England head coach Eddie Jones has named Tom Curry as his key man and the first name on the team-sheet during an interview with BT Sport.
Maro Itoje is often held up as England’s star player and future skipper, but Jones opted for his back-row sensation Curry as the man he ‘wants to build his team around’.
Jones said: “One man who’s done remarkably well for England is Tom Curry. You look at the way his game has developed since he came into the team during the last Lions tour in 2017.
“He’s played at 6,7 and 8 for us and I can really see his game developing to another level. He came in as a very strong defensive player but I think he can really develop his attacking game in a similar way Richie McCaw did.”
“There is no limit to where his game can go.”
All England’s Six Nations matches are live on BBC and ITV1.
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ENGLAND’S PREDICTED SIX NATIONS SQUAD (BOYLE SPORTS):
PROPS (6):
- Joe Marler (Harlequins)
- Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
- Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
- Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
- Trevor Davison (Newcastle Falcons)
- Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
HOOKERS (3):
- Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
- Jame George (Saracens)
- Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons)
SECOND-ROW (4):
- Maro Itoje (Saracens)
- Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
- Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
- Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs)