Curry good enough for New Zealand insists Flats

England and Sale Sharks sensation Tom Curry is so good you could put him in the New Zealand team and he would still be able to standout, insists rugby pundit David Flatman.

Curry, who has been shortlisted for the 2018/19 Land Rover Discovery of the Season award, has repeatedly excelled for club and country with his powerhouse performances in the back row.

The 20-year-old started every game of the Six Nations for England and was nominated for Player of the Championship after making more tackles than any other player for Eddie Jones’ side.

He has been just as influential for Sale in their Gallagher Premiership top six challenge and former England – and Bath prop Flatman believes he could even play in the best team in the world.

“Let’s not beat around the bush, he is an absolute freak,” said Flatman. “People roll this comment out all the time so it loses its impact but I think he is a world class player – and he is a kid.

“By world class, I never know exactly what that means, but to me it means if you pick the best team in the world, which currently would be New Zealand, could you put him in that team?

“For me it’s not about would you pick him over their guy, because you’ve never seen Tom Curry play for New Zealand but you have seen their guy, so it’s not a fair comparison.

“But could you put him in the All Blacks team and would he not only get by, would he potentially standout in that team? In my view he would, I think he is absolutely fantastic.”

The Land Rover Discovery of the Season award recognises the most impressive young player in Gallagher Premiership Rugby each season, rewarding them for their contribution.

Players who are 23 or younger as of 1 September 2018, and who have made eight senior appearances for their Gallagher Premiership club are eligible for the award.

And Flatman, a Land Rover Ambassador and one of the judges for this season’s award, was quick to highlight what had impressed him so much about Curry during his breakthrough campaign.

“It’s so obvious I almost don’t want say it but he’s just so strong, he’s unbelievably strong,” he said. “If Sam Underhill hits you head on you are going bye-byes because he’s incredibly powerful.

“But even if Tom Curry doesn’t quite catch you right, even if he only catches you with a forearm, he is taking people out legally with just his forearms, he is properly strong.

“When he gets to the breakdown, if he doesn’t quite get it right, he’s wiping out jacklers with the wrong parts of his body and if he misses someone he doesn’t need to catch them flush.

“All he has to do is collide to put them where he wants them. He has so much physical strength in his levers and in his joints, there are times when you think it’s not even fair.

“You’re left thinking it can’t be right, he must have nailed them with his shoulder, because people are going flying and he’s manhandling top of the range Premiership and international players.

“He is doing it with his wrist and forearms at times, there aren’t many players that do that, but he can also play, he can carry, he can pass, he can distribute.”

Curry’s chance for the Red Rose came after Bath Rugby’s Sam Underhill was side-lined with injury, but Flatman is excited by the potential of the two players in this year’s Rugby World Cup.

“Tom’s a proper unit and he goes, and goes, and goes, just like his brother [Ben Curry], he has a proper engine for a powerful guy and I love watching him play, I think he’s great,” he added.

“When Sam Underhill played that game for England, I think it was that game against the All Blacks it was like, ‘Wow, there is no one else, what are we going to do if Underhill isn’t fit?’.

“But then Tom Curry came along and it was like, ‘Ah, we’ve got a few of them’. The prospect of the two of them playing in the same back row in the World Cup is amazing for England.”

Tom Curry has been shortlisted for the 2018/19 Land Rover Discovery of the Season award. Land Rover is the official vehicle partner of Premiership Rugby. Follow @LandRoverRugby