Forget your lineout practice and your scrum drills, England warmed up for their historic takedown of the All Blacks last weekend by indulging in their own game of The Traitors – inspired by the exploits of former team-mate Joe Marler.
Steve Borthwick’s side racked up their 10th consecutive victory with a 33-19 win over New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, the day after the squad were tasked with discovering deception in their ranks in a mock recreation of the hit BBC show.
Charlie Ewels played the Claudia Winkleman role and flanker Tom Curry, who was among the traitors, reveals the scenes were reminiscent of those which gripped the nation when Marler went head-to-head with Alan Carr on the recent celebrity edition.
‘I got “recruited” by the faithfuls,’ Curry tells Daily Mail Sport. ‘It was because they found Freddie Steward when he went to the toilet in quite a weird place and everyone thought “that’s quite odd”. That gave him away.
‘It got to the end and it was me, (Henry) Pollock and Fin Smith. The whole time they were like, “We really trust you, Tom”.
‘Ewelsy did it brilliantly as Claudia. He went to Pollock, who was a faithful, Fin, who was a faithful, then it came to me and I had to reveal I was a traitor. The whole place went up, it was brilliant. I can see why Alan Carr was so emotional!’
Tom Curry says the England squad’s version of The Traitors was ‘brilliant’ and he now knows how Alan Carr feels
Curry celebrates beating New Zealand last week with Henry Pollock (left) and Joe Heyes. Curry, part of England’s ‘Pom Squad’, is embracing his role
Freddie Steward (left) let himself down in England’s version of The Traitors
Curry, speaking ahead of England’s final Autumn international against Argentina on Sunday, has featured off the bench in all three of England’s clashes so far this month, with Borthwick’s star-studded replacements nicknamed the ‘Pom Squad’ following their role in closing out victories.
The 27-year-old started all three Lions Tests in the summer, scoring twice in the process, but is comfortable adapting to a change of role.
‘Any time you get to wear an England shirt is really special, whatever role that is in,’ Curry says.
‘Look at Argentina in Scotland at the weekend – the way the game is going, the last 30 minutes are so important. There has been a massive emphasis on it and it is a responsibility as a bench we take really seriously.
‘We have to fulfil a role as you know the lads who have been playing for 50 or 60 minutes have done such an incredible job. When you come on, you have to take it to another level. As a team, we are learning a lot about ourselves at the moment.’
Curry was speaking to mark the launch of the Allianz Kickstart Programme, an initiative designed to introduce primary school children to rugby via games, learning exercises and videos.
Former England prop Joe Marler was a hit with the nation on the recent series of Celebrity Traitors – though he fell short of winning the show
‘It’s so important to get teams and people into the game,’ Curry adds. ‘Rugby teaches you that ability to crack on with things even when it is going against you. You learn a lot about yourself, how to interact as a team and rely on other people in that team. That’s such an important skill.’
Curry’s fellow back-rower Ben Earl, meanwhile, has an eye on an old team-mate who is currently Down Under trying to win a series – like the No8 did with the British & Irish Lions this summer.
Earl is a keen cricketer and will be watching England opener Zak Crawley in the Ashes – a former classmate (and team-mate) of Earl at Tonbridge School.
‘I wouldn’t have called it (us both touring Australia in our respective sports) when we were 11, playing cricket and eating our match teas,’ Earl tells Daily Mail Sport. ‘He has done really well. Every time the media or outsiders have doubted him, he has come back with a big score.
‘The manner he goes about his work is inspirational. It is really cool and he has a chance to etch his name into folklore this winter. He is very excited for that. It might a case of recording the Ashes for me with the time it is on but I am buzzing to watch it.
‘A lot has been made of injuries and preparation but I have full confidence in that group to go and do something pretty cool. Zak is really excited and he feels in a good headspace, which is all you can really ask for at the start of a tour.’
Ben Earl (right) says he will be rooting for his former Tonbridge School classmate Zak Crawley (left) in the Ashes Down Under
England back-rower Earl ‘learned a lot’ during the recent British & Irish Lions tour of Australia
Earl credits his Lions experience in Australia as key to taking his game to a new level and he has been one of England’s top performers this autumn. ‘You could almost pick three England XVs and they would be pretty competitive on any stage,’ Earl adds.
‘There is a saying, “If you’re standing still, you are going backwards” and there is definitely an element of that throughout the team, in the back row especially, where it is so competitive with so many great players. It is a lot of fun as well.
‘I learned a lot about myself and the game over the summer. It was a real big educational journey, learning from some of the best in the world, not necessarily those in your position, but other coaches, other players, players you have played against.
‘You come back and you are so eager to get going again just to try and implement what you have learned.’
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