Sinckler: My ego will not cost England again
harness that and do something positive and understand why I was angry and kept making the same mistake.
“Cardiff was perfect. It was exactly what I needed. It was sink or swim because if I didn’t change then I wouldn’t have played for England any more.
“I definitely cost the team a Grand Slam and I probably cost everyone a shed-load of money in bonuses. I was so in denial. I never took responsibility for what happened.
“It was ego trying to get in with Alun Wyn Jones, trying to be that bad boy which cost the team. Now hopefully everyone can see – and I know myself – I am a different person.
“I thank Warren Gatland and I thank Alun Wyn Jones because I feel I have grown from it and I’m only going to get better.
“The same kind of situations were happening on Saturday in terms of them holding me down, someone stamping on me when I was getting up, or certain things said, but it made no effect.
“In the past I always had to get one up on people or confront people, but now if you target me that’s wasting energy on me.
I’m fine, I’m not exerting any energy, I’m doing my job.
“If two players are on top of me, that’s sweet, because then there will be two fewer guys in the defensive line.”
Hoping to inspire young athletes from the tough south London neighbourhood where he grew up, Sinckler is launching a foundation called ‘R3cusants’ designed to provide financial assistance to those with potential.
“We spoke last Sunday and in my own head I wanted to dedicate this Wales game to my foundation that I’m setting up,” Sinckler said.
“My issues were never anything to do with rugby, rugby was always my canvas. It was always stuff outside of rugby and the aim of my foundation is to help kids in inner-city London and give them the opportunity.
“My biggest gripe is that there are guys who I went to school with who didn’t have the means, transport or parents pushing them, or the kit or the facilities. If you look at the talent that’s in innercity London, it’s an untapped reservoir.”