Kyle Sinckler’s shock omission could spell end of England career
The debate over Kyle Sinckler’s future – both domestic and international – continues to gather momentum. Sinckler was the high-profile omission from Steve Borthwick’s squad for the Six Nations, with the England head coach suggesting it was a decision based on form not fitness. Veteran Dan Cole, the upstart Joe Heyes and Will Stuart, the third-choice World Cup tighthead, are the trio; three – not four – the magic number in a 36-player squad.
In announcing his press conference, Borthwick seemed optimistic that Sinckler’s time as a Test prop was not over. “Do I think Kyle Sinckler will be back in the squad at some point in the future?,” the head coach asked rhetorically. “I’m pretty sure he will be. I sensed determination from him to go after the aspects we discussed.”
Last week, however, French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique published a breakdown of Top 14 transfers ahead of last season. Under Toulon’s tranche of arrivals that were “official or considered done”, Sinckler’s name was listed. Clearly, across the Channel, the tighthead’s move to the glamorous French club is seen as a foregone conclusion.
At 30, Sinckler should comfortably have enough life in the legs to offer England a valuable option for the next World Cup and beyond. But if he were to depart for Toulon at the end of this season as is expected by Midi Olympique, it would be a grave shame that the last of the prop’s 68 caps for England saw a scrum obliteration dished out by South Africa, the eventual champions, in the World Cup semi-final loss.
This is a player who has touched greatness. Lest we forget that in 2019, many believed that it was his early injury in the World Cup final that cost England dearly in the loss to the Springboks. The prop’s 2020 move to Bristol, however, has seen him seldom rediscover the form that earned him a call-up to two Lions tours and had him heralded as one of the world’s best by Eddie Jones, the previous England head coach. By the time of that semi-final defeat by South Africa last year, the tables had turned; where in 2019 it was Sinckler’s departure that had put Dan Cole’s neck quite literally on the line against the Springboks, in 2023 it was his arrival – along with other factors – that led to his side’s demise.
That said, Sinckler has been in impressive form this season for Bristol and his omission still came as a shock. Cole’s influence on England’s scrum improvement was noted by Borthwick and the Leicester prop’s longevity is something to behold as he returns for another season of international rugby, 14 years after his debut at the coal face. Below Cole and without Sinckler, however, both Stuart and Heyes are yet to prove themselves at Test level. Of course, the only way for them to do so is by playing but one wonders how much the uncertainty of Sinckler’s future played a part in 50/50 selection decisions? Borthwick has always been a big believer in super-strengths and, while Sinckler’s scrummaging might have suffered, his handling remains as accurate and sharp as any front-rower on the planet. Set-piece work, too, is an aspect of front-row play that can be honed with training, especially given Sinckler has proven he has it in him.
In terms of depth, the options behind Sinckler are sparse. Asher Opoku-Fordjour is a remarkable talent but is seen as a future loosehead by the England management, according to Sale’s director of rugby, Alex Sanderson. Ehren Painter has been a scrummaging titan for Exeter this season but there are question-marks over his abilities in the loose, while highly rated England Under-20s tighthead Afolabi Fasogbon is yet to play a Premiership match. Will Collier at Harlequins received a call-up during the last Six Nations but never featured and seems destined for Castres at the end of the season.
Regardless, Borthwick’s planning is meticulous. He explains that he has a contingency plan for every position and even contingencies for the contingencies, with a long-term view.
“We have to be really aware and plan for all those ‘what if’ situations,” the 44-year-old said. “Who’s next? And how do we fast-track them? How do we bring them through as quickly as possible? Every club goes through that process.
“As a club coach, I was looking at Tests and trying to figure out which of my players would be going, in six months’ time, to play in the Six Nations. I had projects going on with players who I wanted to be ready for that time. That’s what we’re also tending to.”
Wherever Sinckler’s future lies, there are two truths: a potential departure leaves a hole in England’s tighthead depth; but the tighthead would leave with his talent unfulfilled.
