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England call for Hipkiss
Leicester centre gets the nod to replace injured Cipriani
By Tony Curtis Last updated: 20th May 2008
Hipkiss: England call
We all agreed there was good cover at fly-half with Charlie Hodgson, Olly Barkley and Toby Flood, and so we decided to go with Dan.
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Martin Johnson has turned to Leicester centre Dan Hipkiss to fill the void left by the injured Danny Cipriani.
Wasps fly-half Cipriani faces six months on the sidelines after suffering a fracture dislocation to his right ankle in the Premiership play-off victory over Bath on Sunday.
Cipriani was expected to play a key role on the tour to New Zealand at fly-half, with the enticing prospect of the 20-year-old going up against Dan Carter.
However new England manager Johnson has resisted the temptation of adding another fly-half to his squad with Charlie Hodgson, Olly Barkley and Toby Flood all candidates for the No.10 shirt in the first Test against New Zealand on June 14.
Gloucester fly-half Ryan Lamb had been expected to get the nod, however he will remain with the Saxons squad for the Churchill Cup.
The 25-year-old Hipkiss has won six caps and was part of the 2007 World Cup squad and is an exciting prospect in the centres.
Johnson said: "Rob Andrew (England New Zealand tour manager), the coaches and I discussed suitable candidates for the tour yesterday.
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"We all agreed there was good cover at fly-half with Charlie Hodgson, Olly Barkley and Toby Flood, and so we decided to go with Dan.
"He gives us further options at centre and he has been playing well for Leicester Tigers in recent weeks. He deserves his chance."
Hipkiss believes the call-up will give him a chance to cement his place in the side, although he does admit he feels sorry for Cipriani.
He said: "I obviously cannot help but feel for Danny and the injury he has suffered, and my thoughts are with him.
"However, this gives me a chance to tour New Zealand and it will be a very tough and challenging environment.
"The Rugby World Cup last year will hold me in good stead and it is an opportunity I am looking forward to."
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Comments
Craig Lacey says...
I think Johnno has got it spot on, Shane Geraghty is the only other option for the 10 shirt, as he is injured that leaves the opportunity to take hipkiss in the centres. I would say he was unlucky to have been omitted in the first place. Flood is an exceptionally under-rated fly half who is always going to struggle to play 10 in a side that includes Wilko. Flood is an exceptionally calm individual on the pitch who rarely makes mistakes. He may not have as much unpredictability as a Hodgson or a lamb, but then their will be a lot less errors from him. Wilko was hailed as the best for his all round game, Flood is out of the same mould and is the player I would expect to be backing up Hodgson for the 10 jersey. Barkley must be a shoe in for the 12 spot with noon or hipkiss outside of him. I still feel tait should be a centre not a full back. But we can only wait and see.
Posted 14:55 22nd May 2008
Jake Lock says...
yeah but we need a player to fill that 10 gap how many times have we seen hogdson bottle it. lamb should have gone purely as a fly half and he should have been given some of the reward he deserves for consistent perfomances week in week out just like kennedy.
Posted 22:51 21st May 2008
Andrew Rimmer says...
I agree with the choice to take Hipkiss, he consistently breaks the gain line and gives a target for the forwards. However i also think that leaves the number 10 position short of cover (barkley and flood both 12's!). I think MJ has made the right choice giving lamb game time with the saxons as it is still a bit too soon to throw him in against the likes of the AB's. Hodgson has to start at 10! his vision, passing and kicking out of hand makes him the only man who can get the side going forward and spark the backs like cipriani.
Posted 10:27 21st May 2008
Seaun Lovell says...
I would only presume that Wayne Wilson did not see Charlie Hodgson on the last Lions tour at No 10, outstanding, should have started. And i also guess he hasn't seen him at all this season for Sale otherwise he would not be making comments about him being the worst player ever to wear the white shirt!! Hodgson is an excellent replacement for Cipriani, as for Lamb, he needs more Saxons games first, as Sunday proved. Hipkiss is an inspired choice, well done Johno.
Posted 10:09 21st May 2008
Wayne Wilson says...
Hodgson is possibly the worst player ever to wear the white shirt. I was tingling at the prospect of seeing Cipriani here in Auckland. Now I just want to throw my ticket away. Lamb should have alreadt been selected. To overlook him now makes me despair.
Posted 02:28 21st May 2008
Rob Baker says...
Ryan Lamb is a liability in a pressure situation as he proved on Sunday - dire (weak) tackle on Tuilagi for the 1st try, crucial missed penalty and an appalling box kick that lead to the try that cost Gloucester the game. It's not the first time either, in last year's premiership final he went AWOL. He needs to knuckle down, showboat less and develop on the Saxons tour. As for Hipkiss he's a strong choice and has the advantage that he is the one OC that consistently breaks the gain line AND stays on his feet enabling fast recycling - that is a huge advantage for opening the second phase. No surprise that Varndell is the top GP try scorer two years running by some distance (this year in a poor Leicester team).
Posted 21:33 20th May 2008
Jay Kay says...
I disagree with tony because i believe johnno knows what hes doing. I think he would prefer the likes of Ryan Lamb and Tom Varndell to get full games for England saxons and get some international game time under their belts rather than go to new zealand and be a bit part player and maybe come on for the last few minutes. The last thing he wants to do is throw someone with no/little international experience in at the deep end.
Posted 19:07 20th May 2008
Oliver Crameri says...
Hipkiss may be alright as a club player,but that is all he is!!when are the critics going to realise these younger players have to perform on the big stage!!this is one of the biggest stages there is in world rugby along with playing the Wallabies and the Springboks.So dont expect much from players like Danny Hipkiss,or any of the others.It will be two big losses for England,and two bruising test matches.I would put Olly Barkeley at first five eights!!
Posted 16:49 20th May 2008
Nick Crosbie says...
I prefer Hipkiss to Noon at 13 but this was the wrong replacement. It had to be Lamb in the absence of Cipriani. That said Lamb lacks physical presence so maybe that's the concern. Real shame Geraghty is not fit as he, together with Lamb, Cipriani and Barkley are the guys to contest 10 and 12 positions in the next few years. It pains me to say that it has to be Hodgson at 10 against Baa Baas and All Blacks. Flood just average for me.
Posted 15:42 20th May 2008
Chris Green says...
Hipkiss is a superb outside centre with great pace, power and a good side step. Anyone who thinks he is a crash ball merchant clearly hasn't watched him play. He should have been in the team from the start. Nevertheless, I think MJ is possibly making a mistake not taking another specialist 10, Barkley shoiuld clearly start at 12 where he can really hurt the opposition, hence we are left with scant cover for Hodgson should he get injured or get an attack of the collywobbles.
Posted 15:21 20th May 2008
Jackie Snell says...
I agree with Tony Moss. England already have core strength. What we need to bring on is creativity. Ryan Lamb should have been called up - simple as that.
Posted 14:17 20th May 2008
John Parry says...
He's a good player but it's difficult to imagine that this will work well really. Is this Johnson making a statement of intent about England playing the same type of game that England have often relied on? It's not that I'm one of the people who dislike the use of the old fashioned "ball up shirt" tactic but I was really hoping that Johnson would look to liven things up somewhat this year by introducing people with the ability to at least give the impression they are able to improvise when they have the ball.
Posted 13:54 20th May 2008
Tony Moss says...
This is a dreadful decision. What is Johnson thinking? It's not about Hipkiss as he is a fine outside Centre. But why someone please tell me would you replace a hugely gifted and creative fly half with another crash ball outside centre. We've already got two in the squad in Noon and Tindall. It makes no sense whatsoever. It's almost like admitting Cipriani shouldn't have been picked in the first place. It had to be Lamb, it really did.
Posted 13:16 20th May 2008
Chris Morton says...
Re the taking of Hipkiss - a good player, but when will he learn to pass the ball? He breaks through, gets his head down and tries to keep going, totally oblivious to the fact that there may be support alongside him. I don't think I have ever seen him pass a ball in all the times I have watched Leicester. Good luck to England and the Lions!
Posted 12:55 20th May 2008
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