WE CAN'T CURRY ON LIKE THIS

Back-row star fed up with 'plucky losers' tag and says England have to 'be better for 80 minutes'

- ADAM HATHAWAY

TOM CURRY has urged England to shake off their 'plucky losers' tag in what could be a momentous nine months for Steve Borthwick's men.

Close but no cigar will not cut it for England this autumn.

Head coach Borthwick (below) has a win ratio of just 54 percent from 24 matches in charge and a lengthy list of near-misses in the past year.

Beaten 16-15 in the World Cup semi-final by South Africa last October, Borthwick's side were edged out 33-31 in the Six Nations by France in Lyon.

On tour this summer in New Zealand they went down 16-15 in Dunedin, and 24-17 in Auckland, with the Kiwis there for the taking in both games.