Ben Curry reveals why George Ford is an all-time England great ahead of 100th cap

England are currently preparing for an uncapped exhibition fixture, that will take over the Allianz Stadium on Saturday, June 21st. An England XV will take on a France XV, in what will be a proving ground for the most ambitions uncapped bolters ahead of the selection for the Summer tour. Ford will likely mark his 100th England Test in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires, as England commence a two-match series against the Pumas, before taking on the USA in Washington D.C.

England and Sale back row Ben Curry is impressed by Ford's resilience to reach the century mark, in what will be a memorable day for his Sharks teammate. Curry expressed how impressive Ford's tenure has been since the back row first arrived at the England camp, as a nervous uncapped hopeful who he admitted would 'panic' quite often, first drove up to the gates of Pennyhill Park back in 2017.

"I'm a lot more relaxed [eight years later]. I definitely don't panic driving up the gates at Pennyhill like I used to. You probably don't actually reflect on it every day, until stuff like this happens, it's pretty nuts. It's even [more] nuts that Fordy's [George Ford] still going.

"For me, that's eight years, whereas George has been doing it for so long. Hopefully it's his 100th cap over there [Argentina]. So you get a lot more respect for those guys who have done it for a lot longer."

Curry expressed how Ford has been an incredible mentor to him, for his own leadership journey throughout the past few years at Sale Sharks. The 26-year-old has captained the Sharks for the past three seasons, with the halfback providing the ideal sounding board for guidance, as even the most experienced captain requires a first mate to help steer the ship.

"It's my third year now [as Sale captain]. So each year, there's different lessons. I realise that it's my ninth season and no season is the same. You do pick up different things over the years and then I've got Fordy here, who's unbelievable. He's probably one of the best leaders I've ever worked with. So when you have people like that, it's does make your life a lot easier."

Whilst Curry would by no means classify himself as an England veteran at this stage of his career, his eleven caps elevate his standing within the current Summer crop of inexperienced bolters. The back rower is relishing the opportunity to elevate his Sale leadership within the national team camp, with plenty of hot-shot young guns keeping the 26-year-old on his toes.

"It's a bit of a weird one, isn't it? You've got, how many lads went on Lions tour, over 10, isn't it? 13 or 14 of the match day 23, so it's going require lads like myself, who haven't really been needed to, to step up. There's definitely enough lads still here in terms of Alex Dommers [Dombrandt], Theo [Dan]. There's still plenty of leaders who can fill that."

"You're looking at someone like Charlie Bracken, where you understand the nerves. My kind of initial reaction was pure panic coming into this environment. So for me, it's just helping them out with that. He [Bracken] knows more than I do about playing nine and the rugby stuff, but for me, it's just making sure that they can be themselves properly.

"That's when you get the best out of people, when they can be themselves. Not just on the pitch, but off the pitch. That's probably my main one. When I first came in, it's probably more on me, as I didn't [relax], but you just want people to enjoy the experience for what it is."

There is a real sense that Ben Curry's world has come full circle, from where he was some eight years ago in England colours. Rewind the clocks back to 2017, and the young Curry twins embarked across the Atlantic for their first experience of an overseas senior tour. The door was flung open to the 18-year-old brothers, as a core contingent of the England squad was away with the British & Irish Lions, upon the eventually drawn series out in New Zealand.

Whilst a problematic back injury denied Ben the opportunity to make his England debut, Tom Curry did earn his stripes upon the Test match stage. Ben's debut would follow four years later in a home Test against the United States, whom he could also face within this Summer's packed itinerary. Whilst the back row did not earn any on-field experience back in 2017, the learnings he did garner still resonate with him, as the likes of Dylan Hartley and Chris Robshaw introduced the Curry twins to life in the England camp.

"He [Dylan Hartley] told Tom to get his big boy pants on and get some proper aftershave, or something like that. It wasn't just learning about rugby, we learned about life on that tour!"

"You've always got a bit of panic, you're never comfortable, you never want to be comfortable. But in terms of that stuff [2017 camp and tour] that was just pure panic for me. When you're 18, doing that, I remember my first session with Chris Robshaw, I was medicine ball wrestling with him.

"I was just knackered thinking 'this is nuts!' He's someone I looked up to, and there were a few senior lads on that tour who really helped us [Ben and Tom Curry] out. So, if I can do half of what they did for someone else, I think that would be incredible."

Curry admitted how the 'relentless' intensity of the England training under Eddie Jones came as quite the wake up call, as he was flung into the senior level from his progression from the U20s set-up. Now, with his goal set on a return to the land of Los Pumas in a few short weeks time, Curry reflected upon how the 2017 tour made him 'grow up', as he traveled and trained with the England team.

"Training was relentless. Sale at the time, we probably weren't doing the training to the same standard and intensity. So, I remember it just being properly relentless, and it's different going away for a month or so, it makes you grow up. I think I was definitely different from when [I left], you have to grow up quickly.

"You're surrounded by proper adults, lads FaceTiming their kids. I can't remember who I was rooming with, but he was FaceTiming his children at night. I was like, 'this is just so weird', because I was just at [England] U20s. It does make you grow up as a person, and I'm hopefully looking to see a bit more of Argentine if I go, I just locked myself in my room last time. It's a lovely country!"

Sounding off upon his return to the England camp, Curry gave a brief insight upon how Henry Arundell is fairing now the wing is back in the country. Arundell made 10 England caps during his first run within Steve Borthwick's side, in a stint which included a Rugby World Cup campaign and scoring five tries in one match against Chile.

Arundell headed to France after the collapse of London Irish, and his contract extension would rule out his eligibility for the Test match stage. However, the 22-year-old has agreed a move to Bath ahead of the 2025/26 Premiership season, which has brought him straight back into the fold for a return to the red rose. Curry gave a succinct summary on how Arundell is settling in, with the speedster's electric attack already scorching up the training pitches of Pennyhill Park.

"Very quick. He's unbelievable, isn't he? So, definitely blessed to have him back."