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Tom Curry: Pain of RWC defeat 'will never go away'

By Online Editors
Tom Curry looks on dejected after England's defeat in the World Cup final (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Tom Curry says he will probably never get over the disappointment of losing a World Cup final but admits being back in a club environment at Sale has brought him quickly back down to earth.

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The 21-year-old flanker enjoyed a huge tournament from a personal perspective in Japan but was unable to prevent England succumbing to a 32-12 defeat by South African in Yokohama.

“It will probably never go away but you don’t want it to,” Curry said at the Sharks’ training ground in Carrington. “That will definitely inspire and push you to better things and the experience gained was invaluable. Obviously winning would definitely be better but you have got to take those experiences with you.

“There will always be an emotional attachment to it but you’ve got to push it to one side, especially when you are playing for your club or you will do them a dis-service. That’s the challenge now, to push it to one side and definitely fully focus on getting better and playing well for Sale.”

The presence at training of Springbok scrum-half Faf De Klerk will provide a constant reminder of the World Cup final heartbreak but Curry says the jibes have been coming from all corners. “It’s probably everyone else rather than Faf to be honest,” he said.

(Continue reading below…)

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“I think that is probably what Sale are best at in terms of grounding their players. You get grounded very quickly coming back. It is good to get down to business.”

Curry and de Klerk will both be back in action for their club in Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup round two pool match against La Rochelle at the AJ Bell Stadium. The Sharks are back in the big time in Europe and need a victory after losing their opening game against Glasgow last Saturday, although Curry says the importance of the match is irrelevant.

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“I approach every game the same, to be honest,” he said. “Otherwise you’ll be up and down like a roller-coaster. So treat every game the same. I’m sure La Rochelle are going to be a great opponent to play coming back so we’re going to have to be on the money this week.”

Meanwhile, Curry is hoping Eddie Jones will stay on as England head coach for the next World Cup after enjoying a remarkable introduction to the Test scene under the 59-year-old Australian, who is contracted up to 2021 but has made no commitment beyond that date.

“I don’t have a crystal ball – there are people in higher positions that make those decisions – but he’s been an unbelievable not just coach but mentor in that he keeps you in check and makes sure you’re getting better every day,” Curry said.

“As a youngster, learning from those people and being around not just him but the environment that he creates, is really special, it’s something he probably ingrains into you how you are as a player moving forward.”

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– Press Association 

WATCH: RugbyPass looks back on some of our favourite moments with the fans at the World Cup in Japan

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Adrian 39 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

6 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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Bull Shark 7 hours 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.

29 Go to comments
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