Kyle sounds the fanfare
KYLE SINCKLER admits he is in “rugby heaven” ahead of his Lions debut – but is determined to keep a lid on things.
The Harlequins prop is yet to start an England Test but will make his Lions bow from the off in tomorrow’s tour opener against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei.
The 24-year-old can recite a host of famed Lions speeches from the past and now has the chance to colour the storied tourists’ history.
“I’m in rugby heaven at the moment,” said Sinckler. “I’ve got Rory Best next to me, who has 104 caps, I’ve got AWJ [Alun Wyn Jones] who, I think, has 102 [he has 110], Joe Marler, regarded as one of the best looseheads in the world, Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau. I’m just trying to learn off these guys and see what works and what doesn’t.
“But there’s a fine edge. If you get too over-emotional, too revved up, too psyched up, then you forget your job, you get in little scuffles and you start overthinking things.
“I am just taking it all in because these guys have 100-odd, 70-odd caps for a reason and that’s where I want to be. There’s no greater place for me to be at the moment than learning players.”
Sinckler cannot wait for his Lions debut, especially after watching the tours of yesteryear and learning pre-match speeches off by heart.
“This is our Everest!” said Sinckler, referencing Jim Telfer’s famous speech from the South Africa tour of 1997. “I’ve watched that about 100 times.
“The other players know that and they do ask me to do renditions of the Jim Telfers, the Paul O’Connells. I’ve watched it all.
“I have always been a fan and always will be, so it’s a massive honour to put on the jersey at the weekend, and hopefully I can leave it in a better place.”
Johnny Sexton, above, has first refusal on the No10 shirt, but head coach Warren Gatland feels the Leinster star needs to put in a top performance to hold off the claims of Owen Farrell and Dan Biggar.
“Johnny has been great but he knows he needs to get some games under his belt,” said Gatland. “The three No10s came in together but we felt Johnny needed to start this first game off these world-class and get off to a good start – hopefully for the team but himself as well, because he hasn’t played a huge amount.
“He knows the competition is fierce in that position but he’s a competitor and that’s what has made him one of the best No10s in world rugby.
“His first concern was who’s going to do the goal-kicking, because Greig Laidlaw is a quality goal-kicker as well, but Neil Jenkins told him he is. He is happy with that decision.” Gatland says the Lions must prize winning the opener rather than a statement triumph. His son Bryn will square up against his dad and also directly face Sexton, after taking the fly-half role for the Barbarians. “The statement first of all is a win,” said Gatland. “It will be hard on these players and the weather will play a part. But we will give a good performance.” ❑ALL BLACKS hooker Dane Coles remains a serious doubt for the series after he was deemed highly unlikely to play Wellington’s Super Rugby fixture against Waikato Chiefs next week due to concussion symptoms.