Steve Borthwick has confirmed that Tom Curry will be unavailable to face the Springboks. Curry’s day against Australia was cut short following a juddering blow to the head, forcing him off just 23 minutes into the action.
RUCK’s Autumn Nations Series coverage is proudly powered by the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, dedicated to creating a world free of MND. Join the the fight against MND here.
The blow came as Curry tried to tackle the formidable Rob Valetini, but his head ended up on the wrong side, leading to a heavy collision. England, cruising at 15-3 when Curry departed, then faced a whirlwind of drama, culminating in Max Jorgensen’s converted try in the 83rd minute that sealed a wild 42-37 comeback win for the Wallabies.
Borthwick Reflects: “If You Lose a World-Class Player…”
Borthwick addressed the impact of Curry’s premature exit: “If you lose a world-class player early in the game it certainly has an impact. I thought Alex Dombrandt came on and played really well, but clearly the balance of the back row changed at that point.”
The coach acknowledged the series of injuries England endured, which added to the difficulty of staying composed. “You have to adapt to those things and we took a few knocks and bangs and we had to change things in that first half quite early, and then that continued through the second half.”
Curry’s Absence Confirmed
While waiting on a detailed medical update, Borthwick made Curry’s unavailability clear: “I will be waiting for the full medical report to understand where everyone is at but I think everyone saw the way Tom was down, he will be unavailable next week.”
Tom Curry’s Injury Woes Continue
“Really, really nasty for Tom Curry,” one fan shared. “Horrible luck with injury recently.” It seems fate just won’t let Curry catch a break.
Ref Watch: Ben O’Keeffe Under Fire
Fans weren’t impressed. “What a joke,” another blasted. “Ben O’Keeffe looked right at a knocked-out Tom Curry and decided to play on.” It was a call that left viewers fuming.
O’Keeffe’s Split-Second Judgment
“Nice of Ben O’Keeffe to look down directly towards Tom Curry and allow play to continue,” another vented. Frustration was palpable as the ref’s call—or lack thereof—sparked disbelief.
Curry’s Misfortune Continues
“Tom Curry is the most unlucky man in rugby,” a fan summed up. Indeed, with repeated setbacks, Curry’s luck seems nowhere to be found.
