England must unearth Youngs’ successor for 2023
Hjones’s favourite scrum-half has kept next generation at bay, but hopes for World Cup may hinge on finding replacement
Ben Youngs will have surprised a few onlookers on Saturday. Many expected England’s centurion to be outplayed by opposite man Antoine Dupont. When the latter scored after 65 seconds, that looked likely. Instead, a defiant and assertive performance from Youngs helped spur the hosts to victory.
Even so, the development of another scrum-half must be a priority for Eddie Jones.
Frankly, you fear for England’s prospects if they have not unearthed a viable alternative to Youngs by 2023.
Before arriving in his current post, Jones had worked with George Gregan and Fourie du Preez. He unearthed Will Genia at Queensland Reds and based Japan’s 2015 game plan around the fizzing service of Fumiaki Tanaka.
Jones knows good No9s, so it is a huge compliment to Youngs that he has been on the pitch for 3,266 minutes under the Australian.
That amounts to around 65 per cent of Jones’s 63-Test tenure. Conor Murray, of Ireland and the All Black Aaron Smith, who has admitted to watching Dupont for tips, are both of similar age and experience to Youngs.
Murray has been on the field for 63 per cent of his nation’s matches in the same period. Smith is sitting on just under 59 per cent. Neither Ireland, derided for their rigidity at halfback, nor New Zealand rely on their front-line scrum-half as much as England do.
Dan Robson, who has accrued a meagre 176 minutes over 11 replacement appearances, and Ben Spencer of Bath will attest. Aged 29 and 28, they have suffered most from Youngs’ longevity and Jones’s trust in the 31-year-old Leicester Tiger. Danny Care, Willi Heinz and Jack Maunder – he of three minutes and two passes in Argentina in 2017 – have also been picked and then passed over.
It seems that Jones will have to delve deeper in the generation game.
An ankle injury derailed a potential debut for 23-year-old Harry Randall and Alex Mitchell, also 23, has been around England training for a while now. A pair of 19-year-olds have also been making waves.
Raffi Quirke, of Sale Sharks, and Jack van Poortvliet, one of Youngs’ colleagues at Welford Road, have been among the more promising Premiership performers in recent weeks. “He’s electric around the rucks – electric,” says Alex Sanderson, Sale’s director of rugby, of Quirke. “He’s like a younger, more northern version of Faf de Klerk.
“I have it on very good authority from some very good kicking coaches, not just ours but Mark Mapletoft and Alan Dickens with the England pathway, that he has the footballing abilities.
“You have to be able to manage the game and box-kick your way out of scenarios.
“He can do that as well, so the question is: ‘Where’s his weakness?’ Well, it’s only experience.”
Like Quirke, who is behind World Cup-winner De Klerk and Will Cliff at Sale, Norwich-born Van Poortvliet has a strong network of club mentors. Richard Wigglesworth, brought in by Steve Borthwick to guide Tigers towards consistency, is one of them. “I don’t want to
Despite an improved outing against France, the jury is still out – and youngsters are circling
compare him to anyone because Jack will become whatever he wants to become,” explains Wigglesworth.
“His basics are great. He’s quick, fit, tough. He has a lot about him, but I’m also wary of saying ‘this guy’s going to be the next whatever’ because you have to go and do it.
“I believe he will do that, because I’ve seen that in him.”
Sanderson recognises a similar attitude in Quirke: “He’s says thank you every time he gets selected and probably doesn’t realise how talented he is, but I know he’s on [England’s] radar.
“If he keeps doing what he’s doing then a call-up or a summer tour can’t be far away.” The pair are friends from their time together in England age-group squads.
Van Poortvliet texted his congratulations following Quirke’s Premiership bow against Harlequins last month, an appearance that was punctuated by a 40-metre scurry that almost yielded a try. With referees being encouraged to clean up breakdowns, ruck-to-ruck pace and passing speed are attributes that will increase in value.
Craig Casey, of Munster, introduced by Ireland against Italy a fortnight ago, is one to watch – not least because his laser-beam distribution is reminiscent of Smith.
Speaking of Smith, the 97-cap All Black is going nowhere.
As for Youngs, despite an improved outing against France, the jury must be out. And hungry youngsters are circling.