Cipriani comes through unscathed
London Wasps pivot Danny Cipriani has cleared the first hurdle on a comeback trail that should lead to Twickenham next month.
London Wasps pivot Danny Cipriani has cleared the first hurdle on a comeback trail that should lead to Twickenham next month.
Cipriani played for 51 minutes of Wasps' Guinness Premiership home defeat against Bath on Wednesday – his first game since suffering a horrific ankle injury more than four months ago.
With dislocated-knee victim Jonny Wilkinson battling to play again before Christmas, Cipriani's return will have delighted England manager Martin Johnson.
Cipriani, who replaced Wilkinson and kicked 18 points when England beat Ireland in their final game of last season's Six Nations Championship, is favourite to wear the number ten shirt in an autumn Test opener against the Pacific Islanders on November 8.
“I was very happy to get through the match, but disappointed we lost,” said Cipriani, after Wasps suffered a fourth defeat in five games – losing 27-23.
“Obviously, I was a bit rusty at first.
“I made some mistakes, which I know I can eradicate from my game after I've looked at the analysis.
“I thought my goal-kicking was good, and I felt a bit more confident with my defence.”
Bath, though, ensured they gatecrashed Cipriani's Adams Park homecoming as tries from Pieter Dixon, Matt Stevens, Michael Claassens and Joe Maddock secured a bonus-point win that took the west country club top of the Premiership standings.
Meanwhile, early pace-setters Sale Sharks, who established a new Premiership record of four successive games without conceding a try last week, were crushed 28-6 by London Irish.
Irish had been the last team to claim a Premiership touchdown against Sale – last May – and they proved it was no fluke this time around as Richard Thorpe, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Alex Corbisiero and Peter Hewat all crossed.
“We made too many mistakes,” said Sharks coach Philippe Saint-Andre.
“If you lose the ball in contact against a team like London Irish, they punish you.”
Saint-Andre also reported that hooker Sebastian Bruno will have a scan on a damaged bicep on Thursday, amid fears he could be sidelined for a minimum 12 weeks.
Coach Richard Hill, meanwhile, is confident his Bristol players can haul themselves out of the Premiership relegation mire.
Bristol slumped to their fifth successive league defeat of the season, going down 23-16 at home to Saracens – with visiting fly-half Glen Jackson kicking 18 points.
They have collected only two losing bonus points this term, and are without a Premiership victory since March.
“If we were playing terribly, you would have to worry,” said Hill.
“But we have got the firepower to get out of it – there is no doubt about that.
“I thought we ran Saracens to a standstill at times, but we just couldn't find the killer blow.”
Worcester and Harlequins conclude the midweek round of Premiership fixtures when they meet at Sixways on Thursday.