England recall for Danny Cipriani may encourage Reds to take similar chance with James O’Connor

DANNY Cipriani is nearing a career resurrection after earning an England recall but James O’Connor must rely on a similar leap of faith from QLD.

Harold Mitchell's 70th birthday at Crown. James O'Connor and Danny Cipriani.

THEY partied together with Buddy Franklin and did more bad than good for Melbourne Rebels but both Danny Cipriani and James O’Connor are on track to complete career resurrections.

Two of the self-titled “bungy bros”, O’Connor and Cipriani were more famous for off-field endeavours along Chapel St and splashing about in hot-tubs with the now Swans star than for the performances they delivered at AAMI Park.

Those same exploits saw Cipriani eventually head home to England in 2012 before he was followed north by O’Connor last year as both the Rebels and ARU saw no place for him in Australian rugby.

It could have been an easy escape for both men.

Yet here we are on the eve of the June Test series with Cipriani back in an England squad for the first time since 2008 and O’Connor looking increasingly likely to join Queensland Reds in 2014.

James O'Connor (L) and, Danny Cipriani (C) with other members of the Bungy Bros.

“This is a good chance for all of us to see what Danny can do and hopefully stop talking about his so-called chequered past, which I think has been a bit exaggerated,” former England coach Clive Woodward wrote of Cipriani in England’s Daily Mail.

“Now is the time for Cipriani to put up or shut up.

“I’m not saying he is going to make the World Cup squad, but I’d like to think that any selection decisions will be based purely on merit rather than any worries about his history.”

For O’Connor, unlike Cipriani, there’s never been any debate about talent. He is one of the world’s most naturally-gifted players whose best Test performances have come on the wing.

Reds coach Richard Graham has stated that’s exactly the position he’s being considered for while he, skipper James Horwill and club officials continue to debate the risks, and equally the rewards, the signing of O’Connor could present.

“I’m not sure where things are with James at the moment,” Reds captain James Horwill said this week.

“But I do know the organisation and the coaches would only make the decisions in the best interests of the team and that’s what they’ve prided themselves on.

“And any decision that’s made by anyone on any player will be done based on what is in the best interests for the entire playing group and for the standards that this organisation and this team upholds.”

O’Connor received glowing praise from London Irish coach Brian Smith, so much so he earmarked the former Force and Rebels man as a player capable of reaching 100 Tests.

He needs another chance however, and for a player who’s already had his fair share of those it’s one any good risk analyst would surely warn the Reds off.

But England coach Steve Lancaster has backed his side’s culture and maybe the Reds should too. It’ll be a huge leap of faith but you get that with the Bungy Bros, just ask Sydney Swans.

Originally published as England recall for Danny Cipriani may encourage Reds to take similar chance with James O’Connor