'That hit home with me' - The Kyle Sinckler advice that changed everything for Anthony Watson
Anthony Watson reaches a milestone in his England career grateful for guidance from Kyle Sinckler that steered him away from seeking the limelight. Watson wins his 50th cap in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with France at Twickenham as one of Eddie Jones’ best performing players in an otherwise disappointing campaign.
The 27-year-old Lion has been a consistent threat for England since making his debut in 2014 and is an automatic pick under Jones, but his long absence with a twice-ruptured achilles forced a reordering of priorities.
Recovery came in time for the 2019 Word Cup and his defence-shredding runs are now motivated by a different impulse inspired by the words of red rose team-mate Sinckler.
“When I got my first cap I was pretty immature. I was trying to be in the limelight for not necessarily the right reasons, trying to be more than a rugby player,” Watson said.
“I was interested in a lot of other stuff besides rugby but as Kyle Sinckler always says to me: ‘you’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing’.
“That’s probably where most of the shift has come in terms of mindset and focus on what’s important. That’s how it has changed from cap one to cap 50.
'…since the World Cup in 2019 we haven’t really seen England put a lot of width on the ball… That isn’t how they played to reach the final in Japan'
– @AndyGoode10 ??? on a faltering England and his score prediction for 'Le Crunch' #ENGvFRAhttps://t.co/gFoVWcyID7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 13, 2021
“The achilles injury was massive for me because I realised that while some of the off-field stuff was there, the things that really made me happy – playing rugby – weren’t.
“That was a pretty stark realisation and Kyle was really important to me through that whole process.
“There were times during that injury where I was off trying to do media or marketing stuff and he was like, ‘you need to keep the main thing the main thing’.
“That hit home with me and made me realise that if I want to keep doing what I love I need to make sure I keep it the main thing and not the other way round.
“It comes with age and maturity. We’ve all got a finite amount of years playing this game and you don’t know when it’s going to come to an end.”
Watson is playing some of the best rugby of his career, crossing twice in the last two games, and England will need him firing on all cylinders if they are to topple tournament favourites France.
Inspired by their irrepressible scrum-half Antoine Dupont, Les Bleus have rebuilt under head coach Fabien Galthie and now match historical strengths with a more efficient tactical approach.
“The ability to play from anywhere and be unpredictable is built into French rugby,” Watson said.
“That is the identity of French rugby and it’s good for the sport and it’s good that they have been able to hold that, even though they have changed a bit in terms of their pragmatism through their kicking.”
While acknowledging England must execute tactically, Charlie Ewels insists ‘Le Crunch’ will also be fuelled by passion.
“Emotion always comes into it,” said Watson’s Bath time-mate, who replaces Jonny Hill in the second row.
“We play a confrontational sport – it can never be a professional, technical thing because then you’ll look flat and you’ll never spark life into the things you want to do.
“It’s not so much about England-France and who the opposition is, it’s about the honour and opportunity of representing your country and all the emotion that brings.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments