Cipriani points Wasps to victory

DANNY CIPRIANI, controversially omitted from England’s RBS Six Nations side by Martin Johnson, kicked the three penalties which enabled Wasps to pull off a 9-5 Guinness Premiership victory against Northampton yesterday.

But Cipriani was eclipsed by Northampton’s exciting young England hopeful Ben Foden, who scored the only try of the match.

Foden, left out by Johnson for last weekend’s defeat by Wales after making his England debut as a replacement in the previous week’s Twickenham victory over Italy, took a pass from out-half Stephen Myler to burst over in the left corner in the 55th minute.

But Myler had an off day with the boot, missing the conversion and three penalty attempts, and it cost Saints the chance of their first away Premiership victory of the season in a match they dominated for long periods.

Meanwhile Stade Francais boss Ewen McKenzie has vowed he will ensure the England ambitions of James Haskell and Tom Palmer are not jeopardised by their much-publicised cross-channel switch to the Paris club.

Wasps announced this week that three of their England contingent – Haskell, Palmer and Brive-bound Riki Flutey – would be quitting the Guinness Premiership at the end of the season to play in France.

Concerns were immediately raised about the dangers of increasing numbers of England stars crossing the pond, with overseas-based players not automatically falling under the new £100m (e112m) agreement designed to allow Martin Johnson additional preparation time with his squad.

Former Australia and Brumbies prop McKenzie, however, understands how important international rugby is to his new signings and will make it a priority they are made available when England come calling.

McKenzie said: “I have met both the guys and I was impressed with them. We probably had an hour-and-a-half meeting, just talking about rugby, their responsibilities, lots of things.

“In amongst their concerns was their desire to play for England and I have said we definitely want to help them with that.

“My objective as a coach is getting players playing for their national team. You want people to play for their country so if they are here, I will be helping them the best they can.

“We have engineered their contracts to allow them access to England.”

England flanker Michael Lipman will see a neurosurgeon tomorrow amid fears about his immediate playing prospects.

Lipman has been sidelined since he was concussed during Bath’s Heineken Cup clash against Toulouse a month ago.

And the Bath captain admits he is “very concerned”.

Lipman’s plight comes just days after former France skipper Raphael Ibanez retired from playing with Guinness Premiership champions Wasps.

Ibanez, who led France 41 times during a 98-cap Test career, followed a neurosurgeon’s advice to step down. He suffered a head injury on three occasions earlier this season.

“I will be seeing a neurosurgeon in Bath on Tuesday,” said Lipman, who won the last of his 10 England caps against New Zealand in November.

“You can’t put a time limit on it, but you cannot play when you are not 100%.

“If you do so, you are risking brain damage, memory loss and the shakes. You have to look after yourself – I am only 29.”

Lipman was briefly knocked out in the Toulouse game following an accidental collision that saw him take a blow behind his left ear.