Sam Warburton predicts northern power can ignite the Rugby World Cup – and an Englishman called Curry could be the hottest player at the tournament.
The British and Irish Lions captain from two years ago reckons the players who helped him share that series with the All Blacks can now topple the world champions in Japan.
Wales, England, Ireland and even France are all capable of lifting the trophy, says the former Wales skipper – ending the 16-year dominance of New Zealand and South Africa.
If England repeat their 2003 triumph then Warburton believes the youngster who wears the same No.7 shirt as he wore for Wales – 21-year-old Tom Curry – will be their world-beating inspiration.
“I genuinely can’t think there has been a more open World Cup in my lifetime,” says Warburton, who retired a year ago after one injury too many.
“I think there are seven teams who could win this tournament – New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, England, Wales, Ireland and France.
“It’s the best chance the northern teams have had for years and it’s about time we did it. Sixteen years is long enough and we’re all desperate to see a northern hemisphere team win the World Cup.
“This may upset some Welsh people, but I will always support the northern hemisphere team.
“If England play New Zealand in the final then I’ll be rooting for England because I’m a British and Irish Lion at the end of the day. I loved representing Britain and Ireland and my father is from England.
“I’m Welsh first and foremost but I would support any of the home nations if they got to a final. I’ve been speaking to English ex-players and they’re saying the same thing – if Wales get to a final then they’re rooting for Wales.
“We’ve all been beating these teams in Tests – but now we need to do it at a World Cup.”
Wales may have overcome England in the Six Nations on their way to a Grand Slam, but Warburton – who this week launched the WRU’s digital classroom for schools at Ysgol Santes Tudful in Merthyr Tydfil – cannot split them going into the tournament.
He thinks a quarter-final showdown may well be looming, but believes Warren Gatland has chosen wisely and boldly in injecting his squad with youthful ambition.
“I think Gats has got the squad right – obviously Rob Evans and Samson Lee were the contentious ones. I didn’t know who was going to go between Owen Watkin and Scott Williams and it was a shoot-out between Owen Lane and Hallam Amos.
“Other than that it was pretty straightforward as there have been so many consistent performers in the squad.
“A nice selection is Aaron Shingler because he was brilliant going back 12-24 months ago before his ACL injury, so it’s nice they’ve repaid the faith and put him back in the squad. He provides cover in the second-row.
“The squad from 1-31 is the best we’ve had from a depth perspective but there are certain players we can’t afford to lose.
“If we lost Alun Wyn, Jon Davies or Ken Owens we have great players to come in for them but we’ve already lost Taulupe Faletau and a big chunk of that experience.
“You need five or six key guys with that experience of the latter stages, so I just hope those guys stay fit.”
Warburton pinpoints two back row forwards – both young and inexperienced – who could play vital roles.
Wales’ Aaron Wainwright and England’s Tom Curry are players he expects to make names for themselves over the next few weeks.
“Aaron Wainwright would start for me. He’s had a similar impact to Tom Curry in England.
“He came into a well-established team but he adds that sprinkle of youth and enthusiasm – at that age you have no regard for your body and will go out and punish themselves and enjoy it.
“He brings a bit of dynamism and explosiveness that you need in a forward pack nowadays.
“You need a forward pack that can really carry and be explosive, when you look at England, South Africa and New Zealand they have got that, there are more and more athletes coming through the system now and you have to be an athlete now.
“I did axe Tipuric from my team but he is back in because I forgot that he is one of the best line-out athletes in the world, he really truly is.
“I was naive to forget how good he was at the line-out because it was me and him together all the time.
“He adds that value, I reckon. I could pick the Wales team mostly quite easily, but in the back-row I really struggle between picking Justin or Josh Navidi.
“Also in the back three, I don’t know how you fit Josh Adams, Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Liam Williams into the same back three.
“I can call it everywhere else but not in those areas so I’ll leave that to Warren, that’s why he gets paid the money.
He does, though, plump for Sale flanker Curry as the red rose player who can eclipse the southern forces in the land of the rising sun.
“I think Tom Curry will announce himself as a world class player because that’s what I feel he is.
“At the start of every World Cup and Lions year, there is always going to be someone who ends up starting who most people had never heard of.
“But I’ve known about Curry for a good couple of years. I saw him at Sale and thought he’s got it all because he’s an athlete, he’s intelligent and he has the aggression to go with it.
“I always thought he was going to make it big.
“When you’re in your early 20s, arguably, you’re at your physical peak. At 22 or 23 you haven’t had the injuries that come with time.
“I played my very best rugby in my early 20s and I think a guy like Curry is similar. He’ll be key.”
Warburton’s Northern Lights:
England:
They were brilliant a couple of years ago when they were on that record winning streak, then they went quiet for two years, and now it seems they’re back again.
Tom Curry is crucial, but I like Sam Underhill as well. These boys have been on my radar for a while and I’ve been campaigning for England to start with both of them together in the back row.
Wales:
The squad is the best we’ve had from a depth perspective but there are certain players we can’t afford to lose – Alun Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, or Jonathan Davies.
Aaron Wainwright should start because he brings that explosiveness and athleticism that can match the likes of New Zealand, South Africa and England.
Ireland:
Anyone who is writing off Ireland, because of their Six Nations results, is foolish. You cannot just lose that form that they have had against the big nations.
I think they have enough now to avoid the kind of result they suffered against Argentina in 2015.
France:
France were all over the place for ages and seemed to have no chance at all a while back.
But when you have that many good players, it turns and after watching them recently, I thought, ‘jeepers, they’re looking good.’ They might just turn up and win it.