CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Six Nations 2022: Eddie Jones backs captain Tom Curry, 23, to inspire young England like legend Richie McCaw vs Scotland
TOM CURRY was likened to All Blacks legend Richie McCaw as Eddie Jones started the mind games with Scotland.
The Sale flanker will become England’s youngest skipper since Will Carling when he leads Jones’ Six Nations side out at a wind and rain-swept Murrayfield on Saturday.
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At just 23, Curry embodies an England side that represents the future, with seven of the starting line-up having ten caps or fewer.
That allowed Aussie Jones to start the wind-ups, as he sought to put all the pressure on Scotland ahead of the Calcutta Cup clash.
But Jones, too, recognises that the pre-match banter will be meaningless unless his team can cope without Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes — with Curry’s role critical.
Red Rose boss Jones said: “Tom reminds me of a young Richie McCaw, who was able to lead by example.
“As he progresses, there will be other bits ’n pieces of his captaincy that goes with that but now it’s all about leading by example and getting the team on to the front foot.
“That’s how we want to play the game — to get on the front foot and take Scotland on. Tom’s the most important player to take the Big C.”
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Curry said that Carling — just 22 when he was named captain against Australia in 1988 — had become a trusted adviser and sounding board.
The skipper, part of a new-look back row alongside Lewis Ludlam and Sam Simmonds — who ends his four-year England exile — said: “Will’s been a really good influence.
“He’s someone we speak to two or three times a week for advice on how to improve.
“It means a hell of a lot. You grow up wanting to play for England. To be named captain is pretty emotional.”
Curry seemed somewhat embarrassed by comparisons with 148-cap McCaw, who skippered the All Blacks 110 times and led them to two World Cup triumphs.
He added: “I have to be as true to myself as possible.
“For me personally it is not about drawing comparisons but being true to yourself to play your best, about going out and doing it — probably at flanker it means putting my body on the line.”
Jones has recalled Nick Isiekwe at lock alongside Sarries team-mate Maro Itoje, with Elliot Daly back in his preferred position of centre for the first time in five years.
Isiekwe’s last and only previous England start saw him hooked after just 35 minutes as they lost 42-39 to South Africa in Johannesburg in 2018 — but Jones insisted: “You never like to do that.
“He wasn’t quite ready to play then but he is definitely ready to play now. He has improved considerably.
“Elliot has always been an outstanding utility player. For this week, the best position for him is outside centre.”
They are probably two years ahead of us in terms of development
Eddie Jones
The injury issues have allowed Jones to play up England’s unlikely “underdog” status and he did his best to put some heat on Gregor Townsend and his side.
Jones claimed: “If we are to be brutally honest, they are probably two years ahead of us in terms of development.
“I’ve never been involved in a game at Murrayfield where Scotland are such red-hot favourites.
“That’s different for them — carrying that expectation of success.
“For us, it’s normal. We’re expected to win every game. So that is something they’re going to have to handle.
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“They have got some outstanding players but that expectation of winning is a different pressure to handle and I’m not sure how they handle that.
“What we know is that we’re well prepared and we’re coming after them.”
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