It was two summers ago when a teenage Tom Curry was told by the England captain he had to grow up fast — by changing his boxer shorts.
A surprise pick on the Argentina tour of 2017, the flanker shared a room with Dylan Hartley. The man 13 years Curry's senior offered England's hottest new prospect some sage advice.
'Dylan got me to change my underwear!' laughs Curry. 'He was saying I was wearing little-boy underwear, and had to get big-boy pants. I had some loose boxers, and he told me to get some tight ones!'
Tom Curry is set to become the youngest England forward to be selected for a World Cup
Now, with 12 weeks until England's opening World Cup match against Tonga in Sapporo, the change seems to have worked.
If fit, Curry is nailed on for a seat on the plane to Japan as part of Eddie Jones' squad. Not only looking, but crucially, playing the part so brilliantly, he is set to become the youngest England forward to be selected for a World Cup.
Curry turned 21 two weeks ago, returning from a holiday in St Tropez to celebrate that birthday with twin brother Ben, the 25th wedding anniversary of parents David and Susanne and his Dad's 50th at a big bash in Sandbach, Cheshire.
Curry was five years old when Jonny Wilkinson kicked the World Cup-winning drop-goal 16 years ago. In fact, November 22, 2003 serves as one of his earliest memories — the date holding double significance.
The 21-year-old is nailed on for a seat on the plane to Japan as part of Eddie Jones' squad
'I remember my dad jumping up and smashing a light,' Curry says. 'November 22 is an important date, as it's my sister Charlotte's birthday. It's easy to remember — the day England won the World Cup.'
Curry watched the next edition — when England lost the final to South Africa in Paris — four years later 'more keenly'. And as England bombed out of the last one at the group stage?
'In 2015 I would have just started my A-levels,' says Curry.
So a whirlwind four years then for Sale Sharks' No 7? That is not how Curry sees it.
'A whirlwind doesn't sound like you have got control over it,' he says. 'It has gone quickly, but it has felt controlled. I've been through the system gradually. Everything has a plan, I just follow the plan.'
In Argentina 2017, Curry become the youngest English debutant since Jonny Wilkinson
Curry is the latest of England's 'pathway'
