Tom Curry doubtful for England’s autumn opener against Australia as twin Ben moves into contention

Tom Curry has emerged as a major doubt for England’s autumn opener against Australia on Sunday after suffering an injury during Wednesday’s full-bore training session, with his twin brother Ben now in pole position to start. The potential absence removes a player who had been widely tipped to start this November.

The injury sustained in Wednesday’s full contact session has disrupted Steve Borthwick’s plans for his back-row configuration. At last week’s mini-camp Borthwick held ferocious contact training sessions intended to bring his players up to speed. Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill are both missing the autumn campaign with injuries, which has narrowed England’s available options in the back row. Tom Curry has often been used as an impact replacement by Borthwick, but had been widely expected to start this month.

Kepu Tuipulotu and Archie McParland sustained injuries that have ruled them out of contention this weekend. Henry Pollock and Greg Fisilau are other options who may end up on the replacements bench if Tom Curry is ruled out.

Ben Curry has not started for England since the 2025 summer tour of Argentina and the USA and has been plagued by long-term hamstring injuries since then. Despite that history, Borthwick holds him in high regard and would task him with nullifying the breakdown threat posed by the Wallabies if selected at openside.

Last summer Tom Curry demonstrated his effectiveness against Australia with a monumental display in Brisbane, setting the tone in the British & Irish Lions' first Test victory.

Borthwick will finalise his team selection before announcing it on Friday afternoon ahead of Sunday’s opener against Australia; if Tom Curry is ruled out, Ben is in pole position to wear the No7 jersey and Pollock or Fisilau could be named among the replacements.