Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Steve Diamond has backed fly-half Danny Cipriani for a place in England’s Six Nations squad.
Cipriani starred for Sale in their tight 15-9 win against Wasps on Saturday, and acquired all the points for the Sharks with four successfully converted penalties and a drop goal at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Speaking to Eurosport, Diamond said:
Danny played really well and he’s pushed into that potential England squad whenever it is announced. You learn more playing for a club like Sale where it doesn’t always go well.
You have to learn how to develop as a player and Danny has done that over the past two or three years which is why he wants to stay around here for the next couple of years. He’s a leader by way of his skill sets but he’s also a leader by way of his influence.
He has got the full compliment of skills. It’s so rare these days but so valuable and he has the full skill set. He’s more mature as a player and he understands what he has got to do. He has worked really hard on his kicking over the past few weeks and his defence has also come on leaps and bounds and he is a real team player for us.
Cipriani missed out on England’s 2015 World Cup squad, but is definitely in the frame for a return to international rugby in the 2016 Six Nations campaign.
The 28-year-old has 14 England caps to his name, and with recent form it’s hard not to predict that he’ll add to his tally at some point.
If he keeps his performances up for Sale in the Aviva Premiership, surely he’ll force Eddie Jones to include him in the England squad.
