HUNDREADED WAIT FOR BEN

Virus has Youngs sweating over 100th cap

Alex Spink

BEN YOUNGS is being made to sweat on reaching his century of England caps by the coronavirus outbreak causing alarm around the world.

Eddie Jones’ senior star is two appearances short of his ton and will pick up one of those against Wales on Saturday, assuming he stays clear of injury.

But there is a real danger he will then be marooned on 99 as England’s game in Rome the following week is under serious threat of postponement due to virus-hit Italy being Europe’s worst-affected country.

Jones is not planning to involve his World Cup stars in England’s two-test tour to Japan in July. until autumn to be enrolled in the 100 Club. The Leicester star, 30, admitted: “There are plenty of people who have got near it and something’s got in the way.

“I was speaking to Cian Healy after the Ireland game. He’s injured and out for the remainder of the championship... on 98.

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be honest. I’m obviously aware of it, but it would be nice to do it just for England.”

The Italian sports minister is due to review coronavirus restrictions in his country today.

And meetings relating to the championship are arranged for Paris this week.

In the meantime England will assume Alun Wyn Jones and his Wales team are Twickenham-bound on Saturday – and plan to repeat the tour de force which floored Ireland.

The Leicester star has added real impact, scoring the winning try against Scotland and firing up the England pack to steamroller the Irish forwards for Luke Cowandickie’s try a week ago.

“He’s exciting, isn’t he?” said Youngs, at Harwell RFC for a Canterbury event, giving grassroots players the chance to train with England.

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