Danny Cipriani & The No Dickheads Policy

In his book, ‘Legacy’, James Kerr explores the organisational values that underpinned the All Blacks’ transition from perennial chokers, to Rugby World Cup winners in 2011.

Kerr observed that a mantra of ‘better men make better All Blacks’ ran to the core of All Black culture. The successful Sydney Swans AFL team of the mid noughties had a similar ethos, but worded it with a forthright Aussie simplicity, ‘no dickheads’. The All Blacks’ management liked it, swiped it (with permission) and embedded it into their own organisation.

In his search to emulate the success of Graham Henry and Steve Hanson, Eddie Jones has himself made it clear that character is of equal prevalence to ability in his selection criteria. It is perhaps simplistic to sight Jones’ own take on ‘no dickheads’, as the sole justification for the repeat omission of Danny Cipriani from Eddie’s squads to this point. The control provided by the Ford/Farrell axis has been at the fore of England’s success, and Jones seems to have a preference for a stand off that can back up in the midfield if required, see Francis, Slade, Mallinder and Lozowski. However, in light of the Wasps’ playmaker’s scintillating form and England’s ordinary showing in the spring, it would be difficult to cast aside the aforementioned narrative if Cipriani isn’t aboard the flight to the southern tip of Africa for the three test series.

If the All Blacks reject dickheads, they accept the fallibility of human judgement. Mistakes happen, but must be learned from. Take for example, Aaron Smith, who was stood down, but not permanently cast aside for his ‘snecky toilet actions’ whilst travelling on All Blacks duty. During a discussion with Joey Barton, on the footballer’s ‘The Edge’ podcast, Cipriani maturely discusses how he deploys a Kaizen approach to self improvement, a concept introduced to him by former Wales and Lions ‘fitness’ guru, Steve Black. The outside half’s raw talent and continued on field improvements are such that they warrant him being given the opportunity to demonstrate he has made the requisite off field adjustments to rid himself of the ‘handle with care’ tag.

From a rugby perspective, the downside of selecting Cipriani is negligible. You lose a test match to South Africa, who cares, the picture is bigger than that. Cipriani has the confidence in his own ability to enter the environment with a belief that he can oust George Ford from the number ten jumper. Such is the competitive nature of athletes at this level, it is difficult to see how such competition wouldn’t drive mutual gains. Yes, there is already pressure on Ford, who lost his place in the Six Nations finale. But from a game plan perspective, I still feel that England and Owen Farrell are at their most proficient when ballers occupy both ten and twelve.

Eddie Jones, I hereby challenge you to select Danny Cipriani. You said that he must prove he is good enough to be first choice for England, his premiership form has suggested he is good enough to be just that. The only way that you will know for certain, the only way he can prove it to you, is by exposing him to the test match arena for the first time since a cameo at Full Back in a 2015 World Cup warm up against France. He may question you, he might be different, lord he may have celebrated a try with a Dougie, but that doesn’t render him a dickhead.