Danny Cipriani’s missed chances prove costly in Sale’s draw with Saracens

Sale’s director of rugby, Steve Diamond, was pleased with their draw against Saracens, despite Danny Cipriani costing his side victory with four missed conversions. Sharks were 17-0 up at one stage thanks to tries from Sam James, Johnny Leota and Tom Arscott but, following an excellent Sarries fightback, they found themselves 36-26 down with 10 minutes to go.

Late scores from TJ Ioane and Arscott duly rescued three points for Sale, but Cipriani was unable to hit the target from the tee to secure the win.

However, Diamond was content with the result, irrespective of the fly-half’s kicking woes. “I was delighted, particularly with being 10 points behind with 10 minutes to go,” he said. “I was really pleased with the last 15 minutes, it showed a lot of character. We were playing it out wide and scored a lot of good tries and Will [Addison] and Mike [Haley]were trying their best. In the last five games I think we’ve scored 19 tries and that’s what we’re good at doing so we will carry on in that vein.”

One frustration for Diamond could have been Chris Wyles’ second try, which was awarded just before half-time when the wing appeared to be in touch, but Diamond refused to be drawn into criticising the officials. “They had a dubious one in the corner, but you can’t whinge and moan, you’ve got to get on with it,” he said. “He was in touch, but you get on with it. They’ve got the TMO and, if he can’t see it, then there’s no point whinging about it.”

Saracens’ coach, Mark McCall, was also positive about the draw as his weakened outfit go seven points clear of second-placed Exeter Chiefs. He said: “Overall, we’ve got to be satisfied to get three points at a place where a lot of teams have struggled this year.

“We showed some good resilience and character to come back into it. The only disappointing thing was that when we got to 36-26 up, which seemed remarkable given the start we had, it was a little bit disappointing to let them back in, but they probably deserved it on the balance of play.

“We needed to tighten up our defence. We defended poorly in that first 20 minutes but we defended well in the second half.

“Even though they scored a couple of tries in the last 10 minutes, they had to work hard for those tries whereas they didn’t for the other three.”

Cipriani blunder costs Sale dearly

London - Danny Cipriani missed a late conversion that would have proved decisive as Sale were forced to settle for a thrilling 36-36 draw against Saracens in the English Premiership on Saturday.

Sale surged into an early 17-0 lead through tries from Sam James, Johnny Leota and Tom Arscott, but Saracens roared back to go ahead before the interval at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Jim Hamilton and Chris Wyles, who scored a pair of tries, touched down, while Charlie Hodgson and Ben Spencer added the conversions.

Hodgson, on his last appearance at the club where he started his career, also kicked a penalty before he was forced off with a head injury.

Cipriani kicked three penalties in the second period, but scores by Nick Tompkins and Mike Ellery moved the visitors 36-26 ahead.

TJ Ioane and Arscott crossed late on to haul Sale level again, but England international Cipriani was off-target with both conversions, the last of them following a 79th-minute try.

Elsewhere, James Hook scored 15 points to keep Gloucester in contention for the Premiership play-off and Champions Cup places with a 32-6 victory over Newcastle at Kingsholm.

Hook scored a try and kicked two penalties and two conversions before being replaced by Billy Burns with 16 minutes remaining.

Bill Meakes, Ross Moriarty, and Tom Savage also scored tries for Gloucester.

Billy Twelvetrees added a conversion with Craig Willis kicking two penalties for the Falcons.

Tom Collins scored his first senior hat-trick as Northampton routed Worcester 38-18 at Franklin's Gardens.

Collins, 21, showed electric pace and clever feet to help Saints to a much-needed bonus point win that avenged their opening-day defeat.

Worcester got two tries from Val Rapava-Ruskin and Wynand Olivier to give them a 15-12 half-time lead.

The game was still hanging in the balance until Collins scored his side's fifth try with 14 minutes remaining.

Harry Mallinder, Lee Dickson and George Pisi went over for Northampton's other tries.

Kirsty Gallacher 'secretly dating' Kelly Brook's ex Danny Cipriani

The 39-year-old is believed to have moved on from her ex with the hunky 28-year-old rugby player.

TV star Kirsty Gallacher is dating rugby player Danny Cipriani, according to the Sun on Sunday.

Kirsty – who split from her husband last summer – has been reportedly meeting love rat Danny in secret.

Friends close to the budding couple claim things have already become “serious and intense" between them.

Kirsty and Danny watch Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November

Danny, who famously cheated on Kelly Brook, has even enjoyed a weekend away with Kirsty – at the country home of Zara Philips and Mike Tindall.

A source said: “They had a great time and looked like a couple in the first flush of romance.”

Last summer Sky presenter Kristy, 39, split from husband Paul Sampson after 14 years together. Kirsty took part in these series of Strictly - she was eliminated in week six.

Kirsty with her ex Paul Sampson

Kelly Brook with Danny

They have two young sons, Oscar, seven, and Jude, four.

Kirsty, who turns 40 in January, recently admitted she would love to have another child.

She said: "It's not like, 'Oh, you're 40, you can't do this and you can't do that.' "To me it means nothing. I'd still like to have another child."

And speaking about dating back in November, she said: "I have dated this year and, after 15 years with just one person, it was interesting. It's fun and exciting, but I tried not to put any pressure on myself and I learned you should only do it if it's right. We'll see what happens."

Danny, who is ten years Kirsty's junior, dated Kelly Brook twice – first in 2010 and again in 2013. He has also dated Katie Price and Lindsay Lohan over the years.

Both Danny and Kirsty's rep declined to comment.

Steve Diamond frustrated after narrow defeat for Sale Sharks at Gloucester

STEVE Diamond admitted Sale Sharks are feeling the frustration after going down 23-19 at Gloucester last Friday night.

Nev Edwards scored his first two Premiership tries for the club but the side lying eighth in the Aviva Premiership were unable to hang on to the lead as two tries from Sione Kalamafoni clinched the victory for the Kingsholm men.

Sale director of rugby Diamond said: "There is a little bit of frustration there.

"We gave the ball away pretty easy when we were in their 22.

"Credit to Gloucester, they didn't turn the ball over in the crucial stages under pressure, and we're just frustrated with that."

Sharks conceded a try after only four minutes but did not let it affect their plans and remained patient.

A moment from magic Danny Cipriani produced the Sharks' first try. Following a driving maul, the ball was shipped out to Cipriani on the Gloucester 22, and he chipped it to perfection for Nev Edwards to race over the whitewash to score his first Premiership try.

Cipriani converted a penalty in front of the posts to make it 8-5 after 18 minutes.

Seventh-placed Gloucester levelled and went 11-8 ahead after 28 minutes.

Both sides looked to extend their lead heading into the final 10 minutes of the first half, but the half-time whistle went with everything still to play for.

Cipriani levelled with a penalty after Gloucester had been penalised at the ruck after the interval.

The Sharks had the momentum and winger Edwards went over to score his second try following a great team move, which ended with Mike Haley making a break into the 22, and he intelligently weaved his way around the Gloucester defence.

He then passed it to the left wing for Edwards to score. Cipriani missed the conversion to leave the score 16-11 after 50 minutes.

Gloucester fought back however, and number eight Kalamafoni crashed his way over from short distance to level.

After the hour mark, he scored his second try and the conversion was made to leave it 23-16.

Cipriani had the last word with a penalty and although the Sharks pressed hard they could not find the crucial late breakthrough to leave them with one point.

Sharks travel to Castres Olympique on Saturday (8.45pm) in the European Challenge Cup.

Mike Catt told Danny Cipriani 'I will end your England career' before fly-half was cut from Rugby World Cup squad as RFU confirm training ground clash

It was supposed to be a squad day off, but England found themselves in fire-fighting mode again yesterday, in relation to Mike Catt’s remarkable training-ground outburst at Danny Cipriani.

As reported by Sportsmail on Monday, the attacking-skills coach and the fly-half were involved in a verbal confrontation at England’s Surrey HQ at the end of August, shortly after Cipriani had been told he would not be in the final World Cup squad of 31. 

Catt over-reacted to a perceived lack of effort in a training drill and allegedly told the 27-year-old twice: ‘I will end your England career’.

The RFU confirmed a training ground incident occurred between Danny Cipriani (left) and coach Mike Catt 

Catt (second right with Stuart Lancaster's England coaching staff) told Cipriani: 'I will end your England career'

Other players are said to have been so taken aback by the force of the coach’s remarks that they sided with their team-mate and it is understood Catt later apologised. 

There was a concerted attempt to prevent the incident coming to light, but details emerged this week and forced the RFU into another damage-limitation exercise.

In the aftermath of England’s defeat against Australia which confirmed the pool-stage exit from their home tournament, alleged pre-match comments by Billy Vunipola came to light, suggesting unrest in the ranks over the selection of Sam Burgess and coach Andy Farrell’s dominant influence. 

RFU officials were forced into a scramble to address these off-message revelations that cast doubt on the official image of serene unity.

Now news of the Catt-Cipriani row has prompted another clear-up exercise. 

Cipriani heard news that he would be cut from the final World Cup squad just hours before the clash

A spokesman emphasised that the coach’s outburst came — crucially — after the player had learned he was to be cut from the squad, saying: ‘Danny and Mike were involved in a robust conversation on the training pitch following a misunderstanding around a training-drill instruction.

'Both shook hands afterwards and the incident had no bearing on selection.’

The incident does not create a favourable impression given that Cipriani’s case for inclusion was widely supported by public and pundits, but not by the coaches. 

Any suggestion of a personal agenda against him would create a stench.

The RFU denies there was almost a mutiny in the England ranks between the coach and players 

The damage-limitation operation continued yesterday. Despite having other significant issues on their plate — with a World Cup review pending — England and the RFU micro-managed the fallout from this episode. 

It is understood that Cipriani intended to respond publicly but there was a determination to sanitise all comment on the subject. Numerous phone calls were made to douse the flames.

But the fire keeps spreading. England will discover this morning whether they face any action over allegations that two coaches confronted a match official during half-time in their defeat by Australia, in defiance of regulations. 

The investigation has rumbled on longer than expected, suggesting that there may be a significant development.

It is understood that fly-half Cipriani intended to respond publicly but was discouraged from doing so

James Haskell (left) responded furiously on Twitter to criticism from England World Cup winner Neil Back

Meanwhile, as he prepares for a return to the starting line-up for the meaningless encounter with Uruguay on Saturday, England flanker James Haskell became embroiled yesterday in a social-media spat with a World Cup- winning predecessor.

Neil Back lit the fuse when he tweeted: ‘Don’t take your selfie stick out on to the pitch before the game like you did against Fiji on 18th Sept.’

Haskell bit back: ‘I wasn’t even playing! You’re so old and out of touch, your eyes don’t work. I hope your book sales go better than your coaching.’ 

He went on: ‘You were one of my childhood rugby heroes, yet your general negativity towards myself and the team is appalling. You talk about my self-promotion, yet you have released a sensationalist book just to make cash.’

England's Cipriani and Catt in training ground bust-up - report

LONDON (Reuters) - England flyhalf Danny Cipriani and attack coach Mike Catt were involved in a heated training ground argument before the Rugby World Cup, British newspapers reported on Wednesday.

The incident happened after 27-year-old Cipriani was informed that he had not made the final 31-man squad for the tournament but before it was announced publicly five weeks ago.

Catt, 44, threatened Cipriani twice and told him he would "end his England career" before other players stepped in to separate the pair, the Daily Mail reported.

The Rugby Football Union played down the seriousness of the altercation.

"Danny and Mike were involved in a robust conversation on the training pitch following a misunderstanding around a training drill instruction," an RFU spokesman said on Wednesday.

"Both shook hands afterwards and the incident played no bearing on selection."

Cipriani, a gifted and exciting attacking player but whose defensive qualities have been questioned, has represented England 14 times since making his debut in 2008.

His omission from the World Cup squad after playing well in England's warm-up matches provoked considerable debate and coach Stuart Lancaster was criticised for favouring more defensive players, including rugby league convert Sam Burgess.

England, knocked out of the tournament after losing to Wales and Australia, play Uruguay in their final Pool A game on Saturday.

(Reporting by Ed Osmond; Editing by David Goodman)

Danny Cipriani blasts Gordon D'Arcy after his criticism of England's Sam Burgess

D'Arcy claimed that Burgess had embarrassed his colleagues in England's damaging Twickenham defeat to Wales

Danny Cipriani has blasted Gordon D'Arcy following the former Ireland star's criticism of England's Slammin' Sam Burgess.

In a newspaper column earlier this week D'Arcy claimed that Burgess, the Rugby League convert whose selection in the England squad for the World Cup split opinion, had embarrassed his colleagues in England's damaging Twickenham defeat to Wales.

"His naivety embarrassed all around him and severely damaged England's chances of reaching the quarter-finals," D'Arcy wrote in his Irish Times column.

D'Arcy insisted there was no way that Burgess could have learned to play in the vital no 12 role at Test level in such a short space of time.

"Burgess lacks the sense of timing, in attack and defence, required to be effective at international level," the Wexford native noted.

"Stuart picked a league convert who doesn’t know how to play inside centre for the biggest match England have played since the 2007 World Cup final."

But England out-half Cipriani, who just missed out on Stuart Lancaster's World Cup squad, claims D'Arcy was being mischievous in his comments.

“Gordon D’Arcy is never going to give a positive quote on England, and it’s never going to be a fair reflection," Cipriani wrote in his Paddy Power blog.

"His priorities have to lie with Ireland, and that’s his prerogative.

"What he was quoted in the papers as saying isn’t accurate, Sam Burgess wasn’t embarrassing at all in the Wales game.

"A lot of other pundits and a lot of other reports from people who watched the game said that he played well.

"He did a great job at 12 with all the pressure that was put on him.

"He’ll be disappointed to be dropped this week, but he’ll bounce back.”

Burgess paid the price for his display as he was one of three players axed by Lancaster for the do or die Pool A clash with Australia at Twickenham on Saturday night, with Jonathan Joseph re-introduced and Brad Barritt moving back into the Burgess slot.

But Cipriani claims that D'Arcy's criticism should be taken in context, even if the Irishman is an expert in the role of a no 12 - having partnered Brian O'Driscoll in the centre for most of his illustrious career.

The controversial 14-times capped no 10 said: “It’s great that Darcy is adding fuel to the fire and sparking debate, but you can’t seriously believe that that is what he truly believes.

"Putting more pressure on England this weekend helps Ireland.

"It not only adds to the rivalry, but in the long run, England stumbling is beneficial to Ireland’s World Cup chances.

"Don’t read into what D'Arcy said, Burgess had a very good game.

“These comments won’t get any attention in the England camp.

"Journalists have a job to sell papers, and if they can make their report a little bit more controversial then they will.

"The players won’t be paying any attention to this, they’ll just be focussed on the Australia.”