Ben plays through pain for his place
Alex Sanderson has revealed how Ben Curry has won his place back in the England squad despite playing through the pain barrier.
With twin brother and fellow flanker Tom out of contention for the start of the Six Nations, Curry has been rewarded for his outstanding form for Sale Sharks with a place in Steve Borthwick's 36- man squad.
Borthwick was still in charge of Leicester when Curry produced another brilliant display in the 40-5 win against his Tigers team at the end of December, which was made even more remarkable by the fact he was suffering from the foot injury, plantar fasciitis, at the time.
“It was extraordinary, but he had to go through some pain barriers to get there,” Sanderson said.
“It is not an injury that perhaps a big contrast in the playing styles of Ben and Tom. I think Tom was more contact orientated and focused and Ben largely existed in those wider channels,” the Sale Sharks director of rugby said.
“I think there has been a coming together of their playing styles in recent months. They are both brilliant through contact, cutting lines and winning turnovers. They are complete rugby players.”
If selected against Scotland, it would be Ben Curry's second cap. He has been around the England setup for a few years but while Tom has gone on to win 45 caps for his country and three for the Lions, the 24-year-old former U20 captain Ben had to wait until the summer of 2021, to make his senior bow.
Sanderson says that the lesser-capped of the twins has taken the different journey laid out before him, in his stride.
“We have been develneeds to put you out for any length of time, it is just very, very painful but once that initial pain subsides, you are able to run on it again.”
On Curry's call-up, along with Sharks teammates Bevan Rodd, Jonny Hill and Manu Tuilagi, Sanderson added: “We had a round of applause for him on Monday as there was for everyone. We celebrate it in this place because a win for them is a win for us all in that respect.
“It is well-deserved as we have been speaking about him for weeks and he has been asked about it after every game because of his performances so I'm dead-chuffed for him.
“You have never seen a happier man upon selection, you couldn't take the smile off his face. It's much deserved and good to see. I would back him to start at openside for England. I have been backing him after every game.”
A hamstring injury has cost Tom Curry, England's regular No.7, when Eddie Jones wasn't tinkering with his backrow make-up, the chance to start for England in the Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 4, paving the way for his brother to fill the breach.
For Sanderson, the Currys, virtually identical in looks, are becoming almost interchangeable as rugby players with their love of the breakdown and contact and the support running lines and leadership that they bring.
“Go back a year and a half I think there was oping his leadership skills for years and part of it is how you respond to events whether they be positive or negative. That's been our focus.
“It doesn't materialise through his actions or what he says while Tom is away. It does affect him because he doesn't have his best mate around or his twin brother to lean on. That's the biggest effect I have seen.
“He has deep-dived into the process and how he can become a better player and leader here, and that's what you have to do from my experience anyway. When you're not getting what you want or what you think you deserve, you just have to get better. He has done that really well.
“There's been no kicking stones or sulking, certainly no bitterness because it's his twin brother.
“As you know with the Currys, they have an ability to have a singular focus which borders on obsessive and compulsive.”
