? Melbourne Rebels drop fly-half from Queensland game
? Gavin Henson is recalled to the Toulon squad
The former Leicester director of rugby Pat Howard has called on Danny Cipriani to make headlines through his rugby, after the England fly-half was this week disciplined by the Melbourne Rebels for the second time in three months.
Cipriani was dropped from this weekend's Super Rugby match against the Queensland Reds, after breaking a curfew. In February he was fined and warned about his future conduct after stealing a bottle of vodka from a nightclub.
"Cipriani has not has been good as some people had hoped," Howard said. "But he has been better than some people who had written him off had thought. The balance is somewhere in between. He has played a role with the Rebels and shown that he could be very, very good. I would like to make this judgment in 12 months. If he has not fulfilled his promise after two years with the Rebels, and he has shown some brilliance in a couple of games,, you would have to question how good a decision it was to sign him."
The Wales centre Gavin Henson, who was this week allowed back into the Toulon squad after being suspended pending an investigation into an altercation with team-mates in a bar, has been named in the squad for Saturday's Top 14 match at Montpellier. Victory would guarantee Philippe Saint-Andr�'s men a place in the play-offs but defeat could leave them without Heineken Cup rugby next season.
The No8 Andy Powell, who was released from his contract by Wasps this week after fighting with football supporters in a London pub, is waiting to hear from the Wales coach, Warren Gatland, about whether he has a chance of making the World Cup squad. The former Wales No8 Michael Owen believes Powell's prospects of making the 30-strong squad have not been jeopardised by a second lapse in 15 months ? Powell was thrown out of the Wales squad last year after commandeering a golf buggy and driving it along the M4 while over the drink-drive limit.
"I do not think his release by Wasps will make much difference because Gatland has been a big fan of Powell and has stuck by him after giving him his chance in international rugby," said Owen. "Wales will have their own pre-season, so it could actually work to Powell's advantage because he will be available for the full season and there won't be any issue with the English clubs. That said, he will be gutted because he seemed to have fitted in really well at Wasps and it was only a short time ago they were speaking really highly of him."
Owen believes Powell, who had a short stint at B�ziers, may return to France next season. A year ago the 17-cap No 8 was linked with a change of codes with the Crusaders but that would not be an option until the 2012 Super League season if he was involved in the World Cup.
The final round of matches in the Magners League's regular season is being held on Friday night. Munster are guaranteed a home draw in the play-offs, something Leinster will achieve if they beat Glasgow in Dublin. The Scarlets and Cardiff Blues, who meet in Llanelli, Ulster and Ospreys are in contention for the final two places in the play-offs.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/may/05/danny-cipriani-melbourne-rebels
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