Danny Cipriani made aware of his shortcomings by England coach Eddie Jones

Eddie Jones insists the exclusion of Danny Cipriani from England's training squad reflects his place in the fly-half pecking order.
NOT THIS TIME: Gloucester's Danny Cipriani. Picture: Paul Harding/PANOT THIS TIME: Gloucester's Danny Cipriani. Picture: Paul Harding/PA
NOT THIS TIME: Gloucester's Danny Cipriani. Picture: Paul Harding/PA

Despite being England’s starting playmaker in their most recent game against South Africa and producing an excellent opening to the season at Gloucester, Jones has omitted Cipriani from the 36-man group who will take part in a three-day training camp in Bristol starting on Sunday.

The 30-year-old was convicted of common assault and resisting arrest and fined a total of £4,000 following an incident outside a nightclub that took place during Gloucester’s pre-season tour to Jersey.

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But Jones insists it is form and not that indiscretion that has shaped his thinking, with Owen Farrell and George Ford the two fly-halves called up.

England head coach Eddie Jones. Picture: Adam Davy/PAEngland head coach Eddie Jones. Picture: Adam Davy/PA
England head coach Eddie Jones. Picture: Adam Davy/PA

“That’s the case, 100 per cent. We’ve decided just to have two stand-offs in the squad for this particular camp because we want them to get a lot of training time,” said Jones.

“At the moment we’ve got Owen and George, who I believe are the first two fly-halves, and then comes Danny.

“Danny’s probably third or fourth choice and he knows what he’s got to work on, which is between Danny and I.

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“He’s disappointed but he understands. He’s desperate to play for England, which is terrific.”

Manu Tuilagi makes his first appearance in an England squad in over a year after overcoming a dreadful succession of injuries.

Serious groin and knee problems have prevented the nation’s most destructive three-quarter from making an international start since 2014, but he has started all three of Leicester’s games this season.

Included despite being midway through a seven-week ban for a tip tackle made during Sale’s pre-season victory at Castres is wing Chris Ashton.

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Bath giant Joe Cokanasiga offers another wing option and scrum-half Danny Care is back.

England squad for three-day camp in Bristol – Forwards: T Curry (Sale), J George (Saracens), D Hartley (Northampton), N Hughes (Wasps), N Isiekwe (Saracens), M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), J Marler (Harlequins), Z Mercer (Bath), M Rhodes (Saracens), C Robshaw (Harlequins), N Schonert (Worcester), B Shields (Wasps), K Sinckler (Harlequins), B Vunipola (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens), H Williams (Exeter), M Wilson (Newcastle). Backs: C Ashton (Sale), M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), J Cokanasiga (Bath), E Daly (Wasps), N Earle (Harlequins), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Leicester), A Lozowski (Saracens), J May (Leicester), J Nowell (Exeter), D Robson (Wasps), H Slade (Exeter), B Te’o (Worcester), M Tuilagi (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester).