Danny Cipriani sent off for high tackle during Munster vs Gloucester and faces lengthy ban

A bad week got worse for Cipriani as he was sent off for a high tackle on Niall Scannell just two days after being left out of the England squad

Danny Cipriani's hopes of changing Eddie Jones' mind over his England squad exclusion suffered a massive blow on Saturday as the Gloucester fly-half was sent off for a high tackle in the European Champions Cup match at Munster, leaving him facing a certain ban.

The 30-year-old has dominated the headline this season, having been convicted of common assault in August before he made his debut for new club Gloucester, and subsequently being dropped from the England squad by Jones.

The Australian proceeded to leave him out of his plans when he named his squad for the Quilter Internationals on Thursday, with his hopes of playing at next year's Rugby World Cup appearing to fade by the day.

One way that he could resurrect his England dream was by performing week-in, week-out for Gloucester, but that looks impossible now after he was shown a straight red card by referee Alexandre Ruiz for a shoulder to the head of Rory Scannell.

Watch the incident below...

Both Cipriani and prop Val Rapava-Ruskin tackled Scannell at the same time, and after a brief Television Match Official [TMO] review, Ruiz felt hehaad no option than to send off Cipriani.

The fly-half apologised to the Munster centre as he jogged off, but he is facing a lengthy ban for his action that is likely to rule him out of the majority of the autumn internationals regardless of Jones' selection.

Danny Cipriani was sent off for a high shoulder tackle on Rory Scannell (PA)

On Wednesday Toulouse forward Jerome Kaino was given a five-week ban for hitting the head of Harlequins centre Jamie Roberts with his shoulder in contravention of Law 9.12.

The incident brought a mixed reaction on Twitter among past and present players, with injured No 8 Billy Vunipola claiming the decision "ruined" that match for those watching.

"Another game ruined! Unlucky everyone who bought tickets," Vunipola said on Twitter.

Danny Cipriani jogs off the pitch after being shown a red card (PA)

But former Gloucester scrum-half and Scotland international Rory Lawson said that the decision was the right one.

"Messy. Cipriani red. In line with current trends on player welfare and the right decision. The only mitigation is that there was not much in the way of force," Lawson wrote. "Air of inevitability about this now. Big test with 14."