Harry Ellis is backing crocked former Leicester Tigers sparring partner Ben Youngs to still be key man at World Cup

Jul 10 2011 by Ben Baker, Sunday Mercury

KNEE surgery may have left Ben Youngs fretting on his World Cup – but Harry Ellis insists Martin Johnson should take a gamble on the Leicester number nine in New Zealand.

Youngs’ World Cup dream hangs by a thread after it emerged he injured his knee sumo wrestling.

Having undergone surgery last week – the Leicester man is likely to be out of action for up to two months.

Youngs has established himself as an England mainstay since bursting onto the scene with a try-scoring display in his first international start last June, as Australia were beaten 21-20 in their own back-yard.

The Leicester man will be unavailable for England’s warm-up games with Wales and Ireland – but former Tigers team-mate Ellis believes Youngs will be back with a bang Down Under.

If anyone should know about the strengths of Youngs it’s Ellis as the two sparred for the No.9 jersey during their time together at Welford Road.

And the former British & Irish Lion has warned those hoping to steal Youngs’ World Cup place that they could face a long wait.

“Ben has shown just what a talent he is over the past few seasons and has made the transition into the England squad look easy,” said Ellis.

“He has been a big reason why Leicester and England have shown the form that they have and he has really grown in stature.

“I know there are really good players waiting for him to slip up – the likes of Danny Care, Joe Simpson and Richard Wigglesworth – and it’s testament to how well he has been playing that he has kept them out.

“When I was playing I had to battle for a spot against the likes of Andy Gomarsall, Kyran Bracken, Matt Dawson, Shaun Perry, Peter Richards and Danny so I know what good competition can do and it has made him step his game up. I know what it is like to compete against Ben for a spot as we did it for Leicester and I know how hard he will work to keep that spot, he is a great player.”

While Ellis’ budding partnership with Toby Flood was cut short, he has watched as Youngs has stepped into the breach both domestically and on the international stage.

And he believes Leicester’s dynamic duo will have a big say if Johnson’s troops are to progress Down Under.

“There is a good group this year for the World Cup but I think that Toby and Ben stand out because of the form they have been in,” he added. “They have gone from the younger guys to integral members of the squad in a short space of time and that is down to how well they have both been playing.

“They obviously play together week-in-week-out and it is important to have your half-backs playing regularly together.

“It shows on the pitch and if England are to have a successful World Cup then that partnership is bound to play a big part.”

Meanwhile, former World Cup winner Will Greenwood has called on Leicester and the rest of the Aviva Premiership to take this season’s JP Morgan Rugby 7s seriously.

In 2010 Saracens landed the inaugural sevens title and went on to beat Leicester in a tight Premiership final ten months later.

Greenwood insists Sarries built on their early season momentum – a lesson other clubs could learn when the sevens gets going at Bath on July 15.

“Saracens started their season by winning the JP Morgan Seven Series and then went on to lift the Aviva trophy for the first time,” said Greenwood.

“Winning the sevens series really sets you on your way, gets you up and running andfills your club with confident players because winning a trophy is great no matter what it is.”

n Tickets for the JP Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series are available through Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling 0844 847 2492.