Youngs revels in the rivalry between old foes
BEN YOUNGS was not even born when Scotland last beat England at Twickenham but he is old enough to appreciate the fierce historic rivalry which has sometimes spilt over into open hostility between the two nations.
The 27-year-old England scrum-half, on the bench against Italy last Sunday but expected to start ahead of Danny Care in the eagerly anticipated Calcutta Cup clash next Saturday, is only too aware of the passion the fixture inspires between two sets of supporters former Scotland coach Jim Telfer claims could not be more different.
‘I don’t think you need too much more incentive than the fact that it is England against Scotland,’ said Youngs. ‘I can’t say there is too much love between the two nations and there certainly isn’t in this side either. That rivalry has been there way before I played for England.’
With the fixture dating back to 1871, when Scotland hosted England in a 20-aside game at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh, next Saturday’s fixture with be the 135th running of sport’s oldest rivalry.
‘That rivalry has been huge down the years and I don’t think that has changed,’ said Youngs, whose father Nick sat on England’s bench in 1983 when they lost 22-12 at home to a Scotland side coached by none other than Telfer himself.
‘England against Scotland is a big game. You get that bit of edge around training.’
Four years ago, Telfer labelled Youngs and his team-mates ‘too arrogant, too pretentious and too condescending’. This year, the 77-year-old compared Eddie Jones to Donald Trump, describing Twickenham as a ‘concrete jungle’ populated by fans from the south of England with ‘bags of money’ who sneer at ‘pleb’ visitors.
‘He always does it,’ said Youngs. ‘He has come at me once a couple of years ago and I have never even met the bloke. I am sure he will come out again.
‘When you got to Australia, David Campese and all come out. I am sure there will be some bits said over the next few days, but the thing that is important is Saturday isn’t it.’