Youngs ready to take Care
Ben Youngs faces a massive personal duel with Harlequins and England rival Danny Care in the Premiership Final on Saturday, keen to prove himself the No.1 scrumhalf in England.
The Leicester Tigers' youngster realises just how much it means to come out on top in his battle at Twickenham against an opponent anxious for redemption and eager to get back into England coach Stuart Lancaster's good books.
Both Youngs, who was dropped from England's starting line up for Lee Dickson during the Six Nations, and Care, who was dumped by his country for the tournament following a string of late night drinking bust-ups, were named in the squad for the tour to South Africa.
And both badly want to reclaim the No.9 jersey for the opening clash of their three-Test campaign with the Springboks in Durban on June 9.
"This is a great opportunity in a big final to lay down a marker and say 'pick me'," Young said.
"I definitely want to start the first Test. Stuart Lancaster will have to decide who he is going with but I want to give him a selection headache and something to think about.
"Losing the shirt during the Six Nations wasn't nice. I want to play every game and it was a relief to come on against Ireland and change things and prove to myself I could do a lot better.
"Danny Care is a great player. He's had a bit of a torrid time but everything Quins do well comes through Danny.
"I have to do my best to nullify him and his game. Likewise he will be out to try and get on top of me. He will try and get hold of me at breakdowns and upset me but I don't intend to let him."
Youngs endured a rough ride during the opening four or five months to the season. But, just like the rest of his team-mates, he is certainly finishing with a flourish.
Tigers managed to overcome a nightmare opening couple of months without their international stars to set up a shoot-out with a Quins side which defied their critics to remain at the top of the table until the end.
It promises to be a contest mixed with attacking rugby and raw power.
Tigers – the most successful English club side since the League was introduced, reached an amazing eighth successive final shoot-out by beating Saracens in their play-off semi-final.
Quins, searching for their first title, overcame Northampton with a late Joe Marler try and it will be a unique experience to fight it out for the trophy over 80 minutes at the home of English rugby.
"After losing our first five games and being right near the bottom of the table winning this time would possibly our greatest achievement," Youngs said.
"People were rubbing their hands and happy to see us doing poorly. Even some other England lads were openly saying they were pleased we had lost again.
"But once all the England guys came back from the World Cup we all had a meeting and decided to rebuild our season and start winning.
"Teams love to beat Leicester and were coming to Welford Road believing they were in with a shout. So we had to stop that. We did and now we can lift the Premiership."
Premiership Final by the numbers:
TEAM RECORDS
Highest Score: (45) Sale 45, Leicester 20 – 2006
Biggest Victory: (36) Wasps 39, Gloucester 3 – 2003
Lowest Score: (3) Gloucester 3, Wasps 39 – 2003
Closest Match: (1) Leicester 10, London Irish 9 – 2009
Most Combined Points: (65) Sale 45, Leicester 20 – 2006
Lowest Combined Points:(16) Wasps 10, Bath 6 – 2004
Largest Attendance: 81,601 Leicester 10, London Irish 9 – 2009
Most first-half points: (23) Wasps 23, Gloucester 3 – 2003; (23) Sale 23, Leicester 10 – 2006; (23) Wasps 23, Leicester 6 2008
Least first-half Points: (0) Wasps 0, Bath 3 – 2004
Most second-half Points: (22) Sale (23)45, Leicester (10) 20 – 2006; (22) Leicester (22)44, Gloucester (6)16 2007
Least second-half Points: (0) Gloucester (3)3, Wasps (23) 39 – 2003
Most Tries: (7) Leicester 44, Gloucester 16 – 2007
Most Conversions: (3) on four occasions
Most Penalty Goals: (6) Sale 45, Leicester 20 – 2006; (6) Leicester 18, Saracens 22 2011
Most Drop Goals: (1) on six occasions
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
Most Points: 26 – Mark van Gisbergen Wasps v Leicester – 2005
Most Tries: Two – Josh Lewsey Wasps v Gloucester 2003; Alesana Tuilagi Leicester v Gloucester 2007; Ernst Joubert Saracens v Leicester 2012
Most Conversions: Three on four occasions
Most Penalty Goals: Six – Charlie Hodgson Sale v Leicester 2006; Toby Flood Leicester v Saracens 2012
Most Drop Goals: one – on six occasions
Youngest Finalist: 17 years, 249 days – Ben Youngs Leicester v Gloucester 2007
Youngest Starter: 19 years, 239 days – Owen Farrell Saracens v Leicester 2011
Youngest Points Scorer: 19 years, 239 days – Owen Farrell Saracens v Leicester 2011
Youngest Try Scorer: 20 years, 266 days – Ben Youngs Leicester v Saracens 2010
Oldest Finalist: 37 years, 304 days – Andy Deacon Gloucester v Wasps 2003
Oldest Starter: 37 years, 241 days – Mike Catt London Irish v Leicester 2009
Oldest Points Scorer: 34 years, 218 days – Glen Jackson Saracens v Leicester 2010
Oldest Try Scorer: 33 years, 212 days – Martin Corry Leicester v Gloucester 2007
CAREER RECORDS
Most Starts: Six – George Chuter Leicester; Geordan Murphy Leicester
Most Appearances: Four – James Buckland Leicester & London Irish
Most Minutes Played: 480 Geordan Murphy Leicester
Most Points: 44 Mark van Gisbergen Wasps
Most Tries: Three – Josh Lewsey Wasps
Most Conversions: Six – Mark van Gisbergen Wasps
Most Penalty Goals: 10 Toby Flood Leicester
Most drop-goals: Three Alex King Wasps
Most Winners Medals: 4 Ayoola Erinle, Josh Lewsey, Mark van Gisbergen, Richard Birkett, Joe Worsley, Simon Shaw, Lawrence Dallaglio
Most Losers Medals: Three – Geordan Murphy, George Chuter, Julian White, Ben Kay, Andy Goode, Martin Corry, James Buckland, Harry Ellis
Premiership Final Winner with TWO clubs
Ayoola Erinle – Wasps (2003, 2004, 2005) and Leicester (2008)
Jeremy Staunton – Wasps (2008) and Leicester (2010)
Richard Wigglesworth – Sale (2006) and Saracens (2011)
Brothers in Finals
Delon & Stefon Armitage London Irish
Brett & Louis Deacon Leicester
Martin & Will Johnson Leicester
Michael & Sailosi Tagicakibau Saracens & London Irish
Final for Three Clubs
Peter Richards (Wasps 2004, Gloucester 2007, London Irish 2009)
