England's critics hit by Sinfield broadside

KEVIN Sinfield has hit back at critics of England’s style of play declaring they are in it to win it after a year of near misses.

- By ADAM HATHAWAY

The assistant coach watched from the stands as Steve Borthwick’s side lost seven out of 12 last year including a run of agonisingly close reverses.

Of England’s last 19 games, 15 have finished with a margin of seven points or fewer and the Red Rosers made a habit of coming off second best in tight games.

They bucked the trend with two single-point wins in rounds two and three of the current Six Nations beating France 26-25 and Scotland 16-15 to stay in the trophy hunt.

But not everyone has been cheering from the rafters with 2003 World Cup winner Will Greenwood slamming their attack post the Calcutta Cup match – and Sinfield has come out swinging.

The former league star said: “Look at the England football team and the amount of stick they get, when they are winning games. They can’t play or won’t play like Barcelona, so we’ve got to understand that. Likewise, we understand the step up in defences – how good teams defend, we know how structured they are.