Kevin Sinfield has England ready to turn jeers to cheers on their return to Twickenham.
Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland comes two months after the World Cup finalists were booed off their home patch.
The cross-code legend has been hired to bring hardness as well as stardust to Steve Borthwick’s new England set-up.
And last night he spelt out what Red Rose fans can expect from their side in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland.
Sinfield said: “We hear a lot from the other nations in the Six Nations about how passionate they are wearing the country’s badge. Well, I’ve seen that from our guys.
“We look forward to representing our people in the most passionate way with a performance that shows fight and that players genuinely care about England rugby and what we represent as a nation.”
Sinfield is synonymous with a lifetime of excellence in rugby league, the code where England captain Owen Farrell also cut his teeth. Proving England are in a league of their own is going to test the pair given how little time the new management has had to pick up the pieces after Eddie Jones’ sacking.
Farrell says Sinfield has been “very clear and to the point with what he wants” but warns it is still early days for the new regime. Sinfield, though, is buzzing for the challenge and whilst admitting every second counts, says he is counting down the hours.
“Sport gives you some wonderful moments and wonderful experiences and I’ve been fortunate to have a few in my playing career,” added the seven-time Super League-winning captain.
“This will be right up there in my coaching career. I can’t wait for my first real experience of international rugby union in front of 82,000 people in a wonderful venue.”
That this will be a different England team is clear in terms of personnel, with lock Jonny Hill yesterday left out of the squad after starting all four autumn Tests.
Jack Willis was also released, though more because of his limited training time due to now playing his club rugby in France following Wasps’ demise.
Dan Cole will be brought in from the cold to win his first cap since the 2019 World Cup final while Ben Curry, identical twin brother of Tom, is expected to finally make his Six Nations debut.
England are odds-on favourites with the bookies but Farrell knows better than to buy into that narrative given they last beat Scotland at home six years ago.
“We’re looking forward to getting back to Twickenham and testing ourselves,” he said. “But Scotland are a tough, tough team probably playing better than ever - as good as I can ever remember.
“The mood in our squad is good, the attitude brilliant. It’s a different time now, we’re starting again. But lads have come in excited and ready to get stuck into hard work.”
