Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Curry to become youngest England debutant since Wilkinson

Sale Sharks' Tom Curry (Getty Images)

Tom Curry will become the youngest England debutant since Jonny Wilkinson in Saturday’s Test against Argentina after he was named as one of four uncapped players in Eddie Jones’ starting XV.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Sale Sharks flanker, 18, will make his senior international bow five days before his 19th birthday – 46 days older than legendary fly-half Wilkinson when he first appeared against Ireland in April 1998.

Curry is joined by fellow first-timers Alex Lozowski, Harry Williams and Mark Wilson in the starting line-up, while Sale colleague Denny Solomona is among seven new faces on the bench after recovering from a foot injury.

Jones is missing a host of familiar names for the trip to South America, which runs alongside the British and Irish Lions’ tour of New Zealand, but is able to call upon captain Dylan Hartley and experienced figures such as Mike Brown, George Ford and Danny Care.

“I’m really excited about this England team to face Argentina this weekend,” said Jones. “I have selected a group of experienced players across the spine of this team as well as four young players who will be eager to go out and play well on their debuts for England.

“Those players have worked extremely hard to get selected over the last few weeks, but I have been impressed with the way the whole squad has trained and gelled together in a short amount of time.

“They all realise the opportunity that they have to be involved in this England side and I’m sure they will show that commitment on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We are here to win this series 2-0 but we know Argentina will be extremely tough opposition. After a mixed year of results, there will be pressure on them to play well and win in front of a partisan crowd.

“We know Argentina are a very good side having played them earlier this season and they will be desperate to win against us.”

England XV: Mike Brown, Marland Yarde, Henry Slade, Alex Lozowski, Jonny May, George Ford, Danny Care; Ellis Genge, Dylan Hartley (captain), Harry Williams, Joe Launchbury, Charlie Ewels, Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, Nathan Hughes.

Replacements: Jack Singleton, Matt Mullan, Will Collier, Nick Isiekwe, Don Armand, Jack Maunder, Piers Francis, Denny Solomona.

ADVERTISEMENT

Argentina: Joaquín Tuculet, Matías Moroni, Matías Orlando, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Emiliano Boffelli, Nicolás Sánchez, Martín Landajo, Juan Manuel Leguizamón, Javier Ortega Desio, Pablo Matera, Tomás Lavanini, Matías Alemanno, Enrique Pieretto, Agustín Creevy, Lucas Noguera Paz

Replacements: Julián Montoya, Santiago García Botta, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Guido Petti, Leonardo Senatore, Gonzalo Bertanou, Juan Martín Hernández, Ramiro Moyano

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 34 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

41 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode
Search