Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Ben Youngs on the cusp of taking English record from Red Rose legend

By Online Editors
England halfback Ben Youngs with Red Rose legend Jonny Wilkinson during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. (Photo by David Rogers / Getty Images)

Ben Youngs is set to equal Jonny Wilkinson’s record as England’s most capped back when he is named in the squad for Thursday’s Rugby World Cup clash with the United States in Kobe.

ADVERTISEMENT

Eddie Jones will announce his starting XV for the second Pool C encounter on Tuesday evening (JST) with Youngs certain to be involved as one of only two scrum-halves taken to Japan.

The 30-year-old will join Wilkinson on 91 caps when he takes the field at the Kobe Misake Stadium, where his Leicester teammate and tighthead prop Dan Cole will reach the same milestone.

Only Jason Leonard and Dylan Hartley, who have made 114 and 97 Test appearances respectively, are more decorated.

Continued below…

Video Spacer

“I remember making my first start for England and Jonny was involved and playing in Australia,” Youngs said.

“Jonny’s an icon of the game so to get this accolade is pretty cool.

“It’s gone quick and I remember when I first started some of the players like Simon Shaw told me to enjoy it because it would go so fast.

“It has been an enjoyable ride. When you first start out it goes fast and you’re in it and not really sure what’s going on.

ADVERTISEMENT

“And then you get older and understand what gets you there, how you do it and how you sustain it.

“Getting there is almost the easy bit, the hard bit is sustaining it and staying there and being consistent. It is a really exciting bit of my career.”

Lewis Ludlam’s fairytale four months will continue with his promotion from the bench role he performed against Tonga and into the starting back row for the US showdown.

It will be the 23-year-old’s fourth cap and comes after he was picked for a senior England squad for the first time in late May.

ADVERTISEMENT

“To play in a World Cup is what you work for. To get a chance to start is incredible,” the Northampton flanker said.

England attempted to put a positive spin on their disjointed outing against Tonga, taking refuge in the bonus point and absence of injury, but there were a few dissenting voices in the ranks.

Scrum coach Neal Hatley described the performance as “scratchy” while hooker Jamie George admitted “there’s frustration in the way we made a lot of mistakes”.

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING Louis Rees-Zammit signs for Roc Nation ahead of his Kansas visit Louis Rees-Zammit signs for Roc Nation ahead of his Kansas visit
Search