Veteran Yates full of life

Having won his first England cap way back in 1997 and then enduring a ten year exodus from the international arena you would be forgiven for thinking Kevin Yates had given up on his international career. Yet you would be greatly mistaken as Planet Rugby found out on Wednesday.

Described by fellow England front ranker Mark Regan as “an old dog and work horse” the 34-year-old prop has a simple yet effective approach to his style of play.

“It is a case of head down and crack on with it,” revealed Yates

Yates, who won his first England cap against Argentina in Buenos Aeries in 1997, finally returned to the England fold in last weekend’s record 58-10 defeat to South Africa in Bloemfontein. He too was a record breaker that day breaking John Bentley’s record for the longest time in between international caps.

Yet despite the prolonged absence Yates is overjoyed at finally being back in the white shirt of England.

“Its been super for me and to be back involved in the squad to start with was fantastic,” said a youthful-looking Yates.

“Last week, although harsh on Nick (Woods) gave me the opportunity to play again and in a way it was like my first cap really.

“I always had the belief that I could get back into the England side, and it is certainly something that has kept me going and is something I have always wanted to keep achieving.”

However not even Yates could have imagined his second cap would have ended in such a resounding defeat at the hands of a rampant Springbok side. While appreciating they would pose England with a tough challenge he was disappointed with the final result.

“It is something we knew was going to be hard for us, especially as a tight five, but we cracked into it at the weekend,” admitted Yates.

“What was hard to take was the nature in which we let them run away with the game in the last ten minutes. There was a lot of down heads after the game which was not a nice feeling.”

The nature of the defeat has left England with plenty to think about as they prepare for the second Test in Pretoria on Saturday. Yates, though, believes England can build on the positives from last week and turn things around.

“There were a lot of positives we can take out of last weekends game,” he said.

“It went well for us in the scrum generally and the line-outs as well. The set piece in general was a positive for us and it gives us a platform to build upon for this week.

“Although certain things did go well for us, there were a few periods where we let them have a bucket of points. So we are not looking to change our game massively this week just to tweak a few bits here and there.”

If Yates was slightly fortunate to be back in England contention he certainly isn’t approaching this tour as if it will be his last chance at playing for England. With another year left on his Saracens contract and feeling young at heart Yates has his sights set upon further honours.

“Mentally you always want to be playing at the highest level, but it comes down to physical and fitness related constraints,” said Yates.

“I have another year on my contract at Saracens so we will just see how the next twelve months go really.

The obvious target for Yates will be the Rugby World Cup in September, something that at the beginning of the season was not in his goals, but is now a firm objective.

“It is not something I would have thought would have been a realistic goal for me some months ago but now it very much is,” he confessed.

“But we will have to wait and see what develops between now and then. It is a case of lets get this next week out of the way and then if I get the opportunity to play again to put in a performance that is worthy of selection.”

If he can prove himself again on Saturday then there is every chance he will be considered for Brian Ashton’s final World Cup squad, although the step up to Test rugby is one he admits takes a bit of getting used to.

“Test match rugby is another level and the intensity is not something you are used to right away,” he admitted.

“Add to that my first game back in ten years was against South Africa in Bloemfontein and it doesn’t get much tougher.

“Hopefully I will be able to step my game up another level on Saturday and prove I have what it takes to continue playing at this level leading up to the World Cup.

Regardless of the result on Saturday, one player certain to let the banter fly when Yates does return to Saracens duty will be his South African team mate Cobus Visagie, although Yates was keen to get the first shot in.

“I think he will be in the highveld somewhere hunting some poor little wildebeast or probably eating it by now,” he joked.

“He wouldn’t give anything away on the South African camp before we left but I am sure he will have a few words to say when I get back.”

By Marcus Leach in Centurion