Coach Edwards expected Cipriani KO
Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:14
Say what? New England boy-wonder Danny Cipriani
Shaun Edwards says he expected there to be flair-ups in training this week ahead of the Heineken opener this weekend and insists that there is no issue between Danny Cipriani and Josh Lewsey.
The Wasps head coach made the outrageous statement, "We always have a fight in Heineken Cup week", after the stories emerged on Wednesday that there had been an incident between two of his English stars.
The 41-year-old said while obviously he did not encourage overt violence he was definitely pleased with the level of passion and commitment his squad had been showing in the build up to their home encounter with Castres.
"It is Heineken Cup week. There is always a fight in Heineken Cup week," Edwards said.
"We don't condone punching, particularly in a game because you get sent off for it, but sometimes in training emotions run a little bit wild.
"We encourage emotion. Rugby is an emotional game and the Heineken Cup is one of the most emotional competitions in world rugby.
"When it is Heineken Cup week there is an extra edge in training."
English rugby’s latest pin-up Cipriani apparently took exception to remarks made by his 31-year-old teammate Lewsey after the flyhalf had missed a couple tackles in a defensive drill and the resulting ruckus had reportedly ended with him on the receiveing end of a discussion ending right hook from his fullback.
Despite the fact that the 20-year-old arrived the next day sporting a cut just above his lip for his troubles, director of rugby, Ian McGeechan has confirmed that neither player will face disciplinary action and stated that the matter had in fact been blown out of proposition.
With Cipriani’s profile seemingly increasing daily, particularly since his new relationship with model and television presenter Kelly Brook hit the tabloids, many have started to question the young talents priorities.
Despite all the hype though Edwards was adamant that his young playmaker was no different to anyone else in the team and that the player himself had continued to do his job as professionally as always.
"Danny is treated the same here as everybody else," said Edwards.
"If he is late for training he will be fined and if his training is not up to scratch he gets told off, as everyone else does.
"What goes into the papers is out of our control. All that we can do is make sure that Danny's got a good attitude to training, leaves his ego at the door as the rest of the players do and works hard, as he has done over the last three years.
"No-one at this club is questioning his commitment. He is one of the hardest working players at the club.
"If he was late for training I would be a lot more concerned."
