Danny Cipriani: Ex-England fly-half slams Eddie Jones and backs Danny Care

Danny Cipriani has backed Danny Care’s comments that England under Eddie Jones was “like living in a dictatorship”.

Care, who won 101 caps until his international retirement earlier this year, was highly critical of Jones in his new autobiography.Everything happens for a reason‘, claiming that “everyone was terrified of him”.

Cipriani has made just two appearances under Jones, despite his achievements in the Premier League, including being named Premiership Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year in 2019.

Jones led England to three Six Nations wins during his six-year tenure between 2016 and 2022, plus finishing second to South Africa at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

“I don’t think it came as a surprise to anyone because of the way Eddie did his press conferences, the way he was when he talked to people,” Cipriani said. Sky Sports News.

“I was never afraid of Eddie. He was very resistant to anyone who had a difference of opinion with him.

“So everyone on that team had to do and say, ‘Yes sir, no sir, three bags full, sir’. For me, that wasn’t something that I was willing to do, to bend my truth, just to wear a cap at that moment to get.

“So for me I’m not surprised by what Danny (Care) said. I think it’s fair for him to come out and say it because coaches like that are the ones, especially in rugby, who limit the sport and make people instigating does not want to participate.”

Cipriani: England needs more individuality

Steve Borthwick took over from Jones at the end of 2022 and achieved mixed results as England finished third at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, narrowly losing to South Africa in the semi-finals.

They finished third in this year’s Six Nations but have lost five of their last six games, all by seven points less.

England were defeated at home to New Zealand and Australia in their opening matches of the Autumn Nations Series, while world champions South Africa were next up for the Borthwick side on Saturday.

Cipriani was one of the most flamboyant players of his time and he believes England need to be more creative.

“I can see that the way the games are played, there isn’t a lot of individuality or room for expansion,” he explained.

“You always play according to a coach’s structure or system, so you are always limited to the coach’s ideas, which means these kinds of losses will happen often, or you will come close to winning.

But if you actually loosen the shackles and let the boys play in a way that suits them, then you create a team that plays on spontaneity, ingenuity and creation and you can’t defend, you can’t read. That.

“So if you start playing structures you will always have tight, close games, but if you keep expanding the game for the players you don’t know how good they can be.”

Cipriani to play in hybrid rugby match to raise awareness about MND

Cipriani will be one of many former England rugby league and union internationals coming together this Sunday to take part in a unique hybrid match in Headingley to raise money for research and support for people living with motor neurone disease.

The idea was conceived by Rob Burrow and former Gloucester player Ed Slater, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2022 before Burrow passed away in June aged 41.

The ‘745 Game’ – named after the shirt numbers worn by Burrow, Slater and Scottish great Doddie Weir, who died in 2022 aged 52 – will be played according to a set of cross-code rules designed specifically for the occasion .

The 13-a-side showdown includes unlimited tackles in your own half, but six after half, uncontested scrums and lineouts, with five points awarded for a try, and two each for a conversion and a drop goal.

“We’re doing a game for the people to raise awareness for a disease for which we have no answers, and for three men who all led with their hearts. Rob was always defining the odds, Doddie was a larger than life character, and Ed was and is a true leader and a compassionate man.

“Ed is the only reason I put my boots on to play rugby again is for someone like Ed and the character that he is and the father that he is and the captain that he was. He was the captain of a player.”

“He led from the front and that’s the type of person I definitely support to raise awareness and for a good cause. We’re going to have a great, big day.

“The rugby on display will be fantastic and I think the energy in the stadium will be phenomenal because there will be no tension or rivalry. These will be people coming together for a good cause.”

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