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'Mum's tears had dried up by the end I think! I thought I was just sweating'
By Online Editors
Tom Curry’s mum was reduced to tears when confronted by the sight of her son gushing blood from a wound on his forehead in England’s rout of France.
The gruesome image of Curry playing with his face and jersey covered in blood evoked memories of Three Lions hardman Terry Butcher, who was similarly soaked during a World Cup qualifier against Sweden in 1989.
At 20-years-old, Curry would not be born for another nine years when the famous photo of Butcher was taken and the Sale openside had to be told who the England defender was by forwards coach Steve Borthwick.
It took six stitches to patch Curry up in the 44-8 victory at Twickenham and he returned to the fray with the greatest harm suffered by his mum Susanne.
"We are playing the greatest Welsh side ever"
Curry has been magnificent in England’s triumphant start to the Championship, producing two ferocious defensive shifts and proving effective as a carrier.
The nation’s long search to unearth a genuine openside is finally over and in typical fashion two have come along at once with rival Sam Underhill only absent from the squad because of an ankle injury.
To accelerate his development, Curry studies footage of greater players in the position in the search for tips while confident in his own strengths.
“I’m not a fan of just focussing on one person because obviously you’re your own person and have your different traits,” he said.
“Michael Hooper, David Pocock and Francois Louw is obviously up there. George Smith’s been a big one as well.
“I just look at everyone’s individual games, taking little bits and forming almost like Frankenstein – you take bits that you might enjoy and push away stuff that you don’t.
“So there’s definitely aspects that you can take but you’ve got to realise what’s good for you.”
England are assessing the fitness of loosehead prop Ellis Genge after he was forced to withdraw from training because of an ankle issue.
Press Association
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Latest Comments
I think Italy were always targetting this match and intended to win. They needed to exorcise the 2023 RWC. I think they could have done with a bit more help from other 6Ns particularly from Ireland to knock more holes in NZ and their confidence.
Mentioned before the Italy Argentina match was a virus that ripped through the Italy camp early that week. In general play Italy were competitive albeit with a high error count and crucial missed tackles.
Ive said it before the era of NZ turning up unprepared for all comers and triumphing is definitively over. If a Tier1 team target NZ and NZ do not prepare accordingly they are in with a major chance of losing. It used to occur the odd time in RWCs against France, now it can occur v any Tier1. The competition has improved. NZ can still be at the top but their talents must be deployed sufficiently into dismantling teams as with their attack then allowed to exploit.
They dismantled Ireland pretty well in Dublin which went largely unnoticed. That allowed them scoreboard advantage and attacking opportunities of which one was enough.
That Italian team beat Wales and significantly Scotland last year. They used the loss to NZ in the most positive way possible. No doubt NZ prepared but I would assume it was similar to versus Argentina: 3/4 arsed at best. These test matches are rare and this was another chance to practice dismantling a determined and prepared opponent which was lost. If Italy had scored a 7 pointer at 17-6....an Italian win was on.
Go to commentsGB = England, Scotland, Wales. UK = England, Wales, Scotland, NI
Nothing to stew son.
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