Interviewed by L’Équipe before the European Cup semi-final between Rugby Club Toulon and Leinster, English international Kyle Sinckler (33 years old) specifically discussed a heated moment with Aaron Grandidier, the winger for Section Paloise, that occurred a few months ago.
Rugby Club Toulon is gearing up for a big battle against Leinster this Saturday (4 pm) with a spot in the European Cup final on the line. Before this important match, Kyle Sinckler revealed details in an interview with L’Équipe, reflecting on an incident that took place on February 1st with winger Aaron Grandidier during the game against Pau.
“He Was Faking It, That Disgusted Me”
“I told him: ‘No football, man!’ He was faking it, that disgusted me,” shared the RCT player. “On the ground, he pretended to have been hit in the head. I saw that ‘Seta’s’ tackle (Tuicuvu) was completely legal, as I was very close. ‘Stop your act, man! ‘I told him to get up, and he did. Rugby needs to pay attention to these behaviors. Kids are watching. We play a dangerous sport, but no one enters the field to injure someone. Simulation can lead to a player being sent off. It’s unfair.”
“A Dark Moment”
Kyle Sinckler also revisited the most painful experience of his career, which ultimately encouraged him to join the Top 14 in 2024: “The defeat against South Africa in the World Cup semi-finals (15-16, October 21, 2023). A dark moment. And a decisive turning point in my career that led me to come to France. I realized that I wouldn’t progress in the Premiership. The level I need to compete at each week is in the Top 14. At Toulon, initially, it was very tough. In the Top 14, many right props rotate to attack the hooker. I was taught to hit and stay straight. But it can have negative consequences for the rest of the pack. The opposing left props attack your right pectoral or go around you. In short, in Toulon, I had to relearn everything. And put my ego aside. When I arrived, I thought, ‘These guys are crazy.’ I pushed with Micka Ivaldi (hooker), and he kept saying to me: ‘Head, head, head.’ I wasn’t doing what he expected of me.”
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