England’s dynamic flanker, Tom Curry, had his last competitive outing during the Gallagher Premiership final on May 27. However, a significant setback occurred when the 25-year-old suffered an ankle injury during England training in early August. This injury forced him to miss the entire World Cup warm-up program, raising questions about his readiness for the upcoming matches.
A Crucial Asset in the Back Row Tom Curry is widely regarded as England’s most formidable breakdown expert, excelling both in defense and attack. Despite his injury, Curry has returned to full training just this week. The question on everyone’s mind is whether England will have the confidence to start him against Argentina in their upcoming match in Marseille.
England’s Confidence in Curry Kevin Sinfield, the attack coach, has unequivocally stated that there are no reservations about fielding Tom Curry from the beginning against the Pumas. Sinfield pointed out Curry’s experience and versatility in playing various positions across the back row. Curry’s presence is deemed crucial, especially for England’s defensive strategies.
A Fully Fit Squad Minus Two England anticipates selecting from a fully-fit squad for their upcoming match, with only Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola serving bans and, therefore, unavailable. All 33 players in England’s squad participated in training in Le Touquet on Tuesday. Previous injury concerns regarding Elliot Daly, George Martin, and Kyle Sinckler have been alleviated, rendering them eligible for selection.
Defensive Challenges and High Expectations Under the guidance of Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield, England’s defense has faced challenges, conceding 30 tries in nine matches. Sinfield acknowledged this issue and emphasized the need for improvement. The team aims to take significant strides forward in their defensive capabilities in the upcoming match against Argentina.
A Challenging Journey Towards Cohesion Kevin Sinfield admitted that bringing together a cohesive unit has been a challenging journey since he assumed his role in December. He acknowledged that the process of unifying players from diverse backgrounds and systems with different personalities and characters has taken longer than expected. However, he also noted a growing belief and confidence within the group, aligning with his passion for the task at hand. England’s recent record of three losses from four matches in August has added pressure, but there’s determination to turn the tide as they head into the World Cup.