SINCKLER: I’M CHILLIN’
KYLE SINCKLER says Wales will be wasting their time trying to provoke him in next week’s Grand Slam eliminator.
England’s prop star heads to Cardiff fresh from a warning for a petulant slap on the head of a French opponent at Twickenham last weekend.
It has the makings of a titanic contest, with the Triple Crown and Six Nations title also at stake – not to mention priceless momentum heading towards the World Cup.
And with Wales seeking a record of 12 consecutive wins, Warren Gatland’s team will look to exploit every possible advantage.
Sinckler has been outstanding for England since breaking into the h starting i line- li up AFTER becoming a British Lion in New Zealand two years ago.
And with fellow prop Mako Vunipola (right) missing due to injury for the remainder of the championship, the 25-year-old will have increased responsibility at the Principality Stadium.
Values
Which means Wales will put his temperament to the test – aware of the incident with French lock Arthur Iturria, which led referee Nigel Owens to lecture him on “rugby values”.
There is also the presence on his record of a seven-week ban for gouging while playing in a club match for Harlequins against Northampton in 2017.
But London-born Sinckler has a message for anyone who may think he is a weak link in Eddie Jones’ unbeaten machine: “I am never out of control!”
The mighty Quin said: “Whatever people say, I’m always l i in control, li I always l k know what I am doing.
“The Principality is one of the best stadiums I have played at. The atmosphere is electric. The Wales anthem gets the hairs on the back of your neck standing up with the passion from the fans.
“It is pretty hostile. You see all the Welsh flags going in and everyone giving you a bit of abuse. But it is all good fun.
“The main thing for me is just not letting it get in the way of the main goal which is the team winning. I have to make sure I am in control and I don’t let emotion get the better of me.
“At the same time, if you are part of the front row and playing in the forward pack it is always going to be a fine line.”
A week ago he briefly stepped d over that h line, li but b he h remains “frustrated” about the whole episode.
Sinckler said: “I don’t condone what I did but they didn’t show the full replay of what actually transpired.
“I didn’t just smack him on the head. There was stuff that happened before.”
By which he means he was provoked? “I don’t want to dwell on that.
“The big learn for me is that I’d done my job in terms of counterrucking and he lost his cool – so move on instead of retaliating.
Perfect
“I’m not perfect and I’ve learned from it.”
England have been close to perfect so f ar in t his championship. But Wales now get to have their say.
It is going to be lively.