Kevin Sinfield in action as England coach. (Image: Getty.)
Centre Fraser Dingwall revealed pep talks from helped him keep the faith he would finally get an recall. The 25-year-old has been involved in around a dozen international training camps, since 2020, toured Australia in 2022 and Japan and New Zealand last year – and has just two caps to show for it.
The defensive mastermind for Premiership champions Northampton, Dingwall played against Italy and Wales in last year’s before being cast aside when Ollie Lawrence returned from injury. But he is back in the saddle and will win his third cap, at inside centre against the Italians, on Sunday – 394 days after his second. And Dingwall said Sinfield, England’s skills and kicking coach, who also looks after the non-matchday 23 players was instrumental in him not throwing the towel in.
Dingwall said: “He has a massive role dealing with us at times in terms of frustration. Also, he is a really good sounding board, hearing people’s thoughts and giving honest reviews.
“He helps you get your head round where you sit in selection and how you can find your way back in. He is an unbelievable man and as an ex-player has a good understanding of what that is like. He is pretty key to the non-23.
“But I have always felt I have been tracking upwards. Flash back a year and I played for the first time, came out when Ollie was back fit but since then I have felt every campaign I have still been on an upward curve.
Fraser Dingwall is back in the England team. (Image: Getty)
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“It would be easy to sit back and say ‘I’m not playing again’ but I have felt I have been moving closer and closer towards this since then. Obviously, it didn’t come as quickly as I would have hoped for – but I have got to here for now.”
Dingwall is one of five Saints in the England backline all of whom were encouraged to pile on the pounds in pre-season ahead of. their title-winning campaign last year.
The midfielder has put on 15kg since joining Northampton straight from Bedford School with the majority added in that summer.
“I sit at around 98kg,” he added. “I joined Saints straight out of school at 83kg. I like the way I have done it, not all at once, I have done it in increments.
“I came in at Saints and I was more like a 13 and as I have tracked into 12 I have had to be a bit more robust. You have to deal with some pretty big men coming at you sometimes. I don’t feel like it has ever affected my pace or feel on the pitch.”
Tommy Freeman, Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell and Ollie Sleightholme are the other Northampton backs involved on Sunday with boss Steve Borthwick hoping the free-scoring Saints connection will improve England’s attack.
“It is recognition of what the club has been doing for the last however many years,” said Dingwall. At times it is about making it look a bit more like the Saints attack.”