HILL AIMS FOR NEW HEIGHTS
Petulant England star ready to slap down Wales
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 national record of 12 consecutive wins, Warren Gatland’s team will exploit every possible advantage.
Sinckler has been outstanding CORY HILL already knows what it’s like to be a hate figure for England fans – and hopes to get under their skin again in Cardiff.
The Wales second row (right) was given a right old rucking on social media when he was called up as a replacement for the Lions tour to New Zealand in 2017.
The Red Rose brigade were for England since breaking into the starting line- up AFTER becoming a British Lion in New Zealand two years ago.
And with fellow prop Mako Vunipola missing due to injury for the rest of the championship, the 25- year- old will have increased responsibilities at the Principality Stadium.
Which means Wales are bound to put ut his temperament to the test – aware of the incident with French rench lock Arthur Iturria, urria, which led referee e Nigel
Owens to lecture re him on “rugby values”. s”.
There’s also so the presence on his record of a seven- week ban for gouging while playing aying in a club match for or Quins 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 in control, I always know what I am doing.
“The Principality p y 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 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 g the better of me.
“At the same time time, if you are part of the front row a and playing in the forward pack it i is always going to be a fine line line.”
A week ago he briefly brie stepped over that line, but h he remains “frustrated” about the whole episode.
Sinckler said: “I don’t don condone what I did but they d didn’t show the full replay of what wh actually transpired. I didn’t just smack him on the head. There was stuff that happene happened before.”
By which he means me he was provoked? “I don’t don want to dwell on that. Th The big learn for me is that I I’d done my job in terms of o counterrucking and he lost his cool – so move on instead of retaliating. r
“I’m not perfect p and I’ve learne learned from it.”
Engla England have been clos close to perfect so far in this champio championship.
But Wales W now get to h have their say. It is i going to be lively lively. so far in the tournament and Hill said: “He’s a fantastic player and adds so much to their defence.
“But in Alun Wyn Jones we’ve got a real legend and someone who just wants to be first to every ball and every tackle.
“He was a hero to me when I was making my way in the game and he’s still there now playing alongside me. He’s just awesome.”