England issue Tom Curry update; explain why defence has been so leaky
Kevin Sinfield has hinted that Tom Curry is ready to play for England at the Rugby World Cup after an absence that affected their defence during the recent Summer Nations Series. Steve Borthwick’s side arrived in France having won just one of their four matches in August and worryingly leaked a pile of tries in their warm-ups versus Wales (twice), Ireland and Fiji.
Those games took place with Curry being unavailable for selection. It emerged on August 11 that he had rolled an ankle at training and that injury resulted in him travelling across the Channel last Thursday as the only member of the 33-strong England squad not to have played a single minute of their four-game warm-up programme.
Assistant coach Sinfield, though, has delivered an encouraging update on Curry’s status, suggesting he is line to play this Saturday versus Argentina despite not featuring in selection last month. “Everybody has trained again today [Tuesday] so clean bill of health. Everybody is ready,” insisted Sinfield from England base camp in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage.
Asked specifically about Curry and his availability, Sinfield continued: “To be at this stage given the bumps and bruises we have had over the last few weeks, we are in a really good position so it’s great to see him out there. He has been really good. I have mentioned back rows before to you and how important they are to our defence, yeah he has been excellent.”
But can he play against Argentina with no warm-up minutes behind him? “We have no doubt about that. He has got a number of caps under his belt now and he has been doing it for years. He can play a number of positions across the back row for us so delighted he is available.”
One follow-up question initially stumped Sinfield. After getting asked why the England defence hadn’t been putting its best foot forward, an awkward silence filled the media room. Bear in mind the England defence under Sinfield’s watch since the start of 2023 had conceded 30 tries in nine matches.
Eventually, an answer came, the defence coach suggesting: “Good question. It really helps having Tom Curry back available. Some of the suspensions that we have had to contend with over the last couple of weeks certainly haven’t helped.
“Some of the back row changes we have had to make probably haven’t helped too. I do see a team here that are improving, I do see a team that are getting better.
“I also understand and I am very realistic we have not been good enough so far so we are working incredibly hard to be better this week and I have complete belief and confidence in the group where we are going.
“I have seen a very slight change in how we have gone about our business this week and we needed to have that change. We needed to make that adjustment but I have to say I have really enjoyed my time with the guys.
“I have not been happy with the results, I have not been happy with the tries we have conceded but I do understand as well where we are going and I really enjoy working with the guys and I believe in them.
“It’s great to be here. The boys have worked incredibly hard over the last 12 weeks. To be here in the sunshine in September is quite unique, isn’t it? We are looking forward you what is to come, a huge challenge at the weekend.
“We feel like we haven’t hit our straps at all and we have not performed well enough but we know and have seen the growth in this team and we have seen it on the training field for some time now. We’re looking forward to the weekend.
MATCH DAY -4??: England continue their prep in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage ahead of their Rugby World Cup showdown with Argentina. #EnglandRugby #ENGvARG #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/iPNP77xc7O
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 5, 2023
“We have been quite clear over August that those Test matches meant something to us so to be one (win) from four is disappointing for us, we don’t feel it justified how well we have trained.
“But I also understand as a defensive coach we have also got to be better as well, we can’t concede as many tries as we have but the boys have worked incredibly hard to fix that. We’ll look forward to taking a big step this weekend.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Danny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
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