Tom Curry has emerged as a major injury doubt for England’s upcoming autumn opener against Australia on Sunday. The potential absence of the flanker delivers a significant setback to head coach Steve Borthwick ahead of a vital November campaign, with his twin brother Ben now positioned as the leading candidate to take over at openside.
Training Ground Injury Disruption
According to Sport | The Guardian, Tom Curry picked up the injury during a high-intensity full-bore training session on Wednesday. The setback has disrupted Borthwick’s preparations and back-row arrangements. Borthwick is set to confirm his final lineup on Friday afternoon, with Ben Curry currently the frontrunner to wear the number seven jersey.
The potential loss of Tom Curry is a severe setback for Borthwick, who views winning the physical contest against the Wallabies as crucial for Sunday’s match. During a mini-camp the previous week, Borthwick conducted intense contact sessions to accelerate his players’ readiness. These rigorous sessions previously resulted in injuries to Kepu Tuipulotu and Archie McParland, ruling both players out of consideration for the weekend fixture.
Selection Alternatives and Team Depth
While Borthwick has recently utilized Tom Curry as an impact substitute, the absence of both Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill due to autumn campaign injuries had made him a strong candidate to start this November. Tom Curry previously showcased his value against Australia during the previous summer, delivering a standout performance in Brisbane to help secure the first Test victory for the British & Irish Lions.
Ben Curry, by contrast, has not made a starting appearance for England since the summer tour of Argentina and the USA, having dealt with persistent hamstring issues in the interim. Despite this, he maintains a strong reputation within Borthwick’s coaching setup and would be expected to neutralize the breakdown threat brought by the Wallabies. Should Tom Curry be officially sidelined, Henry Pollock and Greg Fisilau represent alternative options who could secure places among the replacements bench.
