McGeechan slams "very harsh decision" to drop Cipriani
Danny Cipriani will have to wait to make first England start
Thursday, 06, Mar 2008 09:01
Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan has leaped to the defence of Danny Cipriani and said the young fly-half could be play for his club on Sunday.
Cipriani was selected to play for England against Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday, but he was dropped today after being photographed outside a nightclub at 0:20 GMT last night.
McGeechan described the decision to drop the 20-year-old as a "very harsh decision" and said Cipriani could play against Harlequins in the Guinness Premiership.
"We are hugely disappointed with the decision to withdraw Danny from the England team, and similarly disappointed for Danny himself," said McGeechan.
"Danny was pictured outside a nightclub last night, where he had gone in to see a friend. He did not stay inside the nightclub for any length of time and he was not drinking.
"He was at worst naïve in his actions, but no more than that. Given the circumstances, a measured response to his actions was required and I think this is a very harsh decision."
Cipriani has been hot on the heels of Jonny Wilkinson in wearing the England number ten shirt.
His selection at full-back in place of Iain Balshaw was seen as a way of slowly grooming him for eventually taking over from Wilkinson.