As the first member of Canada’s senior men’s team to play on
a Currie Cup winning side, Jebb Sinclair is quickly developing a resume that
ranks him among the most accomplished of Canadian professional rugby
players. The Pro Report had an
opportunity to speak to the New Brunswick native, shortly after his thrilling
championship victory with Western Province.
JH: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us
about your recent months in South Africa with the Stormers in Super Rugby and
most recently with Western Province in the Currie Cup.
Obviously, the Currie Cup Grand Final on October 27th would
surely have been the highlight. Can we start by you giving us your thoughts on
that game and the experience of playing in a big South African final?
JS: Yes, it was great, especially being underdogs
and being written of by so many of the "experts". To play to away
games in the semis and finals and come away with the wins was something
special.
JH: Your time in South Africa began when you
answered the call for the Stormers, who had seen their back-row decimated by
injuries and Springbok call-ups. You are an experienced flanker, who also
played lock for Canada at the World Cup, yet your overseas coaches seem to like
you at #8. How did that evolution come
about?
JS: I played a lot
of 8-man at the club level in Canada so it wasn’t completely foreign to
me. I enjoy it a lot. Personally, I think I just have pretty good
ball skills and can clean up at the back under pressure. Obviously, it
made it easier playing behind such a great pack, they made me seem a lot better
than I was!
JH: There were a
number of great moments for you throughout these last months in the way of big
contributions, and while some of those came in the way of tries and big hits,
many of them seem to involve fantastic work in the tight, during line-out
drives, mauls or on defense. Coach Parfrey back on the Rock would certainly
have been very proud. How would you
compare the level of physicality you experienced in South Africa, with other
experiences you’ve had?
JS: These derbys in South Africa are quite physical. A
lot of the guys on either team grew up supporting the team they play for and
hating the team they play against, so there’s a lot of anger there, and
rivalries. Everyone tries to put 10 or 20 percent more into every tackle
when they get a chance! Even in training when we knew we would have a big one
against the Bulls or the Sharks coming up, everything would just get a little
sharper and harder!
JH: During your time with this country’s national program,
Canada hasn’t had a whole lot of exposure to the top five teams in the IRB
rankings. Seeing as you’ve been taking the field every week, with and against
many of the best players in the world during Super 15 and Currie Cup action,
what else impressed you about the level of competition?
JS: A lot of it is
just the pride and belief all these players have in eachother and mostly
themselves. They have the ability to shake things off. I guess it
comes from playing rugby your whole life and knowing that a particularly dark
time will rebound quickly. Their work ethic is incredible too.
Definitely something I’ve worked on myself as well, and I know it will stay
with me a long time. These guys aren’t happy unless its right and its the
guys pushing each other and not so much the coaching staff.
JH: Speaking of
coaching, South Africa is famous for having some of the best players in the
world, but it also has some of the best management. Has there been an aspect of
your game that you’ve been able to target for improvement with the help of some
of the coaching you’ve received down there?
JS: Yes, I’ve really
tried to be involved with planning lineouts; especially lineout defense.
So much about a game now is the platform, and if you’re able to make another
team’s platform unstable it can really change the game, as we saw in the Lions
and Sharks games.
JH: You seemed to
find a real home in Cape Town during your time there, and you’ve said
previously how warm and welcoming you’ve found the rugby community there. For
those who have never had the chance to settle into a deep rugby culture like
that, can you talk about what it all felt like?
JS: Well, for the
first little while it was a skeptical environment. A lot of the community
couldn’t understand why they would bring in a foreigner, especially a Canadian,
when they have so much depth all over the country. But after a few games
I was welcomed and once the Currie Cup started, it was whole-heartedly. It’s
crazy how much South Africans love rugby. The media attention is non-stop
and people are not afraid to come up to you in the grocery store or the gas
station and tell you that you had a good game, or a really bad one as has
happened a few times. Ha ha.
JH: Your time in South
Africa has obviously been a very special experience, and before you make your
return to the London Irish program in the Aviva Premiership, you’ve also been
named to Canada’s November tour of Europe. What are your thoughts about the
opportunities Canada’s men’s team will have, against Russia, Samoa and the
Maori All Blacks?
JS: Once the team was named, I was really happy
to see a lot of returning faces. I’ve noticed that I might have turned
into an old guy too! I’m excited about the Russia test because I think, over
the last couple of years, we've been building a rivalry with them, and I always
enjoy their straight forward approach.
Samoa is an exciting test. It’s the kind of game that
we are really looking for. Getting a crack at a proven top ten
side. These are the games we crave. As for the Maoris, I think any
time you get to be part of a game against a New Zealand side, it is an amazing
experience for any rugby player.
JH: As we mentioned,
you were in the second-row for Canada at the World Cup, and certainly the
tight-five is an area where Canada has being trying to focus on developing a
deeper pool of talent. With players like Andrew Tiedemann, Jason Marshall and
Brett Beukeboom joining the likes of yourself, Jamie Cudmore and Tyler Hotson
overseas, Canada’s November tour squad seems to suggest that those efforts are
succeeding.
JS: Yes, I was really
happy when I heard “Tiedes” had gotten a contract in France. He's been
ready for one for a while now, so I’m happy it happened for him. The
training we get in Canada is second to none, but nothing can compare to the
games you get week-in and week-out in Europe. That’s where these guys will
really pick up experience.
I was happy to see “Beuks” get picked up too. He's a
quality player that will thrive in the English rugby environment. Obviously,
the more headaches we give the coaches in the selection meeting the
better. It means guys are working hard every day at training to get their
shot.
JH: After the
November tests, you’re set to make your way back to London Irish. What will be
your approach as your rejoin that club in mid-season?
JS: It will be the same
as last year, when I came late, really. Just try to get on the same page
with timing and stuff, as soon as possible, and try not to rock the boat too
much. London Irish have come into a bit of form lately and have looked
good in their last five or six games, even in a few narrow defeats. So I’ll
just be looking to catch up with the boys I haven’t seen in a while and work on
fitting into the systems as quickly as possible.
JH: Having played and scored tries in World Cups,
the English Premiership and Super Rugby, you’re starting to boast to a resume
that few Canadian rugby players can match. What advice would you give to a
young Canadian rugby player, who dreams of running out one day alongside All
Blacks and Springboks?
JS: I’m not going lie to you, so much of life is just being
in the right place at the right time, I’ve been extremely lucky to have certain
opportunities come my way at the right time in my life. But hard work, determination
and not sweating the small stuff are the most important things, I think.
And it’s not so much just the rugby, I really try to
fit in with the guys as much as possible and leave rugby on the field. No
matter who they are, every guy likes going out after work and having a bite to
eat and stuff with the boys, and fitting into a team’s culture is something
that has helped me along the way.
JH Thanks for this Jebb! Good luck on the November Tour!
You can follow Jebb Sinclair on Twitter: @JebbSinclair
Jeff Hull is a freelance contributor to Rugby Canada. His Pro Report can be read regularly on this
website, as well as on Facebook, Twitter or in the blogosphere.
To contact the author, write to: jhull@rugbycanada.ca
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