LAST TANGO IN PARIS

Youngs salute ahead of final Test appearance

- ALEX SPINK

WHEN Steve Borthwick’s tribute to England’s most capped male player came to an end, he shook the hand of Ben Youngs and said two simple words.

In a week dominated by the distraction of the racist slur which Tom Curry says was aimed at him in England’s World Cup semi- final defeat, Youngs’ retirement threatened to slip under the radar.

But coach Borthwick ensured his 14 years of service, 126 caps, four World Cups and the same number of Six Nations titles weren’t lost in a sea of claims.

“Steve shook my hand and said, ‘Thank you’,” revealed the scrum-half.

“It didn’t need to be any more than that.”

Youngs has done rugby proud his whole career.