Old Whitgiftian trio, Elliot Daly (Wasps), Marland Yarde (Harlequins) and Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), all impressed in England’s crushing 73-12 victory over the Barbarians, as Stuart Lancaster’s side began their World Cup preparations with a bang.
All three were recently named in an extended 50-man training group, which will be reduced to 31 for the showpiece event that kicks off in September – and they were on top form against the world’s premier invitational side.
Yarde got the ball rolling with a neat individual score, with man-of-the-match Cipriani adding two of his own. Daly was a constant threat in midfield and his arching run set up a score for flanker Jack Clifford.
Whereas Yarde and Cipriani have both been involved with the senior England squad in the recent past, it was a big moment for Daly, who has had an outstanding year at club level with Wasps. Along with Yarde, he helped Whitgift win the 2010 ERSFU Daily Mail/RBS U18 National Schools’ Rugby Cup, and was in the side that retained the title a year later.
Cipriani, who converted all 10 England tries to collect a personal haul of 30 points, has also played at Twickenham in Whitgift colours, being part of the team that defeated Millfield in the 2003 ERSFU Daily Mail/RBS U15 National Schools’ Rugby Cup.
The wider training group will next convene at Pennyhill Park later this month, ahead of further pre-World Cup engagements against France, home and away, and Ireland at Twickenham, in early September.