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‘We need to step up’: Curry says buck stops with England players after late defeats

  • Late collapse against New Zealand was third in a row
  • ‘We’ve had all the right messages – we need to step up’

Tom Curry believes England players must step up and shoulder the responsibility for their late collapses, insisting there can be no excuses as Steve Borthwick’s side seek to return to winning ways against Australia.

England have lost their last three Tests – all against New Zealand – after putting themselves into winning positions, only to succumb to late defeats. Their final match of the Six Nations against France was a similar story and as a result England head into Saturday’s clash with the Wallabies with a record of just four wins from their nine Tests in 2024.

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Rassie Erasmus: ‘Springboks aren’t the bad guys – but it’s always personal’

Admiration rather than adulation follows South Africa but their controversial coach is launching a charm offensive

South Africa are mounting a charm offensive this autumn. They have won the last two World Cups, their 2021 series against the British & Irish Lions and, in September, clinched a first Rugby Championship title since 2019. Listen to Rassie Erasmus, however, and it is clear the Springboks believe hearts and minds still elude them.

Outside of South Africa, at least. At home they are deified, most of all Erasmus, but the head coach believes that, in the eyes of the rest of the watching world, they are tarred as the villains of the piece. “It has been years, from the Bakkies Botha era, that we are bullies who don’t really care what people think,” he says. “But we do. I care what people think about the players because they are very good guys.”

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Arne Slot’s Liverpool continue to produce as the tests get tougher

Manager’s ability to improve individuals has helped the club to the summit of both Premier and Champions Leagues

Arne Slot had asked for judgment to be reserved on Liverpool’s potential until after the seven matches between the October and November international breaks. It’s not jumping the gun to declare it serious, powerful and rich after six of those games.

Tuesday night at Anfield presented Xabi Alonso with an opportunity to demonstrate up close why the clamour for him to succeed Jürgen Klopp as Liverpool manager was more than an emotional call. But it was Slot’s name that rang out from the Kop immediately after the final whistle after yet another victory and another reminder that, when it comes to succession planning, Michael Edwards, the chief executive of football at Fenway Sports Group and the man who appointed Richard Hughes as Liverpool sporting director, has few equals.

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