England star hails Curry brothers before Ireland opener as old broken glass story recalled

Ben Earl knew the Currys were made of the right stuff when they nearly had to walk on broken glass to represent as teenagers.

Earl and the Sale twins, Ben and Tom, will combine in the back row against on Saturday for the first time in a senior shirt. But around a decade ago the trio were in the matchday 23 for a national age grade side playing against Wales, at the Gnoll, home of Neath RFC.

Earl revealed conditions were a million miles from what he is used to these days at Twickenham or the Aviva Stadium with the pitch having to be cleared before kick-off.

But he knew then, the Currys had it in them to make it to the big time and the pair have proved him right. The 27-year-old recounted: “It was England under-16s against Wales away in Neath, we were on the same team and someone was walking around picking up shards of glass before we started.

“We had been at Wellington College the week before which was very different, and we came into this changing room which was about a third of the size. There were about 35 of us and it was like ‘this is different’. It was a good memory.

“They certainly have differences. Tom hits so, so hard and plays above his weight. He puts his body in positions and probably at times paid the price.

“Ben is just an all-round athlete. He is faster than I am, heavier than I am, he is so thick set and he has got an all-round game. They probably don’t get the credit they deserve for their skill – there are subtle differences, Tom is slightly bulkier, Ben is less ugly – that was their ongoing joke but you still get the same foundation of a Curry twin. They are animals. Amazing.

“They are always in and around the centre of the action and to play with them together, for the first time in a while will be awesome.”

Earl, along with Elliot Daly, was on the winning team in the squad quiz, based on the players in camp in Spain, earlier this week.

The non-matchday 23 also were attending ’s Champions League clash with Girona on Wednesday night whilst Earl, a self-confessed Gunner, pondered how he answers the questions Ireland will pose this weekend.

Key to the game will be Earl’s battle with Irish skipper and No.8 Caelan Doris with places in the Lions pecking order for the summer tour at stake.

But the Englishman has vowed not to get deflected in a one-on-one scrap with the Irishman.

He added: “He has certainly been the northern hemisphere standard bearer for a No.8. He has been brilliant for a number of years. His consistency, he never really has a poor game, you never see him make errors in any sense and he is obviously a brilliant leader in terms of his new captaincy.

“But I never really like that idea of a head-to-head. As I have got older. I have moved away from that, because you can sucked into that individual narrative. If you are ever going to get individual it is probably a unit versus a unit, like a forward pack against a forward pack. Caelan is a brilliant player and I am sure he will bring his game on Saturday.”