Argentina Tests can be making of young England – Ben Curry

Ben Curry says this summer’s tour to Argentina can be the making of a generation of England prospects.

An 18-year-old Curry went on England’s last trip to the country in 2017.

Although a back injury contributed to him having to wait another four years for his first Test cap, he says the atmosphere around England’s two Test victories had a lasting effect on him.

“I remember Argentina in 2017, there was barb wire around the stadium, a moat,” the flanker told Radio 5 Live.

“It was a completely different atmosphere to anything I had ever seen.

As in 2017, this year’s away series against the Pumas coincides with a British and Irish Lions tour, opening up opportunities for younger players to stake their claim to senior England spots.

Gloucester prop Afolabi Fasogbon, part of the England under-20 side who won their age-grade world title last summer, was included in a four-day training camp this week before squad selection on Monday, 23 June.

Argentina are a place above England in the world rankings and have beaten France, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia on their home turf over the past 12 months.

Curry, who turns 27 on Sunday and has captained club side Sale this season, says he expects to have more of a leadership role than he did eight years ago.

“I am no longer the most nervous person in the room which is quite nice!” he joked.

“It has come round full circle. I am not that old, but in terms of this group I will probably have to step up a bit with us missing a few people.

Bath and Leicester’s players have missed this week’s training camp as they prepare for Saturday’s Premiership final.

Curry is in no doubt which set of absent team-mates he is backing.

“I need to find my Leicester shirt,” he said.

“I’d love Leicester to win it. I think anyone who’s not a Bath fan will want Leicester to win it to be honest.