1
'This generation's different, gone is the big Churchillian leader'
It’s 20 years now since Martin Johnson was centre stage, inspiring England to Rugby World Cup glory with a belter of a rev-up speech. The no-nonsense engine room specialist was never one to mince his words and his reputation was fearsome. Spin the dial forward to the modern day and you’ll find a different type of trigger in use with the English looking to dethrone South Africa.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kevin Sinfield enjoyed a stellar rugby league existence before code swapping a couple of years ago, throwing his lot in with the Steve Borthwick union regime that took Leicester to a Gallagher Premiership title at the end of his first season in 2022 and is now looking to qualify England for next weekend’s 2023 World Cup final against New Zealand.
It was a baptism of fire for the 43-year-old defence coach at Test level, England conceding 30 tries in his first nine games and winning just three times. Now, following five successive victories at the reduced cost of just four leaked tries along the way, the outlook is suddenly bright and breezy with a semi-final now beckoning.
Rumbustious Johnson-type leadership, though, wasn’t part of the turnaround. “It’s probably more subtle than that,” explained Sinfield when asked if rousing Churchillian-type speeches were still en vogue. “Understanding as well that leadership has probably changed. This generation is different. Gone are the big Churchillian leaders. They do exist but they are quite rare.
“I have spoken about our leadership group before and then as coaches, we are all different. I know you [the media] have spent a bit of time with Richard (Wigglesworth), Tommy Harrison, Steve, and it probably comes across differently. We all have our own ways of influencing and supporting. As of yet, there has been no Churchillian speech.
“We are all different as coaches and have different characters and personalities. We all have different relationships with the players. We certainly have some big messages that we get across but then there are those individual relationships where you speak to a player in your own way – and we all have our own way.
“Having had the luxury of working with these guys for some time now, you understand what buttons you can press and the influence you can have and how you can support and help for those that need it.”
ADVERTISEMENT
In his league-playing pomp as a multi-trophy winner with Leeds Rhinos, Australia were the great enemy for Sinfield at international level for England and Britain. That other code background helps him to not feel in any way daunted by the prospect of Borthwick’s side going in against the world’s current No1 union side in Paris.
“I’m certainly not overwhelmed. I understand the challenge in front of us. But I don’t mind being backed into a corner, don’t mind being written off, don’t mind being slammed, don’t mind being in the thick of a pretty tough circumstance.
“I just think we’re in a World Cup semi-final. There is a lot of good in it here, there is a lot of things to be excited about. Coming up against them will let us know where we are at. But for our players, they are so excited to be out there.”
That’s no surprise given how England flew into base camp in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage at the end of August so brutally written off.
ADVERTISEMENT
There were accusations that their preparation was the worst ever by any England squad heading to a World Cup and there were even some dire predictions that they wouldn’t even emerge from a group containing Argentina, Japan, Samoa and Chile.
In the end, their results worked out swimmingly. ‘Rewind eight weeks and it was pretty grim for us at the end of August, but we want them to absolutely rip into it on Saturday night and give it everything they have got, otherwise you end up with a load of regrets for the rest of your life.
Spirits were high when England arrived for their final pre-Rugby World Cup semi-final training session in Paris on Friday, the joking Jamie George and Tom Curry leading the way. #RWC2023 #ENGvRSA #EnglandRugby pic.twitter.com/3A4BdNOwiw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 20, 2023
“I’m not sure we would have feared it [this clash with the Springboks] a month ago. Actually, it could have been what we needed at the time; an opposition that were different for us, to give us a different challenge. It might have been good for us.
“But we are really looking forward to this and you’re right, we are talking about different personalities and characters in the group – some will absolutely thrive on the fact that we are coming up against the best team in the world at the weekend.
“We understand that it is a physical test at the weekend but last weekend was as well (against Fiji). I know you guys will say there is a lot more coming this weekend, but the week before there was as well.
“I don’t think you can find many rugby matches these days that aren’t physical. You are going to have to draw in on that. The boys understand the magnitude of this one, both the opposition and it being a semi-final. We have to be ready.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good riddance
1 Go to commentswel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
4 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
4 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
4 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to comments