In a brutal critique of England's recent performance against Ireland in the Six Nations, former England scrum-half Ben Youngs did not mince words, describing the team as 'absolutely outclassed' and 'clueless.' The match, which ended in a 42-21 drubbing at Twickenham, left fans and players alike in dismay, with Ireland asserting dominance early and maintaining it throughout the game.
Youngs, speaking on his show 'For The Love Of Rugby,' lambasted England's failure to deliver, especially following a previous loss to Scotland. "Two weeks in a row, big players didn’t deliver," Youngs expressed, dismayed by the lack of execution in crucial game components such as defence and lineouts. He criticized the team's overall strategy and effort, suggesting a breakdown in both performance and morale.
"We have been absolutely outclassed. Who’s hot and who’s not: Ireland’s ‘cheat code’, France’s ‘joie de vivre’, and ‘poorly coached’ England’s latest ‘humiliation’,"
The leadership within the team, according to Youngs, also fell short. He argued that players like Ellis Genge and other senior members failed to set a positive example on the field. "First and foremost, the leaders will look at themselves... rule No.1 in being a leader is you have to perform yourself and the leaders did not perform," he noted.
Conversely, Ireland's performance was highlighted as exemplary. Players such as Jamison Gibson-Park and Tadhg Beirne were pivotal, with their proactive play and leadership on the field earning them high praise. "The Irish leadership players delivered through actions first and that is rule No.1 of leadership: Perform yourself," Youngs added, contrasting the two teams' performances.
Youngs' co-host, Dan Cole, also chimed in, sharing his frustration and disappointment after rewatching the game. "Ireland brought a physicality and intensity that England couldn’t match," Cole remarked, acknowledging the superiority of the Irish team's play and the palpable lack of execution from England.
As the team looks ahead to their remaining matches in Italy and France, the pressure mounts not only to salvage what remains of their Six Nations campaign but to fundamentally reassess and rebuild. The stark criticisms from former players like Youngs underscore the urgency of a turnaround for England's rugby establishment.
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In a brutal critique of England's recent performance against Ireland in the Six Nations, former England scrum-half Ben Youngs did not mince words, describing the team as 'absolutely outclassed' and 'clueless.' The match, which ended in a 42-21 drubbing at Twickenham, left fans and players alike in dismay, with Ireland asserting dominance early and maintaining it throughout the game.
Youngs, speaking on his show 'For The Love Of Rugby,' lambasted England's failure to deliver, especially following a previous loss to Scotland. "Two weeks in a row, big players didn’t deliver," Youngs expressed, dismayed by the lack of execution in crucial game components such as defence and lineouts. He criticized the team's overall strategy and effort, suggesting a breakdown in both performance and morale.
"We have been absolutely outclassed. Who’s hot and who’s not: Ireland’s ‘cheat code’, France’s ‘joie de vivre’, and ‘poorly coached’ England’s latest ‘humiliation’,"
The leadership within the team, according to Youngs, also fell short. He argued that players like Ellis Genge and other senior members failed to set a positive example on the field. "First and foremost, the leaders will look at themselves... rule No.1 in being a leader is you have to perform yourself and the leaders did not perform," he noted.
Conversely, Ireland's performance was highlighted as exemplary. Players such as Jamison Gibson-Park and Tadhg Beirne were pivotal, with their proactive play and leadership on the field earning them high praise. "The Irish leadership players delivered through actions first and that is rule No.1 of leadership: Perform yourself," Youngs added, contrasting the two teams' performances.
Youngs' co-host, Dan Cole, also chimed in, sharing his frustration and disappointment after rewatching the game. "Ireland brought a physicality and intensity that England couldn’t match," Cole remarked, acknowledging the superiority of the Irish team's play and the palpable lack of execution from England.
As the team looks ahead to their remaining matches in Italy and France, the pressure mounts not only to salvage what remains of their Six Nations campaign but to fundamentally reassess and rebuild. The stark criticisms from former players like Youngs underscore the urgency of a turnaround for England's rugby establishment.