England’s defence coach believes back-rowers can win World Cups ‑ and in Underhill and Curry he has two of the best around
Among the defining characteristics of a champion team is supposed to be a pair of hard-bitten, seen-it-all flankers. New Zealand’s old firm of Richie McCaw and Jerome Kaino were a prime example, steering the All Blacks to glory at the past two Rugby World Cups.
South Africa had the teak-tough Schalk Burger and Juan Smith in 2007, while
England in 2003 benefitted from the high-class duo of Richard Hill and Neil Back.
Aside from talent, the common denominator this century has been a lot of miles on the clock. McCaw, Hill and Back did not win a
World Cup until they were over 30 and, of the rest, Burger was alone in doing so before the age of 25. It is necessary to rewind right back to the amateur era and the legendary All Black Michael Jones in 1987 to find a flanker who conquered the world before his 23rd birthday.