‘SUPER SCOTS CAN GET EVEN BETTER STILL’
charitable foundation, R3cusants, aimed at ensuring more inner-city players like him make it to Twickenham.
Straight out of Tooting via Battersea Ironsides, Sinckler has taken a unique – and sometimes rocky – path team.
“I remember one tournament we had when I was 12 years old,” he said. “My mum got really badly racially abused which was an anomaly because you don’t associate rugby with that.
“I think the kid was trying to get under my skin.
“They took me off the pitch and my coaches said, ‘Cancel the game, he’s my player and he should never be experiencing that sort of stuff ’, because I was fuming. “When I was growing up, I didn’t have a dad and my grandad passed away when I was 16. “I never had a male role model to look up to. I’ve got a real big family full of women. “That’s why I’m so to this England grabs Jones in the unmentionables and, the no-arms tackle that led to the Tuilagi red
emotional. I’ve got the tendencies of an independent black woman!
“It took time but I took responsibility and said, ‘If there are no male figures for me to look up to, then I’ve got to be the man and live it myself every day being accountable and responsible, and leading with my actions’.”
His actions – and that of the rest of a hard-hitting pack whose bruising defence has become a potent attacking weapon – meant England had sufficient collateral in the bank on Saturday to withstand Wales’ late comeback.
One more play, with England shorthanded by Tuilagi’s red card and the yellow for Ellis Genge, would have been interesting.
But despite the valiant efforts of two-try Justin Tipuric, Wayne Pivac’s men ran out of time.
Wales finish a disappointing Six Nations at home to Scotland on Saturday.
Quite when England complete a more rewarding one in Italy only the coronavirus knows.
WGREGOR TOWNSEND said there is more to come as Scotland brought France’s Grand Slam quest to a halt.
And having started their Six Nations campaign with defeats to Ireland and England, things have taken a turn for the better for the Scots as they followed up victory in Rome with this impressive triumph.
Fabien Galthie’s new-look France side took the lead against the run of play thanks to Damian Penaud’s try.
But France were reduced to 14 men when prop Mohamed Haouas was sent off for landing a punch on Jamie Ritchie’s chin – which swung the game Scotland’s way.
Townsend’s men have struggled to make the most of their attacking opportunities this campaign, but they finally found their verve. Sean Maitland crossed either side of half-time before Stuart McInally sealed a precious win with Scotland’s third try that ended France’s hopes of a first clean sweep since 2010.
Charles Ollivon got France’s other try in a match which Scotland led 14-7 at the break.
Now Townsend (above) is predicting more of the same when his side travel to Wales on Saturday.
“I’ve been really encouraged right through the campaign,” he said. “The two weeks before the Ireland game was shown in the way we played, how physical we were and being able to play at a real pace and create chances.
“Yeah, we didn’t win and left a couple of tries out there, but we’ve been consistent throughout. Even the England game, we were proud of how we came back in that second half.
“We have been in the fight in those two defeats. But these two wins showed the mentality and confidence to get out and find a way to win. And there is more to come.”
Ritchie said of the punching incident: “It’s international rugby, it’s a physical game and sometimes stuff happens.”
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