Danny Cipriani to chase England World Cup squad spot against France

By The Guardian

Sale Sharks man set for opportunity at full-back from bench in warm-up game. Paris match will see Mike Brown start for first time since March.

Danny Cipriani has been given another opportunity to stake a claim for a World Cup squad place after Stuart Lancaster named him on the bench for Saturday’s warm-up match against France.

The versatile Sale Sharks player, who this month was re-bailed until after the World Cup following his arrest in June on suspicion of drink-driving, was rarely involved during his 30 minutes on the pitch in last Saturday’s victory over the French at Twickenham, but gets another opportunity in Paris.

Lancaster is likely to give Cipriani that chance at full-back when he comes on, as Mike Brown is set to start for the first time since he suffered concussion in March. Jamie George gets the chance to audition for a spot as the third hooker while Billy Twelvetrees is also named among the replacements, alongside Nick Easter.

The starting line-up contains 14 changes from the one at Twickenham, with only Jonny May remaining of the first XV. Chris Robshaw returns to lead the side while Joe Launchbury plays his first international in 12 months after returning from injury.

Lancaster said: “Having reviewed last Saturday there were a lot of things we were pleased with considering it was the first game. There is now an opportunity for those not involved or who didn’t get much opportunity from the bench to put a marker down and build on that performance.

“France were very good last weekend and will be even stronger at home and this will be a big test but these guys have been working hard for the opportunity and are desperate to go out and perform. I’m delighted for Jamie George who hopefully gets his first cap and also Joe Launchbury, who has worked tirelessly and patiently to get back to fitness.”
England team

M Brown (Harlequins); J Nowell (Exeter), J Joseph (Bath), L Burrell (Northampton), J May (Gloucester); G Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester); J Marler (Harlequins), T Youngs (Leicester), D Cole (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), J Launchbury (Wasps), J Haskell (Wasps), C Robshaw (Harlequins), B Vunipola (Wasps)

Replacements J George (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens) D Wilson (Bath), D Attwood (Bath), N Easter (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), D Cipriani (Sale), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester)