England look to Underhill to take on Curry’s back-row role
Bath openside would be ‘like-for-like’ stand-in Ashton and Nowell duel for place on right wing
England are poised to turn to Sam Underhill for Saturday’s meeting with New Zealand as a “like-forlike” replacement for the injured Tom Curry at openside flanker.
Neal Hatley, England’s scrum coach, hinted that the 22-year-old would be involved after failing to make the match-day 23 that faced South Africa.
“Sam’s a good defender, someone hot on the ball,” said Hatley. “It’s a like-for-like swap with Tom, really.”
Curry limped from the field in the 42nd minute of England’s 12-11 victory over South Africa and will now miss the entire autumn schedule with an ankle injury.
Underhill slotting into the starting line-up for a seventh cap would allow Brad Shields and Mark Wilson to retain their positions at blindside flanker and No 8, with Zach Mercer, of Bath, remaining on the bench. That is unless either Maro Itoje or the fit-again Courtney Lawes is shifted to the back row.
Itoje has something of a reputation for ill-discipline, having conceded 37 penalties since the start of Eddie Jones’s tenure as England head coach, second only to Dan Cole on 38. But he was defended by Hatley. “You saw in Australia in 2016, he was leading the charge. If you ask people to play that way, there are sometimes going to be penalties around that.”
Although Underhill has not played for England since the Six Nations, and has not started a Test since the 30-6 win over Australia a year ago, his last match at Twickenham featured a superb, matchsaving tackle on Wales centre Scott Williams.
England co-captain Dylan Hartley saluted that “great show of will and commitment” and praised Underhill’s selfless conduct around the squad. “He has done his job incredibly well,” said Hartley.
Jones will also weigh up whether Alec Hepburn and Kyle Sinckler should continue as the starting props following strong displays from replacements Ben Moon and Harry Williams.
In the backs, Jack Nowell and Chris Ashton are in a head-to-head race for the right-wing berth with England still considering the fitness of Manu Tuilagi. Joe Marchant’s presence as centre cover suggests they are not confident that the Leicester Tiger will pull through.
England