Ben Youngs set for England caps record: 2010 debutant to make 115th appearance

Ben Youngs will become England’s most capped player when he surpasses Jason Leonard’s milestone of 114 appearances in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match against Wales at Twickenham.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the career of a Red Rose great.

When Youngs made his debut in 2010 as a fresh-faced 21-year-old replacement against Scotland, Martin Johnson was in charge of England, Jonny Wilkinson was still operating at fly-half and Steve Borthwick acted as captain. The Leicester Tiger has played under three different head coaches in Johnson, Stuart Lancaster and Eddie Jones and has been first choice scrum-half for the vast majority of his 12 years as an international. A highly popular player within the squad, Youngs has also been one of Jones’ most trusted and influential lieutenants on the pitch.

Only Australia great George Gregan has won more caps for his country as a scrum-half. It would be a major achievement to overhaul the former Wallabies captain’s total of 139 appearances but, even if Youngs falls short of that record, he has earned the right to be considered among the finest in his position, on these shores and beyond. Other half-backs may provide greater fizz, but the 32-year-old is still a dangerous running threat while also adding expert game-management and understanding that repeatedly executing the basics to a high standard is the key to the position.

When England have performed poorly under Jones and the head coach has indicated a changing of the guard is looming, Youngs is typically among the first names to be suggested for the cull. Yet he has shown remarkable resilience to see off all pretenders to his throne as he consistently proves his status as England’s pre-eminent scrum-half. Danny Care, Richard