Wasps coach criticises Ashton over Cipriani axing

ENGLAND coach Brian Ashton has been accused of over-reacting after axing Danny Cipriani from the team to play Scotland for disciplinary reasons.

Cipriani was due to make his first Test start at Murrayfield tomorrow but did not even travel with the England squad as punishment for what the RFU termed “inappropriate behaviour”.

Ashton took exception to the 20-year-old being photographed leaving a London nightclub at around 12.30am yesterday and took swift action. Cipriani has been replaced in the England team by Gloucester’s Iain Balshaw, with Sale Sharks flyhalf Charlie Hodgson joining the replacements.