Triumph of graft over flair
It was redemption for Sinckler, but for Borthwick it was a…
ENGLAND’S flying Tiger dominated this aerial encounter and it also turned into a redemption day for the grounded 2023 version of Kyle Sinckler, who finally chased his demons out of Cardiff.
Freddie Steward was the star performer thanks to his bombdefusing brilliance as an imperious last line of defence, but no one had more to savour from this occasion than England’s transformed tighthead.
Four years ago, Sinckler made a tearful exit from the Principality Stadium after unravelling in the face of Welsh wind-ups, but on Saturday he showed how much he has changed.
The Bristol prop scored a try to re-establish English control after Louis Rees-Zammit’s long-range strike from an interception gave Wales a glimpse of a backs-to-thewall win.
But what stood out more was Sinckler’s composure. When there were a couple of flashpoint moments, he kept his head and walked away.
It was all a far cry from the 2019 episode, which left him having to withstand a savage social media backlash.
‘I entered the stadium in 2019 with a lot of hate and anger and a big chip on my shoulder,’ he said. ‘ Today, I leave with an open heart, a lot of gratitude, a lot of appreciation and a lot of love.
‘I’m just grateful to be doing the job I love and I finally feel I’ve moved on from 2019 now.
‘Back then, I’d be right in the thick of it, with the fans and trying to fight. I was a totally different person. I had a lot of anger and resentment. That was a really big week. Warren Gatland said something that made headlines and it hurt. I felt targeted.
‘Four years on, I can truly say that was a blessing, but at the time it didn’t feel like that.
‘Today was a pivotal moment, not only in my career but in my life. I had some demons coming back to the Principality. I know we played here in 2021, but that was during Covid, no fans, a totally different experience.
‘Walking back into the stadium, I remember sitting on the stairs in floods of tears. I can’t remember who I was on the phone to, probably my mum.
‘I know we were playing Wales but for me it was a Test match between who I am today versus the person I was in 2019. I just wanted to do everyone proud, have composure, put in a professional performance and do my job.
‘I felt I let a lot of people down in 2019. Hopefully today, I put that right. The whole anger thing, and being a liability, is put to bed hopefully.’
Sinckler was at the heart of a hard-grafting England win which was a triumph of substance over style. Steward handled the highball blitz which came his way and Wales did not have many other weapons.
They made some inroads late in the first half, but were repelled by a spirited English defence and the breakdown efforts of the back row.
Jack Willis and Lewis Ludlam were superb again and Alex Dombrandt was far better as a combative presence in the pack.
Ellis Genge put in another immense ball- carrying shift. Further back, Anthony Watson marked his comeback with a clinical finish from England’s best move and Ollie Lawrence’s late try was another marker in his drive to become a fixture in midfield.
If Owen Farrell had not missed 10 points worth of goal shots, England could have won by a street, but the post- match discussions again focused heavily on the visitors’ tendency to kick it away in promising positions.
Borthwick and his captain denied putting an excessive emphasis on building pressure over creativity, but that was the overwhelming view of the watching public.
Nevertheless, the new regime now have two wins from three games, which is a promising start. There are ticks in various boxes — set- piece improvement, more effective efforts at the ruck and a revived maul threat. The emergence of the two Ollies, Chessum and Lawrence, is another positive.
But at the time of year when the sport is viewed by a wider audience, who crave running and artistry, England are unlikely to be winning hearts and minds.
The X-factor show was cancelled in Cardiff as Marcus Smith and Henry Arundell were not deployed from the bench until 14 seconds from the end.
It seemed a futile gesture but also highly symbolic. Their gamechanging threat was not risked, even as England laboured to close out a game that was there for the taking.
This is the way it will be, all pragmatism and percentages. In fact, Smith could find himself usurped entirely as George Ford nears a comeback. Not so long ago, he was the poster boy for a new era of English liberation, but now he could be marginalised.
Such a decision would not go down well beyond the England camp, but Borthwick will not engage in a popularity contest. He wants the country to get behind their team, but he has his own clear idea about the best course of travel and will not be swayed by outside noise.
The head coach is setting a tone of honest, passionate commitment and innate decency. He spent time speaking to several Wales players after the game and his sympathy for their recent plight was evident and genuine.
On his watch, England are likeable. Even Farrell has mellowed to the point where he
answered questions about his troubles off the tee with good grace and an unfamiliar hint of self-deprecation.
So even if the kick-and-bash routine does not set pulses races, England have a chance to gain admirers with their quest to climb out of a rut.
‘Over the past two years or so, we’d have probably lost that Test,’ said Sinckler.
‘We didn’t capitulate under the pressure. It probably, from the outside, looked like a messy Test match at times, but for us it’s a huge win.’
Next up for England are France at home then Ireland away, daunting assignments against arguably the Six Nations’ two best teams.
But Sinckler added: ‘I won’t lie to you and say when you look at those two teams, you don’t have that fear, but we will walk towards that pressure.
‘I’m not saying we’re going to beat them but we’re going to give it a good shot. I wouldn’t say there is trepidation, just excitement.’
WALES: L Halfpenny 6.5; J Adams 6 (N Tompkins, 55min 6), M Grady 6, J Hawkins 6, L Rees-Zammit 7; O Williams 5.5 (D Biggar, 55, 6), T Williams 6 (K Hardy, 69); G Thomas 5
(R Carre, 56, 7), K Owens (capt) 6 (B Roberts, 69), T Francis 5.5 (D Lewis, 56, 6); A Beard 6, AW Jones 6 (D Jenkins, 64); C Tshiunza 6 (T Reffell, 64), T Faletau 7, J Tipuric 6.5.
ENGLAND: F Steward 9; M Malins 7 (H Arundell, 80), H Slade 6, O Lawrence 7, A Watson 7; O Farrell 6 (M Smith, 80),
J Van Poortvliet 6 (A Mitchell, 73); E Genge 7 (M Vunipola, 55, 6), J George 6.5 (J Walker, 80), K Sinckler 7.5 (D Cole, 65); M Itoje 6.5, O Chessum 7; L Ludlam 8, A Dombrandt 7.5 (C Lawes, 69), J Willis 8 (B Curry, 60, 6.5).