Ross: Currys will be too hot for teams to handle
NO.8 BACKS SALE TWINS TO BE STARS
JONO Ross is predicting big things for the Curry brothers this season, after describing his Sale back-row team-mates as ‘freaks’ for their age.
At just 20, Tom and Ben Curry have already racked up more than 50 appearances for the Sharks between them over the past two seasons having come through the club’s academy.
They were only the fourth set of twins to play side-by-side in the Premiership when they played together against Wasps in 2016, while Tom is also the Sharks’ youngest try scorer.
And as the man who plays and trains alongside them, Ross believes they will only go from strength to strength this season as they get more games under their belt, starting with Saturday’s season opener at Harlequins.
“They constantly want to improve, no matter how they play they are quite critical of themselves and are happy to learn so I think they’ll definitely take another step up this year,” said Ross.
“They are both fantastic prospects, they are freaks really considering they are only 20 years old, so I have no doubt they’ll improve this year.”
South African-born No. 8 Ross has been a huge asset to the Sharks since he arrived last summer on a three-year deal, leading the way as the club’s top ball carrier and tackler.
But following last season’s eighthplace finish in the Premiership, he admitted the forward pack need to bring more to the party in the upcoming campaign to support the backline.
“Our forwards need to improve, we need to be a better forward unit,” he said. “We scored a lot of tries through our backs so, hopefully, our forwards will improve.
“We just want to continue to build on what we did last year. We showed glimpses of it, but we’ve got to improve and be more consistent throughout the season.”
The close season has seen Sale Sharks bolster their attacking talent with the signings of Rohan Janse Van Rensburg and Chris Ashton, while forwards James Phillips and Joe Jones have also come in. Ross is confident the club’s new recruits will help the Sharks in their quest to challenge for the top six.
“I think the arrival of Rohan Janse Van Rensburg and Chris Ashton have definitely improved the squad and so have James Phillips and Joe Jones,” he said.
“As rugby players they are absolutely quality, so hopefully they can add to what we’re building and will buy into what we’re about as that’s important.”
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