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Kyle Sinckler v Tadhg Furlong - prop contest central to England-Ireland fixture

By PA
Tadhg Furlong and Kyle Sinckler /Getty

Rugby’s pre-eminent tighthead prop and a respected challenger to his throne will face off at Twickenham on Saturday when Kyle Sinckler and Tadhg Furlong collide in a Guinness Six Nations clash between England and Ireland.

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The two sides are France’s closest challengers in the race for the title and this weekend’s meeting will have a significant bearing on both teams’ campaigns.

Here, the PA news agency examines a contest that will help shape the outcome of the clash.

Kyle Sinckler – Bristol and England
Position: Tighthead prop
Age: 28
Caps: 50
Lions caps: 6 (6 as a replacement)
Debut: v South Africa, 2016
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 18st 9lbs
Points: 10 (Tries 2)

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With Max unavailable this week, Freddie Burns steps into the breach to join Ryan and special guest Ollie Lawrence. Freddie gives us his take on Leicester’s strong start to the season and what makes him the ultimate stand-in superstar. Ollie talks us through his relationship with Eddie Jones and how his career could easily have taken a different turn. We get the guys’ best MLR impressions and Freddie asks the question every rugby player poses when watching football.

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Freddie Burns and Ollie Lawrence join the podcast! | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 24

With Max unavailable this week, Freddie Burns steps into the breach to join Ryan and special guest Ollie Lawrence. Freddie gives us his take on Leicester’s strong start to the season and what makes him the ultimate stand-in superstar. Ollie talks us through his relationship with Eddie Jones and how his career could easily have taken a different turn. We get the guys’ best MLR impressions and Freddie asks the question every rugby player poses when watching football.

Sinckler reached a half century of caps against Wales in round three and, if he continues to develop his game, he could emerge as England’s greatest tighthead prop. Sinckler’s scrummaging remains a work in progress but has grown significantly since making his debut in 2016, while maturity has brought with it a more measured temperament compared to the rookie front row with a short fuse. His points of difference, however, are his athleticism and handling. A powerful carrier at close quarters, Sinckler can also pick sharp lines, with his pace sweeping him past defenders. England also use his soft hands to good effect and Sinckler is every inch the modern prop.

Tadhg Furlong – Leinster and Ireland
Position: Tighthead prop
Age: 29
Caps: 55
Lions caps: 6 (6 starts)
Debut: v Wales, 2015
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 19st 8lbs
Points: 25 (Tries 5)

If Sinckler typifies the modern prop, then Furlong is its archetype. It is remarked in Ireland that Furlong is a fly-half trapped in a prop’s body and there are few forwards – never mind front rows – with his skill set. He operates as a distributor for Ireland, with his timing and precision giving his game an extra dimension that has become increasingly influential. But for all his ball-playing instincts, the British and Irish Lions’ first-choice tighthead for the last two tours is no show pony. His work rate is high and he is a go-to carrier at close quarters, as well as in slightly wider channels. Sealing his status as the best number three in the world are his rock solid scrummaging and presence around the ruck.

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TI 3 hours ago
All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

Rieko took literally years to turn from a defensive liability at 13 into a guy, who’s defensively sound as it befits the position. And it all came at the cost of him being much less of an offensive threat, than what he used to be. Proctor is a natural 13, he handles, passes, and kicks way better than Rieko ever will, he just isn’t as fast.


It’s unfair to judge Tupaea on the handful of games he’s had in 2022 before he got nearly crippled by a Wallaby lock. What could Tupaea/Proctor pairing be, if they got the same amount of chances as Jordie/Rieko?


Because no matter how you spin it, playing a player outside of his natural position is a poor asset management. No matter how talented he is, he still competes against players who had years and years of practice at the position. And if said guy is so talented that he actually CAN compete against specialists, imagine how much better still he could have been, if he had all those years to iron the toothing issues at the position. It just drives me mad.


Two things I hate in rugby union beyond description: aping after league, and playing players outside of their natural position. Especially considering, that they all admit they hate it, when they’re allowed to speak freely. Owen Farrell spent 80% of his international career at 12, saying every time when asked, that he is a 10 and prefers to play at 10. Those players are literally held at a gunpoint: play out of position, or no national jersey for you.

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