan.

"We'll have to see if it's a break, dislocation or both. We think it's the ankle.

"The only priority for Danny now is to be 100 per cent fit again. He's a talented player and his fitness should be all we're thinking about.

"We'll make sure that happens. When he comes back and plays he'll be 100 per cent. This club does that for its players."

Television cameras opted not to replay the 49th-minute incident which was witnessed by England manager Martin Johnson in the stands, but photos later indicated the extent of the damage.

Cipriani was set to start at fly-half against the All Blacks in June after starring in England's RBS 6 Nations finale against Ireland.

He had ousted World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson as England's first choice fly-half but now faces a long spell of rehabilitation as battles against a potentially career-threatening injury.

"It's very disappointing, no one likes to see any injuries," said Dallaglio, who suffered a similar injury on the 2005 B&I Lions tour.

"Danny has a huge future so hopefully it's not too serious and he'll back soon.

"But he'll return a better and stronger player because of what's happened today so there's no reason to worry too much about him."

Cipriani was joined in the ambulance by team-mate Tom Voyce after the England winger dislocated his shoulder.

"Tom's shoulder is still out. We have it three goes to get it back but couldn't manage it. He's in a lot of pain," said McGeechan.

The incident overshadowed what should have been a memorable day for Dallaglio as Wasps powered into the Guinness Premiership final.

Dallaglio brings down the curtain on his illustrious 18-year career at the end of the season and will have the chance to say a triumphant farewell in Twickenham in two weeks.

Bath paid the price for not converting their dominant spells into points and only had an Alex Crockett try to show for their early onslaught.

Stung into action, Wasps ran in three tries through Fraser Waters, Riki Flutey and Tom Palmer to clinch a brutal contest at Adams Park.

"Today was about the team not me and what is pleasing is that Wasps are in the final," said Dallaglio.

"We've worked hard this season and put in a phenomenal amount of effort. I can't praise everyone at this club highly enough.

"For some reason, we were written off again but when that happens, we are at our best. It was a scrap today but our defence was magnificent."