England vs New Zealand: Tom Curry tipped for stardom as Ben Youngs hails back-row tandem with Sam Underhill

Tom Curry, man of the match in the World Cup quarter-final against Australia on Saturday, has been tipped to become “one of England's greatest back-rowers”, by team-mate Ben Youngs.

Curry, 21, has formed a fruitful partnership on the flanks with Sam Underhill, 23, and Youngs said their energy was “infectious” for the rest of the squad.

Eddie Jones has dubbed the pair “the Kamikaze Kids” because of their desire to put their bodies on the line.

“I think with Tom he’s an unbelievably special player. He works incredibly hard, nothing seems to faze him, he’s in this bubble, and he’s just loving every moment of it,” said Youngs.

“It's infectious. And Underhill, though he looks a lot older, isn’t too old himself. Both those guys, and the energy they bring – I’m just pleased and proud of them.

“Tom’s been incredible like that and I’m sure he’ll continue to grow and grow as a player. I’m sure he’ll go on to be one of the greatest back-rowers England have ever had, I’ve no doubt.”

It is possible that England could break that pair up in Saturday's semi-final to increase their lineout options and deal with the All Blacks’ threat in that department, but Jones will be loathe to separate them.

Forwards coach Steve Borthwick hailed Curry’s rapid development as a lineout option.

“He is a young player who you give a task to, give him an area of something he can develop in his game and he will apply himself wholeheartedly to it,” Borthwick said.

“He’s a player who is desperate to get better and be the best he possibly can be. That is an area he has developed really well, and we need him to develop because you need to have jumping options.”

If they are selected together once more, Curry and Underhill will again face a twin openside threat – this time from New Zealand duo Ardie Savea and Sam Cane.

See England's run to the final in the timeline above.