Six Nations 2024: 'Unfair' to say Steve Borthwick only data driven, says Kevin Sinfield

Kevin Sinfield (right) worked under Steve Borthwick (left) in the coaching set-up at Leicester Tigers before following him to join England

Kevin Sinfield believes it is "unfair" to say head coach Steve Borthwick is completely driven by data when preparing England for a Test match.

Borthwick has been criticised by former England captain Will Carling, who told the Telegraph that England are playing in a restrictive "data straitjacket".

England's individual skills and kicking coach Sinfield says every professional team now uses data in their strategy.

"We try and cover every aspect," Sinfield told BBC Sport.

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"As a coaching team, we try and prepare the players as best we can and within that there is some data.

"Every international side and probably every club side is using data now and it's about using that in the right way.

"But we are also in the people business and we have to get people right and understand how they feel. Getting that emotional side right is just as important."

England have struggled in attack during this Six Nations and have been criticised for kicking away too much possession in search of territory.

They could welcome back fly-half Marcus Smith from injury when they host world number two side Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday after losing against Scotland in their last outing.

Sinfield added: "We have a way we like to play the game and a way we think England should play. Then you mix that in with some of the individuals we have and we want the guys to bring their super skills from the clubs.

"It is Test rugby so it is different to what you see on a Saturday afternoon at club rugby. You are not always able to replicate that in the Test arena because defences and attacks are a lot better.

"Our performance against Scotland was nowhere near good enough and we will have to be right at the top of our game to compete and go on and win the game against Ireland."

'We have to accelerate that learning'

Veteran prop Dan Cole, who could win his 111th England cap if he is selected to face Ireland, says Test rugby is usually an "arm wrestle" and the attack is the "cherry on the top".

"The coaches have made it crystal clear what they want from us. Against Scotland we had a gameplan we stuck to for 20 minutes and we were doing alright. Then we stopped doing the gameplan we came unstuck.

"Test match rugby is usually an arm wrestle until it opens up in the final 20 minutes. As a team you have to prepare and to learn how not to beat yourself first.

"You have to have a good defence and set piece and not give away tries and lose in the contact. Then you layer on how to really press home winning games which is the attack. It's a massive part and the cherry on the top."

Cole, 36, was part of the England side which reached the World Cup final in 2019 before being recalled to the set-up four years later for the following tournament in France.

England overcame low expectations with a pragmatic game approach to narrowly fall short against eventual winners South Africa in the semi-final last year and Cole says there is "method" in the training.

"Ireland have spent a long time together with a core group of the players also teammates at Leinster so they know each other inside out but at England we have a different set-up so we have to accelerate that learning," Cole added.

"But there are some key things we learned at the World Cup that, if England do the right things it puts us in the best position to win games. It is making sure we apply that with a new group of players and then having some fantastic individuals, where if you are in a game with 10-15 minutes to go, they have the talents to make a game come to life and you can exploit the opposition.

"It doesn't mean you're not looking to exploit them from minute one but games are tighter [early on]. There is method to what we do in training and it is all thought out."