Top 14: Danny Cipriani plays down
French link; Julien Malzieu extends with Clermont
30
December
2009
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Staying put? Danny Cipriani
Photo: Michael Paler |
Glamour
boy Danny Cipriani has played down press reports
linking him with a possible move to Stade Francais in the
summer.
The
22-year-old, who has just started his comeback from a broken
leg, said he was sole focus at present was regaining his
form with London Wasps before pushing for an England recall.
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His
current one-year deal at Adams Park runs out at the end of
the season and Cipriani is already reportedly in discussions
about extending his stay. He is, however, free to talk to
other prospective employers from Friday.
Earlier
this week French website
Le10sport.com claimed Cipriani's representatives had
already held provisional talks with Stade Francais earlier
in December.
Stade
are reportedly interested in acquiring his services after
failing to plug the gap left by the departure of Argentine
Juan Martin Hernandez. The latter, ironically, could also be
back in Paris next season, although the in the sky blue
colours of Racing-Métro 92 according to reports in the
French press last week.
But
Cipriani has now attempted to quash those rumours. "My focus
is on my rugby. I am happy at Wasps and we have a squad to
move forward. I want to put a string of games together for
Wasps after missing a couple of months through injury, and
if England come calling I would love to be involved," he
said.
An
England recall may be his long-term aim, but there seems
little doubt that national team manager Martin Johnson will
name Toulon's Jonny Wilkinson and Leicester's Toby Flood as
his two fly-halves when he unveils his revised EPS on
January 13. That would leave Cipriani in the Saxons, at
best, although the vagaries of injury could yet have a hand
to play.
Brive's Riki Flutey will also be
hoping to be named in that revised EPS squad, provided he
can come through the next month unscathed after recovering
from his long-term shoulder injury. The England and British
Lions centre has played just once for Brive so far this
season, but has been named in their squad for Wednesday's
away derby at Clermont Auvergne.
That
match will be the 100th in charge for Clermont's Kiwi coach
Vern Cotter, and the New Zealander is set to lead out his
side on what is bound to be another passion-filed evening at
the Stade Marcel Michelin.
Clermont
will be looking to improve a recent record of just one win
in their last six league games, and 'Les Jaunards' have been
boosted by news that French international winger Julien
Malzieu has signed a new two-year deal with the club.
Malzieu, 26, becomes the latest Clermont player to pledge
his future to the club, following similar contract
extensions for Julien Bonnaire, Elvis Vermeulen, Davit
Zirakashvili and Brent Russell.
Canadian
lock Jamie Cudmore, who arrived with Clermont in 2005, has
also signed a new two-year deal this week as Cotter tries to
maintain the backbone of his squad as they push to finally
break their French championship duck. The future of Italian
centre Gonzalo Canale remains uncertain, with Cotter seeking
to further strengthen his hand in the centres, while Castres
flanker Chris Masoe is said to be on his summer hit list.
But news
of all the contract extensions was slightly offset by
confirmation that Cotter will be losing his Kiwi assistant
Josef Schmidt at the end of the season after the
Clermont No 2 agreed to become Munster's new head coach in
succession to the departing Michael Cheika.
Schmidt,
44, has been in charge of Clermont's explosive back line,
and that position could now go to Alex King, currently the
club's kicking and defence coach. Cotter had previously
offered the job to former scrum-half Pierre Mignoni, but the
latter turned it down in preference for joining Toulon's
playing squad last summer.
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