Kyle Sinckler says childhood idol and Springbok great Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira was the toughest player he has faced in his career so far.

The England and Bristol Bears prop hailed the Bok centurion as “the real deal” and “world-class”, in a ranking of his three toughest opponents on ruck.co.uk.

Sinckler and Mtawarira met in the 2019 World Cup final in Japan, but the Englishman was concussed in the third minute and substituted, while the SA loosehead got to lift the trophy with the Boks.

Sinckler, who also gave props to Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones and Argentina’s Marcos Ayerza, said: “Number one would have to be the beast. He’s a strong boy and has over 100 caps for South Africa for a reason.

“He was somebody I really looked up to as a kid. He was the real deal…world-class.”

On facing 66-cap Ayerza, whose passion and aggression for Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership earned him the nickname “El Toro” (The Bull), Sinckler added: “When I was playing him I got no sleep the night before. He was that technically good and strong as hell.”