KYLE HIGH CLUB!
Sinckler reveals his passion for the World Cup... now he can’t wait to get stuck in
It’s just as well that Kyle sinckler likes to be busy, because he certainly will be in the next fortnight. Luckily, touring with the Lions provided an education about intensive workloads.
as the country’s pre- eminent tighthead prop, the 26-year- old Harlequin is one of only two specialists in England’s world Cup squad — with veteran Dan Cole here as his understudy.
On september 22, Eddie Jones’s side face tonga in sapporo. On september 26, they will take on the Usa in Kobe. Playing in both games is a demanding prospect, but sinckler is not concerned. In fact, he is enthused.
‘I’m a rugby player and I want to play rugby,’ he said. ‘I’m not very good at just sitting around. I want to keep busy. It has been a long old training camp. Now I want to get on the field and do my thing.’
sinckler’s experiences in New Zealand in 2017 will be invaluable. ‘the Lions helped me with that because we had pretty short turnarounds on that tour,’ he added. ‘sometimes wednesday to saturday. sometimes guys had to double up and in some cases triple up. It won’t be an issue for me.
‘I’ll just have to focus on my recovery.’
sinckler has a deep-seated passion for the world Cup. He spent his childhood following the sport avidly. Now, the armchair fan has become a key player.
‘I’ve watched all of them,’ he said. ‘In 2003 we won it, in 2007 we lost in the final. It was brutal. I remember we got pumped by south africa in the first game and I thought, “this isn’t going to be good”, but we got to the final.
‘I watched them at home with my mum. anything to do with England and sport — rugby, cricket, football — I love it. In 2011, it was a bit disappointing losing to France. I watched it in 2015 as well. those tournaments had a massive impact on me.
‘they do have a massive impact and we realise we have a massive responsibility to deliver and to be successful.’ But sinckler (left) has learned to cope with the expectation that goes with operating at this level. Back at home, he has useful outlets.
‘ International rugby is like a rollercoaster,’ he said. ‘when you win it’s the best feeling in the world, you represent so many people, but when you lose you
have the weight of expectation of the country on your shoulders. we feel it more than anyone, but I try to stay on an even keel. If we win it is on to the next one, if we lose it’s not as bad as they say.
‘I try to keep myself to myself and focus on my rugby. I just chill out, walk the dog and train hard.
‘and I love my coaching. It’s weird because it still is rugby, but it’s a different perspective. I go down tuesday and thursday nights to coach Guildford men’s team, and get down there on a saturday if I can. I’m defence and forwards coach, taking the scrum and lineout.’
He’ll be involved in plenty of scrums and lineouts in the coming weeks.
But sinckler has become a pivotal figure in the England pack. a heavy workload won’t be an issue. He has been looking forward to this event for years.