Cipriani treatment is unthinkable

England’s laboured win over Italy at the weekend left many questioning whether Martin Johnson’s side have what it takes to win the Six Nations. England were crying out for some creative spark from their back line, but it was sadly lacking. Ian McGarry in the Sun is convinced England are architects of their own downfall for leaving Danny Cipriani in the reserves and points the finger squarely at Johnson. Brave man.

Danny Cipriani's been called selfish, flash and injury-prone - a playboy who's more interested in fame than the game. And most damning of all, Cipriani has been accused of disloyalty to his country and putting himself before England.

And the cause of so much criticism? His willingness to consider a move to Australia to play for Melbourne Rebels.

How dare he want to further his career in a league where the standard is superior to the Guinness Premiership.

Especially when playing the Super 15's season could rule him out of England duty for the Six Nations.

It's not his fault people made him out to be the saviour of English rugby at the age of 19. He didn't ask to be hailed as the player to fill the vacuum left by injury-jinxed Jonny Wilkinson. And he certainly never wanted the horrific ankle injury in 2008.

Now, however, it's not injury or form holding Cipriani back. It's personality. How else can you account him being dumped in the Saxons each time Martin Johnson names his senior squad? Cipriani is becoming familiar with that slap down from the England boss yet it's inconceivable it would happen in any other sport.

Can you imagine Wayne Rooney being sent to the Three Lions stiffs. Do you think Fabio Capello would survive in his job if he did?

Yet Jonno is barely asked to justify his treatment of English rugby's most-talented player.

Has Cole put Fabio in a hole?
The sex lives of Chelsea and England stars John Terry and Ashley Cole remain hot topics of debate. Terry’s alleged antics cost him the England captaincy and Oliver Holt in the Mirror asks whether Fabio Capello will take a similar stance with Cole.

So, now that Fabio Capello has been appointed the guardian of the nation’s morals, what does he do about Ashley Cole?

Now that Capello has set himself up as the moral majority’s favourite authority figure, what does he do about a bloke who spends his free time at the England team hotel taking pictures of himself in his underpants and sending them to a woman other than his wife?

My own opinion is that what Cole does in the privacy of his own room has no bearing on his status as the best left back in the world but we know by now that Capello doesn’t separate a man’s private life from his football so easily.

He’s our Sleaze Czar. When it comes to punishing moral turpitude, he’s a one-man lynch mob, football’s version of Judge Fenton from Hang ’Em High.

Well, can’t he? If Capello kills Terry for what he does off the field, he has to treat Cole the same way doesn’t he?