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Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has stringently denied Danny Cipriani’s claims that he acted “like a horny teenager” during his time as England boss, saying it’s a “complete fabrication”.
Jones, who is less than a week out from leading the Wallabies’ campaign in France for the World Cup, said he had rarely had conversations with players over their sexual relationships and certainly not with Cipriani.
The accusations came in extracts from Cipriani’s new book, Who Am I?, have been published in recent days.
Eddie Jones with Danny Cipriani after their victory during the third test match against the Springboks at Newlands Stadium on June 23, 2018 in Cape Town. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
The former England fly-half, who played 16 Tests over a decade, including two under Jones in 2018, wrote that not only did he feel uncomfortable by Jones’ line of questioning but that it affected his chances of playing under the former Australian boss.
“Mate, doesn’t Kirsty Gallacher live around here? Haven’t you shagged her? What’s she like?” Cipriani said Jones asked him at a team dinner.
He added: “Eddie keeps pecking, like a horny teenager, and in the end I tell him straight, ‘Eddie, I don’t want to talk about this, it’s making me uncomfortable.’”
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Jones denied the claims.
“I cannot remember that,” Jones said. That’s hardly the sort of language I would use. It’s not how I speak to players. In all the years I’ve coached, there would be very few conversations like that with players.
“It’s not to say I haven’t had a conversation like that, but there would have been very few — and certainly not with Cipriani. We didn’t have a close relationship, so I’m hardly going to engage in a conversation like that with him.
“To be quite frank, it’s a complete fabrication. We didn’t select him. When players don’t get selected, they always have an axe to grind — we know that.
“He’s selling a book, so nothing surprises me when players want to sell books. It’s absurd. It’s almost too absurd to talk about. I think it’s very sad for him that he feels he has to make something up to sell his book.”
In happier times: Eddie Jones (R) with Danny Cipriani on June 14, 2018 in Umhlanga Rocks, South Africa. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Jones added: “It’s just f***ing nonsense. If anyone is stupid enough to pay attention to it then good luck to them.”
In recent days, Ciprani has taken to social media to say Jones had to accept he was to blame for England’s mess heading into the World Cup.
“What an unbelievable cop out,” Cipriani said on Twitter, after Jones said the RFU’s failure to address their pathways had seen the national team struggle consequently.
“Once again… As the head coach of England you set the standard to follow, not by winning, by being a leader people look up to or admire, being accountable and inspiring a nation through your vision.
“Not by belittling employees, running through staff, having a limited understanding of the game and getting hired because the RFU don’t know what they are looking for hence why they employed Eddie.
“RFU have a huge role to play but Eddie passing the buck is not news…”
In response to a fan, Cipriani added that Jones “ran rugby into the ground’ during his tenure at the helm.
“Rugby needs to make a change in this country,’ he said. ‘Eddie ran it further into the ground from a shocking 2015 W/C exit.
“If getting to the World Cup final in 2019 or even winning it in 2003 was enough to expand the game then that’s what would have happened.
“RFU have a huge role to play, it’s not a serious business. Selling Twickenham out is not difficult. Only when they don’t will they think to look in the mirror…”
Owen Farrell has opened up for the first time since his suspension. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Jones isn’t the only person Cipriani has hit out in his book.
Cipriani, 35, said Owen Farrell, George Ford and Dan Cole ran the England team in 2015 around their home World Cup like the “mafia”.
When asked about that Farrell said: “I’ve seen what you’re talking about. I don’t even know what to say, to be honest. I know Danny’s got a book coming out so hopefully that goes well for him.”
England captain opens up on World Cup ban
As well as brushing away Cipriani’s claims, England’s suspended captain Farrell has opened up for the first time about his suspension for a high shot on Welsh back-rower Taine Basham.
After initially being cleared from the upgraded yellow card at Twickenham, a World Rugby judiciary panel interjected to appeal the decision.
In the end, it saw Farrell miss England’s final two warm-up World Cup Tests, including their maiden loss to Fiji.
The English captain will also miss their tournament opener against Argentina in Marseille as well as their second Test against Japan.
His suspension has added to England’s horrendous build-up to their campaign.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Farrell said he accepted the ban and was looking forward to making a positive contribution.
“I made a mistake and I got banned for it in the end,” Farrell said.
“I am not going to sit here and moan about it now, I am excited for this World Cup to start, I am excited to see what this team can do and I look forward to being available again.
“I knew when it came on the big screen. It is what it is. I’ve been banned, I accept that I’ve been banned. I’m gutted not to be playing but I’m trying to do everything I can for this team.”
All Blacks star in doubt for World Cup opener
France aren’t the only ones with injury concerns heading into their World Cup opener against the All Blacks on Friday (Saturday, 5:15am AEST), with the three-time world champions expected to lose star back Jordie Barrett.
The versatile back, who has regularly played at inside centre over the past year, is managing a knee-injury that is likely to keep him out of the World Cup opener.
“He’s got a niggle in his left knee,” All Blacks assistant Scott McLeod told reporters.
“We’re just taking precautions really. He doesn’t have to train today.”
The All Blacks have depth in the position, with David Havili and Anton Lienert-Brown likely battling it out play inside Rieko Ioane if Barrett is indeed unavailable.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.