Borthwick to start Curry twins in England’s Six Nations opener with Ireland
Borthwick to start Curry twins in England’s Six Nations opener with Ireland
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Tom and Ben Curry are set to start together for England for the first time with Steve Borthwick primed to unleash the back-row twins in Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin. The 26-year-old Sale Sharks flankers have never played together for England before despite both being in the squad against New Zealand in November. During that narrow defeat, Ben replaced Tom so Saturday is expected to mark the first time they have taken the field together in England colours. Ben has been in excellent form for Sale and Borthwick will have been impressed with how the twins dovetailed in Sale’s 38-0 win at Bristol in late December.
With Ben Earl also expected to start at No 8, Borthwick is set to opt for a dynamic back-row with an emphasis on breakdown ability. Ollie Chessum is likely to take his spot on a 6-2 bench and provide cover at lock and flanker, having made just one appearance since sustaining a knee injury in October. Tom Willis, the Saracens No 8, is also in line for a place on the bench.
Elsewhere, Alex Mitchell is poised to return to the side at scrum-half having recovered from a knee injury. The Northampton scrum-half missed the autumn Tests with a neck injury but is set to rekindle his halfback partnership with Marcus Smith. Luke Cowan-Dickie is the leading contender to start at hooker in the injury-enforced absence of Jamie George.
