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Who Tom Curry sought advice from as he makes transition to No.8

By Online Editors
Tom Curry

Tom Curry has taken tips from Billy Vunipola and David Pocock to ease his adjustment to No.8, but the England back row will still play to his own strengths.

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Curry was one of the stars of last autumn’s World Cup, his ferocious defence and power in the carry identifying him as one of the game’s most potent flankers.

But Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against France in Paris is his first start at No.8 after Vunipola was ruled out of the tournament by a broken arm.

Curry has been chosen over Lewis Ludlam and Ben Earl to fill the void created by Vunipola’s absence and the 21-year-old has turned to his England team-mate and Australia great Pocock for guidance.

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WATCH: Jim Hamilton discusses the affects Shaun Edwards will have on the French team’s hope at future success.

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“I don’t think my game changes massively because of this. I want to stay true to myself,” the 2019 world player of the year nominee said.

“An eight will get into different positions to a six or seven so there might be a few more opportunities to carry and I may be in the backfield a bit more.

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“I’ve analysed players, so how Pocock moved to eight, how Billy carries at eight.

“Billy’s work-rate and how he thinks about the game – I’ve analysed them and take things from them, but at the same time I want to do what I’m good at.

“As a team we need to go at France from zero to 80 and must be relentless. Every tackle, every carry, every clean-out has to be done with the fullest intent we have.”

For the first time since June 2018, England will enter a Test with a new face at full-back after George Furbank was given his debut for the Stade de France showdown.

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Furbank’s promotion forces Elliot Daly on to the left wing, the position where he won the majority of his 42 caps until being moved to 15 in an experiment that appears to be over following the World Cup.

Furbank has flourished at Northampton this season after being given a roaming role by coach Chris Boyd and Jonny May, who lines up on the right wing, expects that form to translate to the international arena.

“I’ve been really impressed with George. He’s a young guy but is mature and he’s ready,” May said.

“He has a great appreciation for the game and has a bit of X-factor to his running game and skill set.

“He’s one of those players who looks like he’s got time on the ball. All the training we do is designed to put us under stress and fatigue to test our skill set.

“He always looks like he’s got time on the ball and that’s the trait of potentially a world-class player.”

France are playing their first match under new head coach Fabien Galthie and May insists they enter the new World Cup cycle as a force to be reckoned with.

“France have a dangerous backline. They have an offloading game, smart players, good decision-makers, attacking kickers,” May said.

“When they get on the front foot, the French are probably the best in the world at hitting gaps. They’re very dangerous so we’ll have to be at our best.

“They’re a difficult team to anticipate or predict because they can turn it on like that, they can be dangerous.

“I re-watched the World Cup quarter-final they played against Wales and they will have been pretty disappointed to lose that game.

“You can sense it’s a new era for them, a fresh start. The game is a sell-out and they’ll be flying out of the blocks.”

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Bull Shark 54 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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