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Tom Curry's verdict on rugby's more fiercely contested breakdown

By PA
(Photo by Dan Mullan/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Tom Curry has urged England to capitalise on a rare opportunity to test themselves in a final as they go in hunt of the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup. Eddie Jones’ team host France at Twickenham on Sunday when they will seek to avenge the loss in Paris that started an otherwise triumphant year headlined by winning the 2020 Six Nations title.

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The unavailability of 25 front line Les Bleus stars has devalued the occasion, but Curry insists that because the World Cup is the only other stage that offers the chance to take part in a final, there is still meaning to the event.

Thirteen months ago England were over-run by South Africa in the climax to Japan 2019 but Curry sees Sunday as a first significant staging post since then. “International rugby isn’t set-up to win loads of finals or trophies, Six Nations and different cups, so it is a case of showing how far we have come as a team,” Curry said.

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      “Finals have this big build-up, so we won’t treat this as a normal week. We will make sure we are making improvements every day to give that final performance. That unknown, that comes with all the French teams. How we control that is by focusing on ourselves.

      The game in Paris feels like a lifetime ago. Since then a lot has been learnt by myself personally, mainly the ability to adapt and learn on the move.”

      World player of the year nominee Curry is among the first names on the England teamsheet on the basis of his work rate, power and breakdown expertise. It is the last of these skills that have received its most forensic examination during the autumn and while the contest on the floor has become an even more brutal battleground, the Sale flanker believes it is also safer now.

      “The breakdown has certainly been fiercer than ever. Especially after the season restarted and the first few games when it was literally hands on the ball, turnover,” he said. “Teams are starting to see where the momentum is around the breakdown and staying engaged.

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      “There are probably less big clear-outs now, which is a good thing. When someone is over the ball, hands pulling, refs are looking for that or the ball lift. You used to have to lift and then almost survive the cleanout and that was a dangerous way to look at it because lads would fly in looking to clean out.”

      England’s coaching team has been strengthened by the appointment of Jason Ryles as skills coach from Australian rugby league, where he recently helped Melbourne Storm win their fourth grand final. Ryles had previously worked with Jones on an occasional basis starting in 2016 and his remit covers attack and defence, giving him a balanced perspective on the current trend of teams finding it more advantageous to play without the ball.

      “All the talk is that it’s very contested at the moment and more defensive focused,” Ryles said. “That’s a challenge for us as coaches and players to maximise our attack and get as much as we can out of it. “Speed of ball is key, you want as quick a ball as possible. If you can’t get that, then you’re basically looking to give it back to them and get your field position that way.”

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      J
      Jfp123 8 minutes ago
      New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

      All I know about NZ is what I’ve gathered from online blogs and posts, and I don’t suppose they’re entirely representative. What you say sounds fair enough. I would be interested to know how the sums add up for this tour and the last Ireland one though, if the figures are available.


      Of course, personally, as a French fan, I’m firmly convinced Antoine Dupont is the GOAT, and the team as a whole are heroes, and if Antoine and Romain are fit, France A are world beaters.

      I fully expect Kiwis and Saffas to hold a completely different view and to back their boys up to the hilt. Would they be fans if they didn’t! They may say whatever they like about past WCs, playing on SH soil and so on, as for the future, it’s up to their teams to back them up!


      As far as “top dog international is best”, of course I enjoy it. But I’d rather keep the fantastic Top14 entertaining me almost year round and have a bit less tdi, than have theTop14 damaged for the sake of two or three games more of tdi gone in a flash. There’s always the WC, and soon there’ll be the world club cup, which as a supporter of Stade Toulousain, the greatest club in the world, of course!! I find an interesting prospect.

      As NZ don’t reap the benefits of the Top14 it seems only natural they shouldn’t care so much about it, but perhaps the club WC will spark more a little more interest in foreign club opposition.

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