Novice England hooker Youngs set for Fiji debut

Tom Youngs is set to complete a remarkable rugby transformation after being named to make his Test debut at hooker in an inexperienced England side against Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Leicester front-row forward started his career at centre but was converted into a hooker under the guidance of then Tigers coach Heyneke Meyer, now in charge of South Africa.

Youngs, 25, is in line to become the third member of his family to play international rugby union for England with younger brother Ben, an already 24-times capped scrum-half, on the bench this weekend as back-up to Danny Care.

Nick Youngs, the brothers' father, won six caps at scrum-half from 1983-84.

Tom and Ben could now become the first brothers to play together for England since Delon and Steffon Armitage in 2009.

England coach Stuart Lancaster gave Tom Youngs, who played twice in midweek matches during the national side's recent tour of South Africa, his chance after an injury to Dylan Hartley that threatens to sideline the New Zealand-born hooker from the whole of England's European autumn international campaign.

"Congratulations to Tom Youngs, who has made a great transition from centre to hooker in a short period and deserves his chance," said Lancaster after announcing his side on Thursday.

Tom Youngs only switched to hooker three years ago, having played England age-group rugby in midfield, and his promotion to the full Test team comes after a mere seven Premiership starts in the No 2 shirt.

Youngs started to learn about his new position when loaned by Leicester to Midlands rivals Nottingham, where he caught the attention of England forwards coach Graham Rowntree.

Questions have been raised about his throwing-in to a lineout but former England prop Rowntree said Thursday: "You can't expect Tom to be the finished article from day one but the signs are he is going to be a very, very good player going forward.

"What impresses me is how he has recovered from setbacks within games. He is a strong character and will get stronger and stronger.

"You have to be able to throw and scrummage under pressure. The things he brings outside that, the real dynamic stuff, sets him ahead of other people.

"I have every confidence in him."

In the backs, Ugo Monye will make his comeback on the left wing in place of the injured Ben Foden while Charlie Sharples deputises for the suspended Chris Ashton on the right wing.

There are five changes in all from the England side that drew 14-14 last time out against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in June, with flanker Chris Robshaw returning to captain the side after missing that match with a broken hand.

Fly-half Toby Flood is the most experienced player in the England side with 50 caps and the starting line-up boasts just 215 Test appearances in total.

Saturday's match is the first of an autumn campaign that also sees England at home to southern hemisphere giants Australia (November 17), South Africa (November 24) and world champions New Zealand (December 1).

"This QBE International series will be a real marker of where we are as a squad," said Lancaster. "The foundations are in place, now it's time for us to execute and deliver."

How England fare will determine whether the 2015 World Cup hosts maintain, or indeed improve on, the fourth place they currently hold in the world rankings.

The top four teams in the standings will comprise the leading seeded teams for next month's World Cup draw. If England are amongst them, they will avoid the likes of the champion All Blacks in the pool phase.

England (15-1)
Alex Goode; Charlie Sharples, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, Ugo Monye; Toby Flood, Danny Care; Thomas Waldrom, Chris Robshaw (capt), Tom Johnson; Geoff Parling, Tom Palmer; Dan Cole, Tom Youngs, Joe Marler

Replacements: David Paice, David Wilson, Mako Vunipola, Joe Launchbury, Tom Wood, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Mike Brown

 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.