Rebels move Danny Cipriani to bench for game against Waratahs – Rugby news
Former England and London Wasps fullback and fly half Danny Jerome Cipriani moves to the bench for the Rebels weekend clash with the Waratahs.
Danny Cipriani joined the super rugby championships new entrants Melbourne Rebels in February 2011.
Famous for his talent and off field controversies, the 23-year-old Englishman’s move to Australia came as he wanted to find a place in the English Squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2011.
Before the start of the Super XV, Cipriani was widely believed as the first choice fly half as he started the training with the squad.
However, later in the opening game of the season for Rebels against the Waratahs, Jimmy Hilgendorf took the field for Rebels to denounce the popular notion that Cipriani is the first choice fly half for Rebels.
However, since the initial moments of their round one game against the Waratahs, Cipriani has been the first choice fly half for the Rebels as Jimmy Hilgendorf sustained an injury to his AC joint.
Cipriani has featured for Rebels in nine games they have played so far in the Super XV. Cipriani is Rebels top scorer with 89 points. He achieved this tally of points with a try to his name alongside scoring 12 conversions and 16 penalties.
While his attacking/offensive game was impressive, Cipriani has struggled with his defence. Cipriani is probably Rebels worst defender. Cipriani also tops the charts for the number of tackles missed in the championship so far. One of such errors resulted
in Rebels conceding the game to the Sharks during the earlier rounds of super rugby 2011.
Return of several injured players to the Rebels starting line-up for their weekend encounter against the Waratahs at Aussies Stadium has boosted their match preparations.
Mark Gerrard has recovered from hamstring injury and will take the field at outside centre position. Return of Gerrard forced Julian Huxley to fullback position. Stirling Mortlock will also take part in the game after recovering from the back problem while
Cooper Vuna will join Danny Cipriani at bench.
Waratahs earlier thrashed the super rugby new entrants a thumping defeat (43 – 0) in which Rebels failed to score a point in the game. Rebels will be hoping for a better result in their Saturday April 30, 2011 games against the Waratahs particularly after
the return of their key players. Waratahs squad includes:
Starting line-up: 1 Rodney Blake,2 Ged Robinson,3 Greg Somerville,4 Alister Campbell,5 Hugh Pyle,6 Jarrod Saffy,7 Michael Lipman,8 Gareth Delve (vc),9 Nick Phipps,10 James Hilgendorf,11 Peter Betham,12 Stirling Mortlock (c),13 Mark Gerrard,14
Lachlan Mitchell,15 Julian Huxley.
Replacements: 16 Heath Tessmann,17 Laurie Weeks,18 Hoani Macdonald,19 Tim Davidson,20 Richard Kingi,21 Cooper Vuna,22 Danny Cipriani.
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