The first point is that I do not believe in sentimental caps for anyone, even if, like Ben Youngs, you are on 99 and there is only one to go to make you a centurion. You are picked on merit and current form – not past form – and you should be the best player to help England win their next match.
That means starting Ben Spencer at scrum-half against Italy in the final match of the Six Nations in Rome, with Dan Robson on the bench.
Spencer has been on fire since joining Bath, and is currently not only the best scrum-half in England, but one of the best in the world, while Robson’s form for Wasps, has also been very impressive.
Ben Youngs is a lovely guy, and as an ex-scrum-half who has coached him, I know that when ex-players are critical it does have an impact – so this pains me. However, I’m here to give an opinion, and mine is that it is time for new blood in the England No.9 shirt.
When I look at the Top 5 English scrum-halves in the Premiership since the 2019 World Cup, Youngs does not get into it. My rankings are: 1 Ben Spencer 2 Dan Robson 3 Danny Care 4= Alex Mitchell and Harry Randall.
What’s more he only just scrapes into the Top 10 after you include the overseas scrum-halves. Those rankings read: 1 Ben Spencer (Bath) 2 Dan Robson (Wasps) 3 Danny Care (Harlequins) 4 Faf de Klerk (Sale) 5 Martin Landajo (Harlequins) 6 François Hougaard (Worcester) 7 Nick Phipps (London Irish) 8= Alex Mitchell (Northampton), Harry Randall (Bristol) 10 Ben Youngs (Leicester).
To be playing for your country you should be the best – and when he first came on the England scene it was a claim Youngs could make, because he was very good.
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