Youngs fires warning to wounded Wallabies

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BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Ben Youngs, the England scrumhalf, faces the media during the England media session held at Pennyhill Park on November 28, 2016 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Ben Youngs says England are an even better side now compared to when they whitewashed the Wallabies 3-0 in Australia in June.

England are the only unbeaten team left in 2016 having yet to lose under Eddie Jones. They face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday’s in the final Test of the year after beating the Aussies 3-0 on their June tour earlier this year.

However Youngs beleieves the Australia team they face this weekend will be a different proposition to the one they took on in the summer tour when England sealed a 3-0 series whitewash.

“It was a good summer tour for us and we got the results but this weekend is so different,” he said.

“Each team has played so much rugby since then, when we went to Australia in the summer they hadn’t played a match since the World Cup final and we’d had the Six Nations. We feel that we’ve still got a lot more to give performance-wise and I’m sure they’re thinking the same way.

“This is the last game of their tour and they’ll want to end on a high.”

The Wallabies are set to line up without favoured scrum-half Will Genia on Saturday because of club commitments.

However Youngs, who is set to win his 65th cap on Saturday, believes scrum-half Nick Phipps will still present a formidable challenge and that his side will not let concentration slip in the final match of the series.

“Phipps played in all three matches in the summer so I know him pretty well, we’ve studied him before with all his clips playing for the Waratahs in the lead up to that series,” he said.

“He’s a great player in terms of what he offers in his running game, and his combination with Foley is good as they play their club rugby together.

“He’s a guy we’ll be aware of and one we’ll be trying to put under pressure. There is no chance of complacency creeping in, we are 100% focussed on getting all four victories in the Old Mutual Wealth Series and this weekend is a chance to do that.”