posted Jan 7, 2009

Coming back from injury - true: allow him to make some mistakes - certainly even the charge downs will be easily solved: But not wanting to tackle - unforgivable.

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posted Jan 7, 2009

*sigh*

why does everyone think cipriani dosen't want to tackle?

He's just not a big tackler like wilkinson - who is over rated in his tackling anyway. I mean it's not like he dosen't actually go into the contact he's just got a bad technique where he goes too high and instead of around the waist he hits chest height and rides the contact which for his size wont do that much.

It's bad technique not willingness to tackle.

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posted Jan 7, 2009

I was at Wasps v Quins at the weekend and he had a mixed game; a couple of excellent "quick hands" moments which enabled scores, two charge downs and one mystifyingly bad piece of kicking out of hand.

On the charge-downs he is taking a bit too long and he doesn't seem to be willing/able to adjust the trajectory of his kicks when he feels pressure coming. Also for the first charge-down he simply didn't get deep enough into the pocket. He's lacking some confidence which is understandable; a terrible injury then straight into internationals which was too early. When he gets flat though and passes late he's still the best 10 in england at making things happen...

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posted Jan 7, 2009

To the author of the article,

Why will you get annoyed by a player TRYING to be the worlds greatest - thats what everyone does.

Surely you mean people who say he already is the best.

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posted Jan 7, 2009

If people think about what the role of a fly half is, then they will quickly realise that DC is not a no.10.
His kicking (both place and tactical) is woeful, his tackling is poor and he doesn't get the line moving. He has a turn of speed that could be utilised in the center but he is not a fly half.

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posted Jan 7, 2009

Red_stag,

The author of the article is not annoyed that Dan is trying to be the best player in the world he is simply suggesting that he has been over rated! Which I agree with.

The problem with Danny is that he has believed in his own greatness. A lot has come to him at an early age and he has delt with it poorly. Until he sorts his head out his game will continue to worsen!

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posted Jan 7, 2009

When a fly half receives the ball under pressure he has the option of dummying to kick and side stepping the attempted charge down.

I remember John Rutherford doing this regularly; it gave him more time, space and is great to watch.

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posted Jan 7, 2009

Wouldn't it be great if England were adventurous and played Cipriani at 10, and Geraghty at 12? With Care at 9, Sackey, Strettle and Armitage at back 3, plenty of pace!

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posted Jan 8, 2009

"If people think about what the role of a fly half is, then they will quickly realise that DC is not a no.10.
His kicking (both place and tactical) is woeful, his tackling is poor and he doesn't get the line moving. He has a turn of speed that could be utilised in the center but he is not a fly half. "

The role of a fly half has changed drastically in the last 10 years or so.

It's far more of an inside centre role, with 10&12 doing a lot of the same work. A lot of back line moves should be run from the 12 channel anyway.

Having said that Cipriani plays to his and wasps strengths, he carries to the gain line and passes late allowing people like Fluety and Waldouck/Waters/Lewsey to hit gaps with the back three supporting as a second wave of runners.

Simply put he's not their to get the backline moving in the traditional sense he's there to manufacture line breaks for the 12, 13 & 15.

As for his tactical kicking, thats more a part of the ELV's imo, as last year his TK was spot on, yet this year you have far more aimless kicking downt he field form all 10's.

His goal kicking rate is reasonably high, so i'm not sure where you draw that conclusion. It's telling that wasps have won more with him back then they did without him.

The thing thats starting to get really annoying is how many people seem to think defence is the Number one priority. How many times do you see Wasps opened up in the 10 channel? Either this season or last? not that many.

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posted Jan 8, 2009

Cipriano is just out of the colts so any assessment is premature.

If Wilkinson hasn't reached his peak who knows where Cips will end up.

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