>> Guscott: Ben Youngs is looking world class
OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE...EVERY WEEK
The performance by Ben Youngs is up there with his very best for England and proves that Eddies Jones’ mind games can turn a good international player into a world class one. Before Jones took over Youngs was in a battle with Danny Care for that starting No.9 jersey – but over the past 12 moinths the Leicester man has put clear distance between the two.
Jones set him a fresh challenge and he has smashed it. Charged with being on the tubby side by his new head coach, Youngs has clearly been working hard on his fitness and now looks the complete player. While he has always had the quickfeet and neat step to beat a defender around the fringes, he’s added a tactical kicking game up there with the very best. Plus he’s getting to the breakdown a fraction of a second quicker than he was which allows him more time to pick the pass or choose a different option.
The consistency he has displayed is another thing that had been missing from his game at international level. Too often he would be sublime one week, then go missing the next. But now he is backing up his performanves and his confidence is sky high right now. The quick-tap try oozed self-belief and the skills to match to finish in style.
Familiarity is growing with his wingers and on numerous occasions the box kicks were measured to the inch for Marland Yarde and Jonny May to challenge. It’s a sign you’re in great form when the exit strategy is working effectively under immense pressure. And let’s not forget there was immense pressure on Youngs and the rest of the side, especially after that horrific opening ten minutes. They just didn’t seem to be at the races.
The line speed in defence was nowhere near their usual standard and they were struggling to make an impact on the gain line. Whereas in recent weeks England have forced the pace of the game, in the first quarter they played reactionary rugby with superb scramble defence bailing them out of trouble on a couple of occasions.
The injury to Billy Vunipola was a huge blow last week, compounding the loss in physicality suffered by the absence of James Haskell, and it took the new man Nathan Hughes a little bit of time to get to grips with the game on his first international start.
However, once England found themseves trailing, Hughes stepped up and showed why there was such a clamour for his inclusion. He carried more as the half progressed and seemed to be at the centre of England’s fightback.
Trailing by three points at halftime, the game looked in the balance until England’s quick-fire try double that took them 14 points clear and looking comfortable. It was a remarkable recovery from seeming like deer in the headlights in much the same vein as in last year’s World Cup defeat. The way they went through the gears thereafter was impressive and made this Australia team look distinctly average. There were not many opportunities to score but when they came, they took them, which is another sure fire sign of a team with that winning mentality.
The one negative – and it is the same as before the autumn campaign began – is England’s attacking options. Jonny May’s scintilating score against Fiji three week’s ago was a rare display of the ball being spread wide with pace and panache for the wing to cruise in – and England need more of that. While the kick-chase of both May and Yarde was exemplory yesterday, both are devasting runners with ball in hand and need more opportunities to showcase their skills. Likewise Anthony Watson when he’s fit again.
I did not think the Ford-Farrell dynamic at 10-12 would work as effectively as it has but I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the game management and understanding between the pair.
However, I want to see Ben Te’o get a start in the Six Natioins. He showed such dynamism when he came on I would be intrigued to see how having a genuine bruiser in the midfield would create space out wide. Farrell’s a tough guy, but it’s a very different proposition having Te’o running at you.
Eddie Jones said he wanted to develop a formidable squad of players capable of filling in should injury strike. This autumn they have had to do without some of the stellar names – Maro Itoje, Manu Tuilagi, James Haskell, Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell to name a few – but the replacements have all stepped up to a man and few are guaranteed a start.
Hughes could well form a devastating back row alongside Vunipola in the Six Nation, but I would bet on Chris Robshaw keeping the No.6 jersey for the tournament. Yet again he has been a model of consistency, you just can’t leave the guy out.
Youngs was rightfully awarded man of the match yesterday and his return to top form is one of the most encouraging aspects of the autumn. That and having more genuine world class contenders in the pack giving the backline go-forward, can propel this side skyward and close in on the All Blacks.