Eddie Jones likens Tom Curry to All Black great

Eddie Jones likens Tom Curry to All Black great

England boss Eddie Jones has drawn a comparison between flankers Tom Curry and Richie McCaw. 

 

Earlier today, Jones named his England squad for their 2022 Six Nations opener against at Murrayfield – a daunting assignment for the English. 

 

Jones saw fit to bestow the captain’s responsibilities upon the 23-year-old Curry, who has risen with a steady, tenacious roar through the ranks to become a crowd favourite in the coveted white jersey since his debut in 2017. He now becomes the youngest England captain since Will Carling in 1988. 


 


'Captaincy is not about the number of caps, it's about the person who can lead a group of players by example. There is no better player in our squad than Tom to do that. 

 

'He reminds me of a young Richie McCaw. It's all about getting the team on the front foot. That goes in line with how we want to play the game.’ 

 

McCaw is regarded by many in the rugby fraternity as being the greatest to have played the game. In light of this, Jones’ comparison is one of great significance and indicative of the high regard in which Curry is held. 

 



Jones, ever one for the mental side of the game, has built the Scots up as favourites for the coming encounter. 

 

'We want to go up there and take Scotland on. It's the first time I'm going up there as underdogs and where Scotland are red-hot favourites. They're expected to win. 

 

'Every time the players will look at the crowd, they will feel that expectation. 

 

'They've got to cope with that. There will be 62,000 fans and they'll be thinking about all the fans watching on TV. They've got to carry that burden. Every game is the same for us. 

 

'We're always expected to win so it's no different for us. We've had a really good preparation and feel we have enough in our set-piece to get an advantage. 

 

'We feel if we get some good quality ball, we'll be able to use it particularly well. 

 

'We're very well equipped. We're a young but good side and we've had a really good preparation. We've had a few obstacles thrown in, but we've coped with them really well,' Jones said. 

 

'The side has come together really well tactically and emotionally and we can't wait to get up there.  

 

'We're hopeful Courtney will be back at some stage, but with him unavailable at six, Lewis has been one of the outstanding back-rowers in the Premiership. 

 

'We brought him into the 2019 World Cup squad out of nowhere. He suffered a little bit of a dip in form post the World Cup which is not unusual for young players, but he's fought back really hard. 

 

'He's got the basics of his game in place. He's a good, tough competitor. Nick is not dissimilar. He was a little bit earlier and we took him on the 2018 tour of South Africa. 

 

'He showed enough promise to be given his first cap and had a difficult game. 

 

'He was a bit up and down in his club rugby, but over the last 10 months he's been one of the outstanding locks in the Premiership. 

 

'With Maro he forms a pair we think can shade Scotland in the line-outs and his play around the ruck is first class. 

 

'Max is a very good winger or full-back. With Elliot it was a choice between him or Joe at 13. We just feel Elliot has a bit more experience and is in really good form. 

 

'Joe has had a bit of a troubled preparation for this game, but he'll be able to fit in on the wing well.' 

 

 

 

 

  

   

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