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'The guy was going to run the story anyway, you might as well tell him why'
Ben Youngs has spoken for the first time about his proactive decision to take control of the story that he will not be touring with the 2021 Lions in South Africa. Ahead of the 37-strong squad announcement by Warren Gatland on May 6, the centurion England scrum-half learned that the revelation he wouldn’t be travelling was about to be published in a Sunday newspaper four days beforehand.
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Rather than allow this shock to come into the public domain unfettered and leave the reasons behind his decision not to tour be subject to ambiguous speculation, Youngs contacted the newspaper that was set to print the story and he gave them the exact reason as to why he had told Gatland he couldn’t be considered for selection on a tour he was expected to go on.
This approach by Youngs, who had received a ‘Save the Date’ letter from the Lions some weeks earlier, resulted in much compassion being shown towards the 31-year-old and his decision to opt-out of a Lions tour for the second successive time.
Having toured Australia with the Lions in 2013, Youngs dropped out of the 2017 trip to New Zealand after being picked in Gatland’s original squad. A medical situation with the wife of his Leicester-playing brother Tom was the reason why Youngs opted to put family first on that occasion and rather and allow a similar situation to develop the second time around where he could be picked and then pull out, Youngs told Gatland he was unavailable pre-selection and that he shouldn’t be considered.
Speaking a little over four weeks on from that ‘unavailable’ story becoming public in the Mail on Sunday in advance of the 2021 squad selection, Youngs explained to RugbyPass his rationale about controlling the media narrative ahead of the selection announcement where Conor Murray, Ali Price and Gareth Davies became Gatland’s three chosen scrum-halves.
The Scottish half-back has been talking about his favourite No9s in the same week his Lions rival from Ireland has pulled up lamehttps://t.co/WE4FtsdTqd
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 26, 2021
“The Lions is a huge thing and rightly so, it’s steeped in history and it’s something I am very proud of having played for the Lions,” he said when quizzed during an appearance at this week’s Leicester media briefing. “When I got told that some source had found out that I had opted out and they were going to run a story, my point was that is very important because they can take that whichever direction they want and it was important that I got the reasons, that I got to speak on my behalf.
“The guy was going to run the story anyway, you might as well tell him why. So that was the theory behind that and for me, I wanted to make it really clear because, like I say, it [the Lions] is a wonderful tradition and in no way did I want that up to interpretation.
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“For me, it was about a decision with having two young kids, a third on the way, having a long summer, a long time with playing and just the best decision for me, for my wife, for my family, for my body, for my mind, all those bits, you weigh it all up and I came to a clear decision and it was important to do that [explain why].
“And in terms of the reception back here, Steve (Borthwick, Leicester boss) was unbelievably supportive. I spoke to him, I wanted to speak to him and make him aware. In no way did he influence my decision. I had already made my decision.
“I was more making him aware that this is what I’m thinking and this is what I’d like to do and he said yeah, that’s absolutely fine as long as you are comfortable with that and it looks like you have thought it all through and then that’s not a problem. All you want is that support from the people around you and they have been nothing but supportive.”
Erasmus and Nienaber have fronted media 22 days after Gatland named his squad of 37 https://t.co/e1nG1nRy5P
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 28, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Bell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
13 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
13 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to comments