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South Africa leaves door open for highly rated Josh Neill
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Kyle Sinckler makes dream start to life in Top 14
By Josh Raisey
Toulon’s Kyle Sinckler has made a great start to his life in the Top 14, making Midi Olympique’s team of the week for the third week in a row.
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The 31-year-old has now made the team in three of the opening four weeks of the season, earning his place this week after his side Toulon triumphed over Top 14 newcomers Vannes 54-19 on Saturday.
Toulon’s meeting with Vannes at the Stade Mayol was expected to be a clash between two England props, with Sinckler going head-to-head with his former teammate Mako Vunipola, who has made an equally bright start to his career in France. The former Saracens star, however, missed the encounter.
Despite only being on the field for an hour, the Toulon tighthead completed 13 tackles, which was only bettered by one player on the field, France flanker Charles Ollivon.
Not only has it been a strong start for Sinckler personally, but the three-time European champions sit in third place in the Top 14, level on points with Bordeaux-Begles and Toulouse at the summit.
Sinckelr was joined by one other Englishman in the team, Pau’s Joe Simmonds, who scored 15 points in his side’s 30-16 win over Stade Francais.
The 68-cap prop recently opened up on the differences between the Top 14 and English rugby in an interview with l’Equipe in France.
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“In France, there is more pressure in the connections, I have to adapt to it,” he said.
“The spirit of the scrum is very different here. From the commands “flexion”, “liez”, “jouer”. If I switch early, too hard, I risk arriving at the end of the race at impact, devoid of power. I am still in the adjustment phase.
“In Toulon, the scrum is a story of life and death, it’s exhilarating. In England, we are more analytical. Here, the scrum, we put emotions into it. It’s a whole city and a region that vibrates. In Toulon you feel like a gladiator. I love it!”
