England
Moore calls for Cipriani Test recall
ESPN Staff
May 5, 2014
Danny Cipriani has excelled for England this season © PA Photos
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Former England hooker Brian Moore has backed Danny Cipriani for a Test recall.

Cipriani last played for England in 2008 and after a spell abroad at the Melbourne Rebels, is back in the Aviva Premiership and playing some fantastic rugby for the Sale Sharks. With Owen Farrell expected to be ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand, as his Saracens side are hot favourites to reach the Premiership final, Stuart Lancaster will have to look elsewhere for a fly-half to start on June 7 in Auckland.

At present it looks to be a three horse race with Stephen Myler, George Ford and Cipriani all laying some claim to starting that match. For Moore, he believes the time is right to recall Cipriani.

"At the moment it is a difficult decision as Myler, Cipriani and Ford all showed flashes of brilliant dexterity at the weekend and their penalty kicking success rates are reasonable," Moore wrote in his column for the Daily Telegraph. "However, of these Cipriani has shown that he is able to play at international level, whatever his subsequent travails.

"Playing him, given that the others are still young, does not stop Lancaster looking at alternatives beyond 2015.

"I know that England have an unwritten selection rule of not picking trouble-makers - to use a polite euphemism. Only those who now play with Cipriani know whether he fails that test - if he does not it is time to see his return."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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