Rugby World Cup: England chiefs play down training ground spat between Mike

Cipriani was not part of England’s failed World Cup campaign but he hit the news this week when reports emerged of a pre-tournament training ground bust-up with Red Rose attacking skills coach Catt.

“Danny and Mike were involved in a robust conversation on the training pitch following a misunderstanding around a training drill instruction”.

England confirm that there was an incident between backs coach Mike Catt and Danny Cipriani prior to the World Cup but that it ‘played no bearing on selection’.

Cipriani wrote in the Sun newspaper that he has “a good working relationship” with Catt after the pair spoke the day after the incident, and Lancaster praised the 27-year-old’s maturity.

Launchbury was awarded the man of the match award in last Saturday’s 33-13 defeat by Australia, when Wallaby fly-half Bernard Foley scored 28 points, and was as uncomfortable talking about it on Thursday as he was accepting it at Twickenham.

Cipriani, who caused a stir ahead of the game against Australia by claiming no Wallabies were good enough to make the England team, has called for calm and clearly wants to be involved as the English focus starts to go on the looming Six Nations tournament. “Whatever happens, we need to move forward as one now”, he added.

“Mike’s only intention was only to get the best of the player as he does for all of the players”.

“I feel it could have gone to a whole host of guys on their team, but the most important thing for them is they won the game so I don’t think they will be sitting at home worrying about it”.