- Cipriani’s Critique of English Rugby
- The Maverick vs. The Pragmatists
- The Need for Unconventional Thinking in Rugby
Even during a busy rugby week, Danny Cipriani’s new autobiography Who Am I? has been causing a bit of a commotion. If the former England fly-half had represented his country as effectively and frequently as he claims he flirted with the nation’s ladies, his record for most caps would never be surpassed.
The line that struck a chord, however, had nothing to do with his – how shall we say it? – active personal life. Focus instead on Cipriani’s views as to why England was so reluctant to select him, instead of the squad rotation details serialized in The Times. It has been a traditional indicator of both desire and physical endurance, he claims, for years that they have favored selecting players who are the quickest to get up after a ruck or tackle. Cipriani has a significantly different perspective. “I’m thinking, ‘Who gives a rat’s behind?'” Surely it matters more what they do when they’re walking?'”
In essence, this is the debate currently dividing English rugby. Call it the Roundheads versus the Cavaliers or the Pragmatists versus the Musketeers. Or, if you prefer its contemporary form, Owen Farrell versus Marcus Smith. Although this is not entirely fair to Farrell and Smith, who are both valuable players in their ways, it does convey Cipriani’s point.
Because Cipriani expresses directly what the rest of us have been attempting to express for years. Rugby in England – and a few other countries – has been instantaneously suspicious of mavericks or anyone with a slightly out-of-the-box vision for a variety of reasons.
Understandably, not every coach wished to place their entire professional future in the hands of Cipriani, but what might have transpired had they done so?
We have a general idea of the answer. When Cipriani was eventually invited by Eddie Jones to start in the third Test against South Africa in a wet Cape Town in 2018, he won the match for England with an opportunistic cross-kick that he now admits was a gamble in every sense of the word. As a result of relying on instinct as opposed to rational calculation, he produced an out-of-the-ordinary result that paid off handsomely.
Cipriani’s recompense? He never again played for England. This speaks volumes about the lack of faith in the unconventional that has come to define English rugby. When things becomes tough—and even when it doesn’t—people play the odds instead of thinking smarter.
All of this seems to have reached its logical end under Steve Borthwick, with no one trying anymore. It may all come together on Saturday against Argentina in a steamy Marseille, but it’s been tough to watch. Which is worse: losing after employing the available assaulting artillery or failing to attempt any shots whatsoever?
The other killer remark published in the past few days appeared in these pages over the weekend. In a candid blog, England’s Six Nations offensive coach Nick Evans recounted his first week. “Before that, there was no attacking system,” he disclosed, adding that England had entered matches with a defensive mindset rather than a desire to win.
Anyone who has seen England play this year would likely not be surprised by this. However, Evans, yet another talented international fly-half, also identified the fundamental issue that has been holding England back.
Due to their defensive desperation, they had retreated so deeply into their shelters that they had forgotten how to escape.
England’s defense has gotten progressively worse this year, allowing 30 tries in nine games. Their worst offence may be slipping behind the modern game’s rapid progression. Even when South Africa won the 2019 World Cup on the strength of their “Bomb Squad” and unstoppable pack, their back three still possessed a spark of genuine electricity.
New Zealand, France, Australia, Scotland, Fiji, Argentina, and Italy will all strike quickly in the coming weeks. Mack Hansen and James Lowe, the wingers for Ireland, are mobile threats who can also cause the unexpected. This World Cup will not be won by teams that are unwilling to take even the smallest risks.
Perhaps Cipriani protests a bit too often, but I’ve always found him to be thoughtful and unashamed to be himself. Talent devoid of effort is a notoriously disheartening combination, but Cipriani has always been devoted to rugby.
It is too late for him, at age 35, to reinvigorate England’s World Cup campaign, but perhaps his rugby philosophy – minus the more provocative off-field anecdotes – should be posted on the walls of a few dressing rooms in the coming days. Visionaries can upset the boat but, without them, there can only be strictly limited imagination. It is preferable to aspire high and fall short than to settle for a mundane, formulaic failure.
