Kevin Sinfield ‘so different’ from Sam Burgess switch

Dual code international John Bentley believes Kevin Sinfield will make a success of his switch to Rugby Union with Yorkshire Carnegie.
British Lion John Bentley switched codes in 1988 to join Leeds Rugby League before returning to Union when the game went professional in 1995.
He believes  former Leeds Rhinos skipper Sinfield will have an impact on his new club but says he will know it will take time to adapt to the nuances of the fifteen man game.
He said: “I think Kevin will have a positive impact on Yorkshire Carnegie and his ability to control a game, even though he has come across from Rugby League, is impressive.
“He will find it difficult with two additional players on the field, particularly the angles they come at you when defending; that is something that will initially be totally alien to him.
“The key ingredient for all cross code converts is dealing with the contact area. Rugby League is extremely fast and confrontational but when you get tackled the game stops momentarily and restarts very quickly whereas in Rugby Union when you get tackled the game actually commences.”
Sinfield playing 80 minutes at fly-half Munster A and Bentley believes being in that central position will bring certain challenges for Sinfield.
He added: “Fly-half is pivotal to everything that happens in the team and it is not an easy position to play. He has the defender in front of him but also a No7 whose primary role is to get to him and destroy him and Kevin will have to deal with that.”
Following the fall-out from Sam Burgess‘ departure from Bath Rugby, some have suggested the spotlight will be on Sinfield even more.
However, Bentley believes Sinfield’s motivations for switching codes are different and added, “He has come to the game to fulfil an unanswered person challenge having achieved everything he can in Rugby League, he has watched the game over the years and he now has the opportunity to answer the question, ‘can I?’ which is great.”
JASON REEVES