MARTIN JOHNSON'S SECRET LIST
England boss identifies 'bad-attitude' players
MARTIN JOHNSON has put together a secret file of players whose temperament and attitude are hindering their progress at the highest level.
Danny Cipriani heads a list of English-qualified stars who Red Rose boss Johnson believes have character flaws that must be addressed.
He names his revised 32-man Elite Player Squad for the autumn internationals tomorrow, with only ONE player on his list - David Strettle - likely to get the nod.
Sport of the World understands Cipriani, 21, recovering from a fractured fibula, was NEVER in contention following a series of bust-ups.
Having initially been entrusted with the pivotal fly-half role, the talented youngster angered Johnson last November when he missed a coach's meeting, only to be spotted at an Armani fashion shoot later that day.
Cipriani blotted his copybook further when he clashed with coaching staff over fitness results on a pre-Six Nations camp two months later.
He has not been picked since, with Johnson's coaching team harbouring doubts over his ability to conform to their playing methods and buy into the team ethic.
A senior member of the England coaching staff said: "Danny's star has slipped a long way in our eyes. He's got plenty of work to do to get back to where he was 18 months ago. First and foremost, he has to regain our trust."
Cipriani is not the only player who is causing concern.
After Bath prop Matt Stevens tested positive for cocaine in January, Johnson vowed to get tough on players he believed had lost focus. He said: "We need to be able to trust people on and off the field."
Others being monitored include Quins full-back Mike Brown, Wasps winger Tom Varndell and Gloucester No 8 Luke Narraway.
Strettle's misdemeanours on last year's New Zealand tour, when he was the victim of a kiss-and-tell story by a lap-dancer, marked him out as potential trouble.
But he has impressed England's coaching team by battling back from a series of foot injuries and is set to be recalled to the injury-ravaged squad.
One player certain to be recalled, fitness permitting, is flanker Lewis Moody.
The World Cup winner, enjoying his benefit season at Leicester, has been earmarked to start at openside flanker against Australia in 13 days.
He said: "Just being involved with England is massive. You get that tingling in your stomach when you meet up.
"After nine seasons with England, I still get the same buzz I did at the beginning.
"When I'm injured and not playing, I realise how much I miss it.
"It will be the first autumn series I've been involved in and if I'm lucky enough to play, it will be absolutely awesome."
Johnson will inform his squad on Tuesday of the XV to face the Wallabies, with Leicester's Louis Deacon likely to partner skipper Steve Borthwick in the second row.
Jonny Wilkinson will make his first international start in 18 months at fly-half, with Shane Geraghty partnering Dan Hipkiss in the midfield.
This article has 2 comments
Jack Spratt has not gota clue what hes going on about and has clearly never played a decent level of rugby! Have someone in the team with a attitude problem is a massive hinderance and will undoubtedly hold back progress. As far as a pool of talent it is getting strnger and only goin to improve just look at the results of the agegroup sides in recent times!
By pete radford. Posted November 3 2009 at 12:06 AM.
Not so much a secret list more an open book. Cipriani is as valuable for rugby off the field as on it as he is the only player in the public eye apart from that other fly half in France. Attendances this year have been dismal and knowing there are so many injuries has not helped as favourite players are not there. The pool of top players is geting so small Johnson has little choice anyway. Ironic that the players who went off to France this year have done so well yet the top brass here slated them.
By Jack Spratt. Posted October 25 2009 at 8:36 AM.