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Joe Moody steers clear of verbal clash with England's 'emotional time bomb' Kyle Sinckler
All Blacks prop Joe Moody refused to give an inch when quizzed about the prospect of coming up against in-form England prop Kyle Sinckler ahead of Saturday’s World Cup semi-final bout.
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Moody will face off against the fiery tighthead Sinckler in what is set to be a crucial clash between the front-rowers in Yokohama, but he didn’t indulge in any pre-match banter when presented the opportunity by reporters on Friday.
In fact, the 44-test veteran suggested he had given little thought at all about the British and Irish Lions star, who shone in a try-scoring display during England’s 40-16 dismantling of Australia in last week’s quarter-final in Oita.
“I haven’t really had any focus on anyone in particular,” Moody said when asked about coming up against Sinckler.
“We have some classic forward battles between us (the All Blacks and England) in the past, but it should be good to get out there.”
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It will be just the third time the duo will play against each other in the international arena, with the prior two times coming during the 2017 Lions tour of New Zealand.
Moody started in all three of the All Blacks’ tests, while Sinckler came off the bench in the first two tests.
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With just eight caps to his name leading into the tour, Sinckler wasn’t a standout name among the All Blacks faithful when he first arrived on Kiwi shores two years ago, but he became more familiar following the second test, of which the Lions won 24-21 in Wellington.
Television footage showed him winding up All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara after full-time, with a push-and-shove exchange ensuing shortly afterwards.
A place in the Rugby World Cup final isn't the only thing that will go on the line as England prepare to face-off against the All Blacks. #RWC2019 #NZLvENG https://t.co/7gg6Tav1nI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 26, 2019
Then-All Blacks Jerome Kaino and Israel Dagg also appeared to engage in the minor scuffle before the situation was defused and the teams headed off to their respective dressing rooms.
Days later, All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen said the incident might be something Sinckler regretted in hindsight.
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“It’s just one of those things again that happens with emotions,” Hansen said at the time.
“It’s a bit like having a fight with your wife, isn’t it, you say things you don’t mean don’t mean at the time. He probably said some things he didn’t mean at the time… a bit emotional.”
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It’s not the only time Sinckler’s temperament has been discussed by other international head coaches.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland labelled the 26-year-old an “emotional time bomb” prior to his side’s 21-13 Six Nations victory over England earlier this year.
After the match, Gatland, who was the Lions head coach during their 2017 tour, said Sinckler “probably has a few demons to deal with” after the prop gave away two costly penalties in quick succession during the encounter.
However, the 32-test front-rower showed signs of maturity during his side’s win over the Wallabies seven days ago when he ignored Australian hooker Tolu Latu’s attempt to wind him up after he lost a scrum battle early in the first half.
It was Sinckler who had the last laugh, however, as he scored a critical try in the 46th minute to instigate the first of England’s 23 unanswered points in the second half en route to booting Michael Cheika’s side out of the tournament.
Kick-off England’s semi-final clash against the All Blacks is set for 5pm local time.
Rugby World Cup sandwich survey with All Blacks legend Justin Marshall:
Comments on RugbyPass
I don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
4 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
24 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
24 Go to comments