England ready to unleash Tom Curry against Chile with flanker ‘chomping at the bit’ to return after serving two-match ban for dangerous tackle in World Cup opener against Argentina  

• England are ready to pitch Tom Curry straight back into their starting team
• Flanker is full of pent-up energy which has made him a ‘menace’ in training 
• He was sent off three minutes into the World Cup opener against Argentina 

England are ready to pitch Tom Curry straight back into their starting team on Saturday, as the Sale flanker is full of pent-up energy which has made him a ‘menace’ in training, while serving a ban.

The 25-year-old was a sensation at the last World Cup – as one of Eddie Jones’s so-called ‘Kamikaze Kids’ – but he suffered a false start in this 2023 tournament when he was sent off following a clash of heads three minutes into the opener against Argentina in Marseille. 

Curry received a two-match ban, despite the evident lack of intent; in a judgement which divided opinion.

Now, he is available for selection again and Steve Borthwick is set to unleash him against Chile in Lille, after weeks of the formidable openside straining at the leash and wreaking havoc behind the scenes. 

‘He’s a menace in training because he’s so good, so he’s everywhere,’ said Red Rose attack coach Richard Wigglesworth.

England are ready to pitch Tom Curry straight back into their starting team against Chile

The England flanker was sent off for this dangerous tackle on Argentina’s Juan Mallia

‘He’s incredibly committed and diligent, as you’d expect from the really, really top player that he is. He’s chomping at the bit and we’re delighted for him that he’s back and raring to go. I don’t think he will hold much back, Tom. He is all-action. He’s fit as a fiddle and that’s the way he plays; multiple actions in games where he affects the game on both sides of the ball.

‘I think we’ll get the best of Tom Curry by him getting straight into it from the start. We’re absolutely delighted to get him back. It was tough for him to come back from that (red card), but he’s reacted really well and got stuck into his training.’

England captain Owen Farrell painted a similar picture of Curry as fired-up force of nature, primed for a comeback, adding: ‘I don’t think there is too much revving-up that Tom needs to do anyway – he is pretty much 100 per cent every time you are out there training. I am sure he has got a bit of frustration at not being involved and I am sure he can’t wait to show what he can do and get out there with the team.’

The return of this world-class asset means that head coach Borthwick has plenty of pedigree options in the back row. Wigglesworth is just glad it’s not his decision to choose between them, saying: ‘We have got some quality there and you are always going to have a couple of guys who miss out who you know are good enough to play international rugby. It is a tough one. I’ll let Steve deal with that!’

Source: Read Full Article