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Kevin Sinfield and the rugby league gurus running the Six Nations

Kevin Sinfield, Defence Coach of England issues instructions during a training session at Pennyhill Park on January 30, 2023 in Bagshot, England. - Getty Images/Dan Mullan
Kevin Sinfield, Defence Coach of England issues instructions during a training session at Pennyhill Park on January 30, 2023 in Bagshot, England. - Getty Images/Dan Mullan

Joining up with England under a new regime has reminded Ellis Genge of Kevin Sinfield’s rare capacity to inspire. The loosehead prop lowers his volume to deliver an impression of awestruck peers.

“I’ve heard Kev speak before,” Genge says. “But after the first meeting here, boys were coming out whispering: ‘F------ hell… the way Kev speaks’. He has that impact on everyone. He’s an impressive bloke.”

Meeting rooms are among the most important stages for coaches. It is here that they can motivate teams through sheer magnetism. This seems particularly important to defence, which lives and dies by togetherness and determination.

Previous documentaries have captured Andy Farrell in full flight, imploring an audience of British and Irish Lions to “destroy and enjoy”. Netflix will want a piece of that action, and should have plenty of opportunity.

The upcoming Six Nations will have Sinfield as England defence coach with Mike Forshaw, another former rugby league player, embarking on the same job for Wales. France have the inimitable Shaun Edwards and Farrell is at the helm of Ireland.

'I'd never coached anyone as big as Martin Johnson'

Phil Larder, a World Cup winner in 2003, feels proud to watch the influence of the 13-a-side code continue. Now 77, he became Clive Woodward’s defence coach in 1997. In his first week, Larder attended England’s debrief of a 15-15 draw with Australia.

“The first thing that struck me, which was so bloody obvious, was the different body shapes of players,” he remembers. “In rugby league, you have forwards and backs of similar size and weight with the half-backs a bit smaller.

“When I walked into their review of the match against Australia, I looked at Martin Johnson. At 6ft 7in, he was much taller than anyone I’d coached before. Darren Garforth was 6ft wide and stubby. I’d never coached anyone like that before, either.

“By the second or third phase in rugby union, you can have props next to centres in a defensive line and a fly-half next to the second row. We could have Martin Johnson next to Will Greenwood and Jonny Wilkinson next to Daz Garforth, and you’re meant to go up together at the same speed. I thought: ‘How the hell can Garforth keep up?’ You have to modify a lot of your thinking.”

Richard Cockerill of England confronts Norm Hewitt of New Zealand during the Haka as Darren Garforth (2nd r) and Martin Johnson (r) look on before an All Blacks tour match against England at Old Trafford on November 22, 1997 in Manchester, United Kingdom - Stu Forster/Getty Images
Richard Cockerill of England confronts Norm Hewitt of New Zealand during the Haka as Darren Garforth (2nd r) and Martin Johnson (r) look on before an All Blacks tour match against England at Old Trafford on November 22, 1997 in Manchester, United Kingdom - Stu Forster/Getty Images

This was one of the messages that Larder put across to Sinfield during a rendezvous before the latter took up a role with Leicester Tigers for the 2021-22 campaign. Sinfield also wanted advice on managing a training week. Upon joining England, Larder would travel to clubs to “perfect” drills before unfurling them with the national side. He points out that Sinfield and Forshaw, a huge success at Sale Sharks, are “further advanced” than that.

Captained by Genge, Leicester Tigers conceded just 52 tries in 24 regular season matches and one more across two play-off games against Northampton Saints and Saracens on the way to the Premiership title last season. Sinfield was a smash hit, combining technical aspects – team frameworks and tackling skills – with charisma. He had his own catch-phrases, naturally. Players were asked to embrace “the apex of pain” in difficult moments. Larder stresses that “gaining respect” and “man-management” will remain as “essential” pillars of coaching.

“You’ve also got to know yourself; how you react to pressure; how you react if the defence doesn’t work well or how you react to players that are a bit difficult and you’ve got to be able to control your own feelings,” Larder explains. “You’re not necessarily always smiling, but making sure there’s always a positive aura about you.”

Gatland: 'Wiganers are a bit mad'

“Character” is the intangible here. Alex Sanderson recently said that Forshaw’s “incredible ability to inspire” was more valuable than “systems or secrets”. Andy Farrell’s eyes lit up recently when Forshaw, “one of my best mates”, was mentioned. “He’ll certainly stand for something,” promised the Ireland head coach of his ex-Wigan Warriors team-mate.

On the same theme, Warren Gatland described Wiganers as “a little bit mad, in a positive way”. He enjoyed a long alliance with Edwards, of course. Gatland has often said that he does not worry about asking Wales players to run through walls, because “they just want to know what to do on the other side”.

Larder spent time in Australia learning from the late Jack Gibson, a “master-coach” and a mentor of John Muggleton, another cross-code pioneer. After the 2001 Lions tour, on which he oversaw defence under Graham Henry, Larder received calls from England’s rival nations asking to recommend defence coaches with league backgrounds. Mike Ford went to Ireland and Wales picked up Clive Griffiths. Interestingly, Larder needs a while to answer the question of where the magnetism comes from.

Phil Larder (National Development Officer) Talks to the press as Team Coach Clive Woodward Looks on at the England Rugby Press Conference, Mottram Hall - Allsport
Phil Larder (National Development Officer) Talks to the press as Team Coach Clive Woodward Looks on at the England Rugby Press Conference, Mottram Hall - Allsport

“I don’t know. I think it’s pretty obvious to most of us,” he says. “There are good coaches and bad ones as well. Kevin and Mike have proved, in rugby league and now, that they are the right characters. Not everyone in rugby league is the right character. But look at Shaun and Faz, Andy Farrell.

“I made Shaun captain of England rugby league when I coached them at the World Cup [in 1995]. Faz was probably the most important player in the forwards because he could play like a second-row and a fly-half.

“And it was also their characters; both very tough guys with the ability to get respect from those around them. I read somewhere that Owen Farrell seems to have the same skills. It’s just something that some people have. I think it’s more innate than learned.”

Sinfield’s staggering exploits as an ambassador for motor neurone disease research, and the loyalty he has shown in tragic circumstances to his friend, Rob Burrow, cannot be ignored. Phenomenal feats of endurance, such as reeling off seven ultra-marathons in succession, have bred a certain devotion. As Genge says, Sinfield “walks the walk”.

Ex-Leeds Rhinos rugby league player Kevin Sinfield (R) speaks with former teammate Rob Burrow after completing his Extra Mile Challenge at Emerald Headingley Stadium on November 23, 2021 in Leeds, England. - George Wood/Getty Images
Ex-Leeds Rhinos rugby league player Kevin Sinfield (R) speaks with former teammate Rob Burrow after completing his Extra Mile Challenge at Emerald Headingley Stadium on November 23, 2021 in Leeds, England. - George Wood/Getty Images

“When someone is doing stuff like that and then comes in on the Monday and says ‘boys, I need you to run on the weekend’, you’re going to run. You almost try to take a bit of what he’s been going through on yourself. And you try and help him out by repaying him at the weekend.”

England have drifted away from the world’s best. Larder believes Sinfield will address that.

“When I started, the top three teams were from the southern hemisphere: New Zealand, Australia and South Africa,” Larder finishes. “It seems to have turned around now. Ireland and France are leading the way. I’m sure that Steve and Kevin will bring us into that equation.”