England flanker Tom Curry backed to emulate New Zealand legend Richie McCaw

Tom Curry was arguably England’s best player in the Six Nations win over France
Getty Images

England flanker Tom Curry has the talent to follow in the footsteps of New Zealand great Richie McCaw.

That is according to England forwards coach Matt Proudfoot, who has praised Curry’s development and believes he has huge potential.

The flanker is still only 22, but starred for England at the 2019 World Cup and has continued his fine form since.

Curry was excellent in the Six Nations win over France at Twickenham on Saturday and Proudfoot believes if the Sale Sharks star keeps growing then he can replicate the feats of McCaw, who won two World Cups with the All Blacks as captain.

“You meet players and some go through a cycle where they improve and that’s where they get to,” said Proudfoot.

“But I think if you look at the way Tom has improved in the past three, four years, he just continues that growth.

“I think, in three, four years’ time, he could be another McCaw. He could be that type of a player.”

Richie McCaw was a two-time World Cup-winning captain with the All Blacks
(Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Proudfoot joined England’s coaching setup in 2020, but before that he was working with South Africa and helped the Springboks to win the 2019 World Cup.

He came up against England in the final of that tournament, and also during a tour in 2018, and the 49-year-old saw Curry’s potential then.

“In 2018, when England toured South Africa, we highlighted him as one of the main threats in the team,” Proudfoot added.

“We actually tried to get to him a little bit, tried to pressurise him, and all through the Test matches - certainly the first and second - he was man of the match. And I think he was 19 or 20 at that stage.

“It just speaks volumes for his character and then having worked with him and met him, it is just astounding me how he has an appetite to improve, how he wants to get better every day, every session.

“He is developing great leadership capabilities and he is just an unbelievable team man, and that bodes well for his future, that he will be a big part of the English pack going forward.”

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