Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

England's staunch defence of 'on the edge' Sinckler after Gatland's 'timebomb' sledging

Kyle Sinckler, England prop. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

England have reacted to Warren Gatland’s claim that Kyle Sinckler is a “timebomb” by wishing Wales luck if they attempt to exploit his short fuse.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gatland, who picked Sinckler for all three Tests during the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand, believes there is a “challenge with his temperament…other players are aware of” but has denied there is a plan to take advantage of any vulnerability during the crucial Six Nations clash at the Principality Stadium.

The 25-year-old prop has already served a seven-week ban for making contact with the eye area of an opponent on club duty, while in the win over France a fortnight ago he slapped France flanker Arthur Iturria on the top of his head, prompting a reminder of rugby’s values from referee Nigel Owens.

Sinckler is also an accomplished sledger who can often be heard directing verbal darts at the opposition. Against Ireland on February 2 he was embroiled in a spat with Peter O’Mahony.

England attack coach Scott Wisemantel has cautioned against trying to wind him up.

“If they target him then they’re leaving 14 other blokes to do their jobs, so good luck,” Wisemantel said.

“We saw in the Australia game during the autumn that he has a quick wit and can refocus very quickly. It’s probably Warren trying to stir the pot a bit.

“On the edge is the way he plays the game. Do you really want to take that away from someone? I don’t think so. He knows how to control himself and I don’t think it’s an issue at all.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Courtney Lawes admits Sinckler treads a fine line at times but views his aggression as an important rallying point for England’s pack.

“Kyle’s awesome,” Lawes said. “He is great and he brings great energy and he pushes it to the limit and you need players like that in the team.

“It inspires the players around him and it makes you want to get with him. That makes him a great leader in that sense.”

Continue reading below…
You may also like: Wales head coach Warren Gatland speaks about England test

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

Jack Nowell has been restored to the right wing in the injury-enforced absence of Chris Ashton. Jonny May, the Six Nations’ leading try scorer who has flourished since Wisemantel was first appointed in June, starts on the opposite flank.

“They are pretty diverse players,” Wisemantel said. “We periodise Jonny’s week as the Ferrari.

“So the Ferrari gets put in the garage, we put the covers on the Ferrari and give it a good grease and oil change.

“That’s how we periodise Jonny’s week and it gives him a really good visual for his week. He is extremely detailed with his preparation.

“The aerial battles are where he’s improved. He has worked really hard on them and he has become the king of the air.

“With Jack, you get work rate, you get energy. He just loves being on the pitch. He’s got unbelievable footwork, he would beat you in a phone box. He has a high work rate and really good gas out of the blocks.

“They are very different characters but the one thing they both bring is lots of energy.

“They both love it when they are on the pitch but in the lead-up, they are totally different. They come together and in games.”

Press Association

Watch: England head coach Eddie Jones speaks to RugbyPass about Wales game

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Quarter Final Replay

Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Solenn Bonnet 7 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Ex-All Black skipper sent home while former Chiefs flyhalf stars in JRLO quarter-final Former Chiefs flyhalf stars in League One quarter-final
Search