Sale’s fly-half Danny Cipriani has been tipped for an England recall after being named Aviva Premiership player of the month for March.
The 26-year-old helped Sale to go unbeaten in the month during which they defeated play-off contenders Northampton and Bath as well as his former team, Wasps.
And according to former England utility back Austin Healey, Cipriani’s displays warrant consideration for further international honours.
“The fortunes and abilities of Danny Cipriani and Sale Sharks seem to have run in tandem over the past 18 months and the comparisons are no coincidence,” Healey said.
“Sale have transformed from a northern, talented, gritty yet average side to a stable top four contender who are very difficult to beat. Danny has had a large part to play in this transformation.
“He has successfully transformed his game from a reckless talent to an influential and controlling No 10.”
Healey also praised the way that the seven times capped England player had adapted his natural, more free flowing game, to the system that Sale’s director of rugby, Steve Diamond, has put in place.
“Danny has always had a maverick inside waiting to break out at any stage which he still has, but this year and in particular over the last few months he has led Sale to the threshold of the top four,” he said.
“He has shown a territorial knowledge and has kept the Sale Sharks pack close to his early phases enabling him to add width when it is on.
“Essentially he is playing what he sees very well. A maverick playing within a structured game plan is very dangerous and that is exactly why Danny deserves this month’s Aviva Premiership Player of the Month award.”
Also among the nominees for the award was Sale’s captain Dan Braid who has made a huge impact on the side since he joined them in January 2013, when the Sharks looked likely to be relegated.
Sale have been much improved this term and Cipriani hailed Braid’s influence on the team when speaking to the club website, calling the New Zealander ‘one of the best captains he has worked under’.
With Harlequins the visitors to the AJ Bell this week Cipriani is urging his teammates to make the most of this opportunity to get themselves into the play-offs.
“We are in a position where it is in our hands. Friday night is key for us, especially against quality oppositions like Harlequins, but it is down to us to make it uncomfortable for them,” he said.
“They have a tremendous team and it is important that we stick together as a team and show a blue wall in the same way we did against Bath and Northampton.”
Image courtesy of Charlier via Flickr, with thanks.
