England
Dawson backs Ashton and Cipriani for England recall
ESPN Staff
May 2, 2014
Chris Ashton is excelling for Saracens © Getty Images
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Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson has backed Danny Cipriani and Chris Ashton for a place in the squad for the June tour of New Zealand.

Stuart Lancaster will unveil the squad on May 15 and there is a growing clamour for Cipriani to be given another shot on the Test stage. He last played for England in 2008 and after a couple of years in the wilderness, he appears to be back to his best at Sale and spoke this week of his hopes of an international recall.

Dawson believes the time is right to give Cipriani another chance and wrote in his column for the Daily Mirror: "Cipriani's upturn in form for Sale almost demands that England give him another look. I have him behind George Ford and Owen Farrell, who is No.1 fly-half by a significant margin. But Cipriani at his best could bring a new dimension to England's play".

And Dawson has also backed calls for Ashton to be recalled having been dropped for the Six Nations. He crossed for two tries in Saracens' 46-6 win over Clermont on Saturday, taking his tally to a record-breaking 11 in Europe this term, and Dawson wants him back on the flank to face the All Blacks saying it is a "no-brainer".

"It wasn't just his two in last week's semi-final which confirmed his return to top form, it was his all-round game," Dawson writes. "He is once again one of the best wingers in Europe and absolutely has to be in the team."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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