On his first full day with the British and Irish Lions, Kyle Sinckler was singled out for special praise by Warren Gatland.

The head coach pulled the young prop to one side at the end of training to let him know how impressed he had been with his performance on Monday afternoon.

Most players – especially a 24-year-old preparing for his first Lions tour – would have lapped up the compliments. Not Sinckler. The Harlequins tighthead is different.

Described as “an angry young man” by forwards supremo Graham Rowntree, Sinckler had not played international rugby before this season, but now finds himself poised to take on the All Blacks.

It has been a remarkable journey, not that the Wandsworth-born forward is content to stand still.