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'He said 20 per cent and I said, Wow' - Lam reacts to Sinckler's Bristol 'struggle' claim

(Photo by INPHO via EPCR)

Pat Lam has reacted to the claim by Kyle Sinckler that he has only been “functioning at 20 per cent of my best at Bristol” since his summer Gallagher Premiership move away from Harlequins. Currently in England camp, the tighthead explained that settling in had been difficult as he was unable to see his family and was restricted in getting to know his new surroundings due to the lockdown.  

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“I guess for me, my issues have been I had to move in the middle of lockdown and I haven’t seen my mum since June. I haven’t seen any family,” said Sinckler about Bristol at the start of the week. “I’ve been in Bristol and basically we have been on our own little lockdown because you can’t go out – if you get coronavirus and bring it back to the team that is not going to be good.

It’s just been a big change and I appreciate everyone there that has been massively patient with me. I’m just excited to get back some form (with England) and then when I get back to Bristol, whenever that may be, I want to try and do the fans proud.

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Dylan Hartley and Ryan Wilson reflect on England’s win over Ireland

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Dylan Hartley and Ryan Wilson reflect on England’s win over Ireland

“I’ve gone to Bristol and it’s like starting again from zero. I can only give thanks to Pat Lam and the coaches that have massively helped me.”

Lam has now reacted to the Sinckler revelation, suggesting it was positive that the prop had still been so influential at Bristol despite only operating at limited capacity. “That’s pretty exciting because I have been pretty happy with what he has done,” said the Bears coach on Wednesday.

“I know that he could be better but he said 20 per cent and I said, ‘Wow’. Kyle is great. I’m really pleased for him. He has fitted in so well here, he’s a great guy and the guys love him here too. He’s been great. He has been getting better and better as he goes, in international rugby as well. He came through and started the (Challenge Cup) final for us and was superb. But that is Kyle. He knows he is always pushing. He’s such a quality professional. 

“Every part of his game he is trying to improve on and off the field, it’s all about getting better. It always is tough for people (moving). Well, covid has been tough for everybody but certainly changing and transition, I’m just glad that he is enjoying himself here and I’m also pleased that he feels he can get better. But in reality, it doesn’t surprise me because that is Kyle, he always wants to get better every day.”

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It was unusual for a player to be so publicly candid about what they felt was a shortcoming, but Lam has taken great encouragement from Sinckler’s confidence to speak out about his settling-in issues, hoping it can prompt other players at the club and elsewhere to go and seek help whenever they are having any kind of problem rather than bottle it up and struggle even more. 

“No rugby player is the same, no person is the same,” continued Lam. “The most important thing is we talk about self-awareness. Great teams have players who are self-aware, they acknowledge the good things but more importantly, they realise I need to better here so I need some help, whether that is on the field or off.

“The other thing that is really important is (being) socially aware. We are not all from Bristol, we’re not all from England, we’re not all white, we’re not all black, we’re not all brown. We are all individuals and as I said to the boys what we are living here, we are a great example of how the world can be a better place.

“I have said look at all the backgrounds we have here, look at all the different educations that people have had, no one really cares because ultimately it is about respecting, appreciating and valuing everyone and I love it. No individual will truly be their best if they don’t feel they belong. That is a big part of what we do because the boys won’t be able to play the way they do and more importantly we can’t be honest (if they can’t be themselves). 

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“Because it was pretty honest in the review session yesterday (Tuesday, after Sunday’s loss at Wasps). I came pretty hard at some players. They knew I was going to come but also before I did that I acknowledged all the unbelievable good work that we did in that Wasps game and then I came hard because you’re not going to learn if I’m not honest with them.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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