Sinckler proves he is back in the frame
Kyle Sinckler pressed his claims for an England recall with a try one minute after coming on in Harlequins’ victory over Bath.
Sinckler, recalled to Eddie Jones’s squad last week following a recent hamstring injury, was watched by England coaches Paul Gustard and Neal Hatley, along with strength and conditioning coach Tom Tombleson.
“Kyle had been away with England at the start of the week and the feeling was that he needed to tighten his game up a little bit,” said Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston.
“He’s an unbelievable guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and is hugely passionate.
“I don’t know [if he will be involved next week]. I know he is going off to join the camp, along with Marcus [Smith], and no doubt Eddie will make a decision about who he wants to involve against France next weekend.”
Taulupe Faletau came through a full 80 minutes for the second straight week for Bath to put him in the frame for Wales’s fixture against Italy on Sunday.
The British and Irish Lions No8, watched by Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards, showed few ill effects from his recent time out with a knee injury, even spending a passage of play without a boot after Sinckler dispatched it into the stands to the approval of the home crowd.
“He’ll go really well for Wales next week, no doubt,” said Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder.
Champions Cup rugby remains a slim hope for Harlequins heading into March, but this result certainly helped their chances, narrowing the gap to sixth place to 10 points.
The return of Demetri Catrakilis proved to be a success, the South African fly-half now fully recovered from the throat injury that has kept him on the sidelines since October. James Chisholm and Mat Luamanu’s power in the Harlequins back row, the latter celebrating his 30th birthday, certainly gave the fly-half an easier afternoon.
Bath deservedly struck first, dominating territory and possession before Faletau and Kahn Fotuali’i releasing Matt Banahan down the touchline to score.
James Wilson’s stint at fly-half for Bath earned him a man-of-thematch award in the previous win over Sale Sharks, but he was at fault for Harlequins’ opening score, a pass for Banahan picked off by Tim Visser, who went over untouched.
Harlequins extended that lead through three points from Catrakilis, keeping England apprentice Smith on the bench, to lead 10-5 at the break.
Bath’s replacement prop Max Lahiff had been on the field for barely more than a minute before being shown a yellow card after a flurry of Bath penalties once Harlequins had weathered more early pressure.
Sinckler’s introduction was more effective, crashing his way over from short range to put the hosts out of sight at 17-5 with the conversion by Catrakilis.
Harlequins had not won in the league since December 30, against Northampton, and it took a dogged defensive stand on their own line – with Bath twice held up according to the television match official – along with a Smith penalty to seal a first Premiership victory of 2018.
Smith almost added a long-range try to round off his cameo, only to be stopped short of the line by Zach Mercer.