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Tom Curry is ruled out for the start of England's Six Nations
Alex Sanderson has confirmed that back-rower Tom Curry will be absent for the start of next month’s Guinness Six Nations campaign with England but the Sale boss has reported that the hamstring injury isn’t as bad as was originally feared. The 24-year-old, who skippered his country in the opening rounds of the 2022 Six Nations, limped out of action for the Sharks during the first half of last Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership win at Harlequins.
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At his post-game briefing, Sanderson said: “I have just spoken to Tom and said get your head on for the Six Nations but don’t stop being a leader for us over the next two or three weeks. He will get a scan. He is walking around and it has stiffened up now. It’s not one of those where he limped off the field so fingers crossed he will be available against Scotland.”
He won’t, unfortunately. The initial medical review suggested that Curry would be absent until March but that potential comeback date has been brought forward and Sale have now said he should definitely be available for the February 25 England match at Wales if not before that.
“That’s positive from a rugby supporter’s point of view,” reckoned Sanderson when asked at his Wednesday morning media briefing for the latest Sale update in the extent of the Curry injury. “Obviously, I’d rather him not be injured.
“We thought 3C hamstring tear, but it is a 2C hamstring tear so it wasn’t as bad as originally thought. We got him scanned, got his assessed, got him re-assessed.
“So a 3C would have been six to eight weeks (out) and he is looking to play at the back end of the Six Nations. With it being a 2C and with Tom being very diligent in his rehab, it means he could be back for Wales if not the second game (against Italy on February 12). But certainly Wales, so that is a real positive for England and for all of us because I want England to do well.”
What is England regular Curry like when it comes to injury rehab? “He gets on with things quickly, at least on the outside he does… So seemingly he has got his head around it and as I said to him, ‘Just focus on the Six Nations, Tom, just get your head around’. Now that he knows it could have been six to eight (week layoff) and it’s more like four to six, he is a lot more positive about that.”
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Sanderson also confirmed that it will be the January 27 Premiership match versus Bath when George Ford is finally ready to make his debut for the club – provided England don’t make him off-limits if they pick him in their squad.
Ford was injured in his last Leicester appearance, the Premiership final at Twickenham last June, and while he has yet to play for his new club, he attended a one-day England conditioning camp ahead of the January 16 announcement by Steve Borthwick of the Six Nations squad for a campaign that begins with the February 4 game at home versus Scotland.
“Bath is the plan for George at a push,” said Sanderson. “I am right in assuming they [England] can only pick a certain number. It will be interesting, won’t it? Marcus Smith hasn’t played. Neither has George. Owen is on form (but is now suspended).
“Who do you pick, do you pick all three and two of them come through because I know they are going to pick 35 as a training squad and that gets released on Monday. I haven’t had any communication from Steve ariound it yet, probably because he knows I have got a mouth like a radio and I’d tell you (media) guys.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
6 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
8 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
8 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments