What's happened
England's rugby team, struggling with five consecutive losses, faces Japan on November 24, 2024. Tom Curry returns after a concussion, raising safety concerns. Asher Opoku-Fordjour is set for his Test debut, while George Furbank replaces Freddie Steward at full-back. Head coach Steve Borthwick emphasizes the need for a strong performance.
Why it matters
What the papers say
Duncan Bech from The Independent highlights the scrutiny surrounding Tom Curry's quick return from concussion, emphasizing the importance of player welfare. He notes that head coach Steve Borthwick insists all protocols were followed. Meanwhile, Gerard Meagher from The Guardian points out the significance of Curry's partnership with Underhill, which could be pivotal against Japan's high-tempo game. Both sources reflect the tension between competitive needs and player safety, illustrating the ongoing debate in rugby regarding concussion management.
How we got here
England's rugby team has endured a challenging Autumn Nations Series, suffering five defeats in a row. The return of Tom Curry, who recently recovered from a concussion, has sparked debate about player safety in the sport. The team aims to end their losing streak against Japan, coached by former England head coach Eddie Jones.
More on these topics
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Japan is an island country of East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It borders the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.
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South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is the southernmost country in Africa. With over 59 million people, it is the world's 24th-most populous nation and covers an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres.
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Asher Opoku-Fordjour (born 16 July 2004) is an English Prop forward player who plays as a prop forward for Sale Sharks.
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Joseph William George Marler is an English professional rugby union player for Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership playing primarily as a prop.
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Australia, officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands.
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New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands, covering a total area of 268,021 square kilometres.
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England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by