Recovering fast: Ben Youngs
England received a boost ahead of the November Tests with the news that Leicester Tigers scrum-half Ben Youngs should return to action next month.
Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill has revealed that Youngs, who suffered a shoulder injury during England's second Test against South Africa in June, is way ahead of schedule in his recovery.
The 23-year-old was expected to be sidelined until December following surgery but Cockerill reckons he should be back to full fitness in time for the November 10 Test against Fiji at Twickenham before subsequent clashes with South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
"Things are going well for Ben and we expect to see him back playing by around the middle of October," Cockerill told the Daily Telegraph.
"He'll need some game time then but it's looking good."
In more good news for England fans, forwards Tom Croft, Louis Deacon and Courtney Lawes are all expected to return from injury in the next few weeks.
Comments
heart_of_oak says...
And of course, if you needed someone to hit the opposition with a handbag and pull someone's hair, then Ashton get's the nod --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIFUm70n0fU
Posted 12:23 13th September 2012
heart_of_oak says...
APV1, if you read this, I've been looking at the Bath rugby web site and it seems Bath are picking Dominic Day and Stuart Hooper ahead of Dave Attwood. Any reason for this ?
Posted 10:37 13th September 2012
heart_of_oak says...
Centre12 - spot on. But re your comment on Attwood, I'd prefer to see him alongside Courtney. I didn't see him play for Bath last season but by all accounts, he started well, but then faded towards the end of the season. I am hoping he steps up a gear this season because I think he's the better all round 2nd row.
I feel we have a strong scrum with plenty of options in most positions. It's the back line I'm worried about. I wish that Sarries would play Farrell at fly half to give him more experience in that position and then perhaps get him playing some more creative rugby. But why would Sarries do that with Hodgson playing well in that position ? Flood plays FH week in, week out. So he's likely to get the nod ahead of Farrell at fly half. Others around play inside centre week in, week out so they're more likely to get the nod at inside centre than Farrell. For me, this is kind of similar to what happened with Matt Stevens - by shunting the guy around the front row, his skill levels suffered and as a result his chances of selection suffered - to say nothing of the drugs ban. I think Sarries are spoiling Farrel's chances of becoming an England fly half.
As for other back line positions, for me it would depend on the opposition. Against strong physical teams like the Boks, I'd pick different players to what I'd pick when playing the Aussies. The Aussies have some very skillful backs so a guy like say, Matt Banahan, would - in my humble opinion - not be the right player to face them. If you wanted good defence in the back line, I might go for Foden and Armitage on the wings. If you wanted out and out pace, I think I'd go for Varndell and Wade.
The only positions I think would be consistent in the back line, no matter what the opposition, are Care (who I think is our best scrum half) and Tuilagi at outside centre. I'm glad Youngs is recovering but for me, he's no.2.
Posted 09:23 13th September 2012
Centre12 says...
@Ferdie
Those were the years, I U Tubed England Rugby and I can't believe we were that good, we played a great brand of attacking rugby with the likes of Robinson, Johnson, Back, Thompson, Heally, Wilkinson, Greenwood, Cohen and dare I say it even Tindall in their prime, we should have won so many Grandslams between those year, YES defo the best ever era for English rugby!!!!!
Posted 08:52 13th September 2012
Centre12 says...
@ArmchairGeneral
I really do think that this will be a good year for England, so much strength and depth at #9 (Care, Youngs, Dickson), so much potential youth at #10 (Farrell, Ford, Burns). Hopefully 12Trees gets his chance at #12 or either Farrell or Barritt step it up a notch, Tuilagi develops into a World Class Centre each game he plays in. Thats just the Backs.
As for the Forwards, Marler really did put a marker down last season, the front row of Cole, Corbs and Dill's are gaining so much game time and experience together, Parling & Lawes are a mouthwatering prospect, (get rid of Botha and not sure what the crack is with Attwood, thought he was meant to be the next MJ 2 years ago) and Robshaw continues to lead by example.
Cant wait for the November Tests and 6N's!!!!!!!!
Posted 05:29 13th September 2012
Ferdie says...
AG - I didn't remember 'fortress twickenham as a anme but it seems right after i had a look and presume you mean 1999-2003? what an impressive run that was, 22 unbeaten at home with wins over all the top tier countries. Would that be the best era ever for england rugby - won 86% overall home/away. i saw them beat NZ in wellington 2003 it was a v good team amazing to think JW still playing he scored all their points that day.
Posted 02:38 13th September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Exciting times if youngs croft and Lawes hit form to join the likes of Foden Ashton Brown tuilagi twelvetrees burns Morgan Robshaw kerchner cole Hartley Marler. And we have an in form 15 from 5 clubs. Time to deliver. Remember fortress Twickenham?
Posted 18:45 12th September 2012