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The warning Phil Larder has given to England's Kevin Sinfield
Kevin Sinfield has revealed the pep talks he has received from fellow rugby league greats who have coached rugby union defence at Test level – with even Phil Larder recently warning him to watch out for the media.
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Larder was the first in the modern era to successfully make the coaching jump across from one code to the other, but although he went on to help England win the Rugby World Cup, he has reminded Sinfield about the criticism he had to initially face when things didn’t go well.
England bombed out at the World Cup in 1999 at the quarter-final stage and the media got stuck into the league-style defence that Larder had implemented. His ideas, though, worked out in the long run, Clive Woodward’s side lifting the trophy four years later in Australia.
Just now, rugby league great Sinfield is enduring his own baptism of fire as a rookie Test-level defence coach. England have conceded a massive 30 tries in the nine matches he has been involved with under Steve Borthwick.
This leaky defence criticism will only intensify if a win isn’t secured versus Argentina in this Saturday’s World Cup opener in Marseille.
Sinfield insisted on Tuesday in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage that nothing had taken him by surprise in the difficult teething process of jumping into the international arena after only coaching defence for a couple of years at Leicester following his retirement from playing rugby league.
“I don’t think there is anything that has surprised me; it is what I expected,” he insisted despite the accusations that the support staff working under Borthwick – including Sinfield – are far too callow and too inexperienced for Test level coaching.
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“I have spoken to enough people before I got the job, I spoke to Shaun (Edwards) and Phil Larder, had a couple of chats with Andy (Farrell) when we played against Ireland.
“So there are guys who have certainly led paths before me and understand the journey I am heading on. In particular, speaking to those guys has really helped. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a straight line for all of those guys too.
“I didn’t expect this to be easy. I expected it to be tough, pulling a group of players together who are from very different systems and have very different personalities and characters.
“To try and get them on the same page has taken a lot longer than I probably envisaged but I see a belief and confidence in the group that they are as passionate as I am about it [defence].”
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Asked to elaborate on the pep talk from Larder, Sinfield continued: “I won’t share it with you. He has been great. I met him a couple of times, I spoke to him last week… he told me a lot about you guys actually, told me about how you guys [the media] treated him back in 99, was it?
“He told me about some of the things that went his way but it shows you how important it is to stick in and stick to your beliefs. To have somebody like that who you can tap into and speak to is invaluable.”
Kevin Sinfield with the latest on Tom Curry's availability versus Argentina… and why the England defence recently hasn't been as good as it needs to be. #EnglandRugby #ENGvARG #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/v7pd5ELOrG
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 5, 2023
Missed tackles were particularly detrimental when England lost last time out to Fiji to conclude their Summer Nations Series leading into the World Cup, their sixth loss in nine games in 2023. Does conceding tries leave Sinfield all emotional or has he a composed demeanour about him when things don’t go to plan?
“There is always emotion in defence; I don’t try to take that out. It is important that we are passionate about defending for each other and defending our line and it’s important we are aggressive and we get off the line and are physical.
“I spend a lot of time analysing, as you would expect. I’m passionate about my job. I want us to be better. We haven’t been good enough so far but I have seen a belief and confidence in the group that they really want to improve, so I am firmly in there with them. I’m accountable, I’m responsible and I believe in what we are doing.”
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
22 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
22 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
44 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
44 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
44 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
7 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig 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 comments