Wasps coaches fully behind Cipriani
Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan praised Danny Cipriani for the way he has responded to being dropped by England over a nightclub visit.
The young back, who suddenly became available to his club again, started on the bench but McGeechan gave him 20 minutes of action in the 29-25 victory over Harlequins.
"I was always going to bring him on," said McGeechan. "He has actually handled it very well. He wanted to just show that when he has his rugby kit on he has got a lot to offer.
"There are ways of dealing with things and we feel it could probably have been dealt with more sensitively. To take effectively his first cap away (the Scotland match would have been Cipriani's first start for England) is a big call."
McGeechan was sitting alongside coach Shaun Edwards and captain Lawrence Dallaglio - Cipriani himself was not made available to reporters - and added: "The three of us have been around and know what it's like. We're not condoning anything, but we think it could have been handled differently."
Dallaglio stated: "Danny is very serious about his rugby. That's why he pays for his own fitness coach, sprint coach and kicking coach. That shows the dedication he has got. We have no issues with Danny and we can move on from that story and so can Danny.
"England need all their best players at the moment - clearly," Dallaglio added following Scotland's 15-9 victory on Saturday.
Edwards said: "The think the crowd today showed what they think of him. He got a hero's welcome."
Asked if England should play Cipriani at stand-off or full-back against Ireland next week, McGeechan replied: "That's not our decision. We can play him at 10 and at 15."
It was at full-back the 20-year-old came on this afternoon, but he is Wasps' number-one choice at outside-half this season.
After his team failed to make it four victories in a row, Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards said: "That team does not have many caps between them, but they are getting better and better and are disappointed we didn't win. Not many sides come to Wasps and have the opportunities to win, but we did. There's a good spirit in the camp and you just keep working.
"The spell either side of half-time hurt us. They slowed the ball down. We tightened things up and that made a huge difference.
"We wanted a win and I have no qualms about the decision making at the end. We had three tries and whatever you do it's one of those things. Sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn't."
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Wasps coaches fully behind Cipriani
