KYLE OF DUTY
Mission to lift country sparks prop
AS he pulled on an England shirt again Kyle Sinckler stopped to think who he was about to represent.
A nation in lockdown, looking for a reason to be cheerful on yet another blank weekend.
Kids, like his brother and sister, climbing the walls at home, unable to go to school or take part in any sort of sport.
He then went out and delivered a man-of-the-match display which led England head coach Eddie Jones, below, to liken him to a tiger.
“Eddie made the point in our team talk beforehand that 8.7 million people watched our game against Scotland,” said the Bristol prop.
“You can only imagine how many of them are kids that look up to us.
“My little brother and sister play football, rugby, tennis and at the moment they are just stuck at home. We wanted to put smiles on faces.”
Sinckler’s performance in his first game back from suspension was emblematic of this England victory.
It was about taking responsibility for past failings and showing lessons had been learnt. In England’s case, from their Calcutta Cup shocker.
Sinckler as an individual made a better fist of it than England as a team, huffing and puffing to see off Italy.
He then revealed how he had gone about turning the negative experience of being banned for swearing at a referee into a positive.
“The easiest thing I could have done is look for excuses,” said the 27-year-old.
“Heat-of-the-moment stuff, a dangerous tackle etc. But I have come to an understanding of how much of an inspiration you are to the younger generation and how much they look up to you. I want to set a good example to kids, to let them know you’ve got to take full responsibility for your own actions.”
The feisty forward contest that simmered and occasionally boiled over on Saturday would have been a problem for Sinckler in his younger, firebrand days.
“He was a hot-headed individual with a lot of potential,” agreed Jones. “But now what we’re seeing is a maturing, professional, committed player who, on current form, is close to being the best tighthead in the world.
“There always is a worry. Kyle’s still a jungle tiger and jungle tigers can always go. But in the most he behaves like a zoo tiger, with the fight of a jungle tiger. We just have to keep managing that.”
This was not an England performance to frighten Wales, France or Ireland, whom they still have to play.
Eye-catching tries by Jonny May and Anthony Watson could not disguise a fractured, often incoherent display.
World Cup winner Matt Dawson pointed the finger at captain Owen Farrell, telling the BBC: “Right now, it is as if he does not fit in the side’s attacking structure – it has got to be recognised by selection”. ENGLAND – Tries: Hill, Watson (2), May, Willis, Daly. Cons: Farrell (4). Pen: Farrell.
ITALY – Tries: Ioane, Allan. Con: Garbisi. Pens: Garbisi (2).