'There's none of that... there is nobody blaming anybody'
Assistant coach Kevin Sinfield has explained how the togetherness of the England squad at meal times in recent weeks is firm evidence for him that they are coping well with their brutal run of adversity in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup. Suspensions, injuries and deflating losses have all affected Steve Borthwick’s side during this month’s Summer Nations Series.
However, rookie Test-level rugby union coach Sinfield is refusing to believe that glory in the coming months in France is beyond England, the ex-rugby league star referencing experiences from his stellar Leeds Rhinos career as an example of how triumph can quickly materialise off the back of doom and gloom adversity.
After preparations were completed on Friday at Twickenham for Saturday’s clash with Fiji, England’s final outing in their underwhelming four-match Summer Nations Series, Sinfield explained why he retains full confidence that Steve Borthwick’s squad can progress with purpose through a World Cup campaign that begins versus Argentina in Marseille on September 9.
“The obvious thing is when things start to pull apart are the fractures and the groups that break off and the groups that go and spend time together and start sitting together and having separate meetings – there is none of that. They are very much together,” he insisted despite all the setbacks that England have had to shoulder.
“Meal time shows you a lot of that, where people sit, the time they spend together and the on-field, how hard they work. The discussions we have had over the last couple of weeks have been fantastic and really positive.
“Within that, performances have not been where they needed to be. There are constructive conversations, too. There is nobody blaming anybody. We are all working together and they have been the signs that let you know we have got a good group.”
Is there an example from Sinfield’s own playing career that he can cite where pain similar to what England are currently enduring quickly led to better days?
“Certainly throughout my career, there were enough obstacles to contend with (like what is happening with England). I have been part of enough teams that have had similar obstacles and have got experience of seeing how that has been handled and worked through – and I see some similarities here.
“There are lots of them. You take your pick, which year? I don’t know if you want international or club but club we finished fifth twice and went on to win trophies through the playoff system.
“We have had times where we have lost a lot of players, good players through injury and suspension and been able to work through it. There are certainly a lot of similarities here. That is why when I was asked the question about what do you see, I see a team that are desperate to do well.”
As it stands heading into their final warm-up, England have skipper Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola serving suspensions.
They have also lost original RWC squad picks Jack van Poortvliet and Anthony Watson to injury, and there has also been massive criticism of the team’s limp performances in a run where the flawed August 12 comeback win over Wales at Twickenham was sandwiched by damaging away defeats to the Welsh and Ireland in Cardiff and Dublin.
This adversity, though, is something Sinfield insisted England are taking in their stride. “We are a tight group already but how you handle those setbacks and those obstacles are really important to how the team moves forward and how the team functions.
Fijian football at the home of England rugby…
– Fiji got the round ball out for part of their captain's run at Twickenham on Friday just hours before the All Blacks took on the Springboks at English Rugby HQ. #FijiRugby #ENGvFIJ #SummerNationsSeries #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/4BBLl2pRBs
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 25, 2023
“Each one of those, you can call them blows. We have got back up and we have gone again and we will continue to do that. Like I said, it is already a tight group. These obstacles will continue to bring us closer together.
“In another group, a group that wasn’t as experienced or in a group that wasn’t hungry to do well, it might be really, really challenging for us but they are a really good group, they have taken it in their stride and hopefully that really comes out in the performance.
“I do believe everything happens for a reason so the journey we are on, we understand that when you are preparing for something like this [the World Cup], and especially in sport, getting better and improving is never a straight line.
“We probably didn’t envisage having to encounter as many (blows) as we have but again, it’s going to prepare us for what is to come, especially when we get to France.
“In many ways, the fact that we are dealing with some of this now, hopefully makes it a little bit easier for us when we get into France. But the group are pretty tight, as I said, and we will continue to fight and move forward and be better tomorrow [Saturday].
“It would be daft to think we are not aware of some of the heat from outside. That is another one of those obstacles that we have to understand, that we have to face and confront, but we understand that strength comes from within and within that inner sanctum we are very determined to get better and improve.”
Saturday’s match will be played in front of only a half-full Twickenham and there are fears that the diluted atmosphere this will generate could set England up for another August loss, especially as Fiji have played well in recent weeks in their warm-ups – including giving France a few headaches last Saturday in Nantes.
“They [Fiji] have got some real talent,” admitted Sinfield. “I have really enjoyed previewing them. They bring a different threat to the northern hemisphere that we have faced since I have been working with England, so really looking forward to it.
“Some guys we know a lot about and some guys we know less about but there is one thing for sure, they are a very talented nation and they are going to come and play. Certainly for me watching and previewing it has brought a deal of excitement to really test us and see how far we have come.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to comments