"Clearly, I didn't think I'd be here" – Kevin Sinfield opens up on England status ahead of Autumn Test against All Blacks
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England coach Kevin Sinfield has provided an update, regarding his status with Steve Borthwick’s coaching staff. Sinfield was expected to step away from the team after the Summer Tour of Japan and New Zealand, with Richard Wigglesworth promoted up the ranks to Sinfield’s former role of assistant coach.
However, in early October England confirmed that Sinfield would rejoin the squad, as he takes up the role of skills and kicking coach, as well as taking up a mentor role for the individual England players. Although, Sinfield will be taking time away from the England squad throughout the Autumn Nations Series, as he embarks on an inspirational talking tour across the UK and the Isle of Man.
Whilst Sinfield’s job title may now differ, his responsibilities and passion for garnering success out of the England team remains the same. Sinfield spoke to the media in a recent England press conference, about how he intends to once again go above and beyond his call of duty and ‘over deliver’ with Steve Borthwick’s squad.
“My role is exactly the same as what it was since last December. So I’ve really enjoyed the role. I love working with the guys, like I said, from that point on. You know, it will change, but I have to say that probably won’t really come into force until the Six Nations and then I’ve always been a guy who’s tried to over deliver and I intend on doing that again.”
Sinfield expressed how he did not anticipate to still be amongst the England set-up, and how his upcoming tour was booked back in January. Sinfield has a direct clash in his schedule with a speaking event in Whitehaven on the same day that England host the Wallabies at the Allianz (Saturday November 9th).
“"No, that was put in place in January. So we’ve made a commitment to that, and whichever way I went, having agreed to stay on it meant not being able to fulfil something I’m really passionate about.”
"I will be in an out of camp during that period, as you guys have already written, because I’ve read some of it, it’ll mean two of the games, but I’ll certainly play a part in the preparation from after this campaign. That will not be the case. I’ll be available for every game (after the Autumn Nations Series)." "Clearly, I didn’t think I’d be here."
The former Leeds Rhino rugby league player, made it clear as to why he was delighted to take back up a spot amongst Steve Borthwick’s coaching staff. Sinfield picked out three reasons as to why he remains on the training pitches of Pennhyhill Park, with the current group of England players at the forefront of his decision.
"Three things I mentioned. The group, representing your country and being around high performance. It means a lot to me. There’s some things outside of rugby that I’m really passionate about, that you guys know, charity stuff, certainly some of the speaking stuff has been important to me and trying to manage that."
"That has been tough. You can ask me what the priority is. They’re all the priority. They’re all important to me when I care about people and I want to help people, so whatever line of work I’m in or involved with, trying to do that to the best of your ability, to stay in, albeit might be slightly different, but I will make it work out."
Sinfield remains amongst Steve Borthwick’s coaching group, after witnessing the two unexpected departures of head of strength and conditioning Aled Walters and defence coach Felix Jones. Whilst the double exits did not make Sinfield feel obligated to stay on for Borthwick’s benefit, the 44-year-old was very disappointed to see his two colleagues leave the England set-up.
"I think Felix and Aled was massively unexpected. The very first conversation started after the (2024) Six Nations about me staying on. It took some time to work through a solution, because it’s complicated when you’re trying to do some charity bits that mean a lot to you, and you can’t always plan the time of year that should be or how that looks.
"Steve’s been outstanding in our conversations, especially around staying, and I’m certainly disappointed to see Aled and Felix go, because they were mates, and I’ve worked with Aled for a long time now, and Felix struck up a really good friendship.
"But as a friend, you want the best for your mates and wish them both all the best. I’ll keep in touch with them, I just won’t see him as much as what I would have so, but I am really happy to stay, really happy to be sat in front of you."
“As a friend you want the best for your mates, I wish them all the best and I’ll keep in touch with them. I just won’t see as much, but I am happy to be staying.”
England’s newly appointed defence coach Joe El-Abd will get his first experience of the Test match environment tomorrow afternoon, after joining the coaching staff along side his Director of Rugby commitments with French D2 club Oyonnax. El-Abd is a long time friend of Steve Borthwick, with the two sharing a university flat together as well as a professional rugby break-through at Bath.
Whilst a key aspect of Sinfield’s mentoring position is to support the players in the England squad, the former Leeds rugby footballer recognises how helping the likes of El-Abd through their initial fixtures is just as important.
“I think part of my role is not just supporting players but supporting staff as well. The great thing about this environment is there’s an expectation you help and support and I tried to do that the best I could with Felix (Jones), and I’ll do the same with Joe (El-Abd).
“He’s fitted in well and no doubt he’s looking forward to his first experience of it. It is a great opportunity to support the new guy coming in, but part of my role is helping Wiggie (Richard Wigglesworth) in attack, although I know little about scrums, it is about supporting Tommy (Tom Harrison – scrum coach) if he needs it.”
A key focal point of El-Abd’s appointment was whether England will stick with their ‘blitz’ defence, that has been an established option in putting pressure on attacking lines. The system was introduced by Felix Jones, with England players such as George Furbank, Marcus Smith and Henry Slade previously expressing how they enjoy the feeling of dominance that comes with the high tempo defensive line-speed.
Sinfield explained how England’s defensive system to front up against the All Blacks will look similar to their style under Felix Jones, with El-Abd adding some ‘minor tweaks’ to the opperation.
“It is a very similar system with some minor tweaks, however I like to think you wouldn’t see much difference. The things you can see are in and around line speed and maybe some of the collisions and I think that’s still a big part of our DNA.”
Sinfield turned his attention to the incoming Test of the All Blacks, as England kick off their Autumn Nations Series against New Zealand this Saturday at the Allianz. Sinfield believes that his England squad have a better understanding of Scott Robertson’s side, after back-to-back defeats to the All Blacks in the Summer, in what were the first two fixtures in charge of the All Blacks for the former Crusaders boss.
Couple those experiences in Dunedin and Auckland with the additional All Blacks matches in the Rugby Championship and then last weekend against Japan, and Sinfield believes that England have done their homework on their opponents for the weekend. With the element of surprise out the window ahead of tomorrow’s clash in South West London, Sinfield is eagerly anticipating kick off at HQ.
“It's easier (to prepare) than it was over the summer. They hadn't played at all, we were first up so we weren't quite sure what was coming then. I'd like to think we've got a better idea now, we've done our homework, we've seen the Rugby Championship so we think we know what's coming but you're never quite sure until the first ball is kicked on Saturday afternoon.
“It's probably been a little bit easier to preview, however we're previewing past games and not quite sure what they're working on but we think we're in a decent spot.”
“We were disappointed not to get a win over in New Zealand because top level sport is about winning. We've had some strides and we improved a lot throughout the summer, albeit we want to win.
“There was a deep dive and a deep review, we've tweaked some bits, we've learned some things and we'll try and take as much of that into the game on Saturday. They're a very, very good team, 2012 is the last time we beat them [at home] and what's crazy is that two of our last 15 games have been at home, it's great to get back home.”
In the last few minutes before kick off in England’s 82,000 capacity amphitheater, New Zealand will perform their famous Haka and lay down the challenge to Steve Borthwick’s squad. England have previously responded to the Maori war dance, with the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final ‘V’ formation the brainwork of former head coach Eddie Jones.
More recently, England acknowledged the challenge by taking a collective ‘step forward’ for the second Summer Test at Eden Park, with the Haka once again in the spotlight of the pre-match attention thanks to the social media posts from England prop Joe Marler. The loose-head took to ‘X’ to state how the Haka should be ‘binned’, unless there is a response from the opposition team, like their was in the recent rugby league meeting between England and Samoa.
"It is not like Joe to throw a hand grenade in is it? Some low profile.” Sinfield joked.
“I’m not sure (if England will respond to All Blacks’ Haka). A lot of words are spoke in team meetings, but my experience is that it makes little difference to what happens on the field.” he added.
“Players will dictate that, there’s some real quality out there so it might mean the initial exchanges are tasty, but England v New Zealand is always going to be tasty. It provides some column inches, but I don’t think it’ll have any bearing on the game.”
“I loved facing them as a player and then to be able to face them as a coach has been great too. To be able to see it in a different guise, seeing it as a supporter as well, I think it is a great part of the sport.
“The 82,000 who will be there on Saturday will be really looking forward to seeing the haka. I don't think it ever gets old and the emotion of it, I have no doubt how important it is for New Zealand and it is important we are very respectful in our response to it. It is a great part of sport.”
"I don't know what has happened there (rugby league) because I am not sure that is the right way to go about it. I don't know what rules are in place over there, it must have changed since I have been over there, I don't think I have seen that before.”
“On Saturday it is important we are respectful of the opposition. There are some laws in place we have to follow and we will do that as a team and rightly so. I don't know what laws are in place in rugby league now, perhaps that is allowed but it is not allowed (in union).”
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