How Sinfield can inspire England to new heights

BORTHWICK'S WRECKING CREW SPOTLIGHT ON NEW DEFENCE AND ATTACK COACHES | Head coach's deputy commands respect of players inside and outside the camp

- Nick Purewal

ELLIS GENGE'S eyes flash wide as he illustrates the England squad's reaction to their first talk from new defence coach Kevin Sinfield.

The players who had not previously been coached by the rugby league great were left in immediate awe.

As the England squad filed out of the meeting room, the players talked in a wowed whisper. Sinfield's mere presence commands hushed reverence, for players both old and new.

Genge spent a Premiership title-winning year under Sinfield at Leicester, but even he felt that intangible 'it' when England's new assistant coach grabbed the Test mantle for the first time.

"I've heard him speak a lot before, but after the first meeting here the boys were coming out whispering," said England's vice-captain. "I said, 'yeah, he has that impact on everyone'. He's an impressive bloke, he has a massive impact when he speaks."

Sinfield would not be coaching at all were it not for best friend Rob Burrow's battle with Motor Neurone Disease.

The Leeds Rhinos team-mates won everything going in their league careers, and the pair remain inseparable friends to this day.

Sinfield's increasingly gruelling fundraising feats for Motor Neurone Disease research made him realise the end of his playing career had not dimmed his desire for elite sporting challenges.