England grind down Argentina for bronze, fitting farewell for Ben Youngs،
PARIS, France – Ben Youngs’ final act in an England shirt was the kind of pass he would have made a million times. In itself it was routine, a short ball to Marcus Smith in England’s 22, the young full-back clearing it almost halfway up the pitch. Nothing flash, just some of his scrum-half work, and the sort of thing that would have been completely instinctive.
His final match for England, his 127th cap, saw his side win the bronze medal at Rugby World Cup 2023 with a narrow 26-23 victory over Argentina. By the time the scoreboard was blocked with the red 9s and 21s in the 51st minute, he had already been prematurely removed from international rugby by the stadium commentator, who told the Stade de France that Danny Care had already replaced Youngs before the ‘exchange. took place. But when the time came, Youngs was on the other side of the field.
The area just behind the substitute players’ bench is where the England players’ family is located. Tom Youngs was there, Ben’s older brother, along with other members of the Youngs family. Playing alongside Tom was one of Ben’s most cherished England memories – that and the New Zealand semi-final in 2019, the Grand Slam in 2016 and whitewashing the Australians on their tour that same year. Alongside Tom were two younger members of the family wearing Youngs 9 shirts from different parts of his 13-year Test career. Everyone in that part of the stadium stood up as England’s most capped men’s player walked off for the final time. An incredible 127 caps and it’s done.
“Watching him wear a white shirt over the years, I take my hat off to him for his due diligence and his hunger to always improve,” Tom Youngs said Friday. “And to still be part of an England team for about 13 years is incredible. It shows the quality player he is but also the person he is. You have to fit into teams. You can’t being a bad human being.” Or so we quickly find out. I am immensely proud. Being here now with a group of family, it’s really special to be able to watch his last moment in an England shirt. “
Youngs has been an incredible servant of English rugby. He has played for four managers: Martin Johnson, Stuart Lancaster, Eddie Jones and now Steve Borthwick. His England career spans such a period that when he made his Test debut in 2010 – replacing Ugo Monye on the wing – Borthwick was his captain. “Every manager wants different things, but I’ve had four with England and been picked by all of them,” Ben Youngs said earlier in the week. “I guess I’m proud of it because it clearly shows that I bring something to the party.”
He certainly did. When he announced his impending international retirement on Wednesday, it was met with an outpouring of love of the game. It was a testament to a widely admired man, a kind soul who put family first. On the pitch he has been the epitome of consistency and endurance and for him to leave on his own terms is a fitting end to a remarkable career.
“The game has given me so much that I have made huge friendships and connections not only with this England team, but with people I have played against for years,” Ben Youngs said.
As he reached the bench, he was hugged by every person present, among his teammates for the last time. He greeted his family before the national anthem and applauded them as he left the field. Job finished, 127 and departure. “As a family, we take care of each other, but we also stay very grounded,” Tom Youngs said. “His 127 caps come from the way my mom and dad raised him and the way our cousins and aunts raised him. It allowed him to enjoy the moment and keep that hunger.”
It was one of those kinds of matches. It seemed sentimental in some ways given that several players were playing their final test, but then you see Michael Cheika in the coaches’ box, you look at the players bent over, some of them bleeding and you remember that’s why they call it a Match test.
It was a difficult time at times, but no quarter was given. England made eight changes from the team that lost by one point to South Africa, Argentina made three. There were glimpses of the present and future in both teams, but also reminders of those at the end of their Test careers like Dan Cole, Youngs, Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli and the timeless Agustin Creevy.
In Thursday’s captain’s run, Joe Marler, Cole, Youngs, Courtney Lawes and Jonny May led the team. May had previously said it would be his last tournament for England, Lawes announced it would be his after the Springboks’ defeat, then Youngs bowed out on Wednesday. Youngs’ next task was to tell the BBC that Marler was also retiring from international rugby, but he had asked Youngs to do this because he had already retired several times in England and was worried that no one would take him on. serious this time. around. Others could follow: Cole is one who, at 36, probably doesn’t have another World Cup in him.
But amid the sentimentality, there was brutality in this match. Players on both sides shed blood, Sam Underhill – a late injury call-up for England – was outstanding while Smith, at full back, made a valiant change trying to stop anything and everything what in navy blue.
There was none of the intensity or on-field drama of some of the best matches we have seen at this World Cup. But there were moments of brilliance, like Santiago Carreras’ second-half try as he danced over England to score.
England led for all but two minutes of the match thanks to tries from Ben Earl – a wonderful move putting him through the Argentina defense – and Theo Dan who collected his own charge to cross. Owen Farrell kicked both conversions and four penalties. Tomas Cubelli crossed for the Pumas in the 36th minute thanks to a superb team move, while Carreras scored his solo effort just after the break. The team was tied, temporarily in balance and Argentina could have extended the match if Nicolas Sanchez had scored a direct penalty in the 76th minute. But in the end, England’s determination held strong, and they took a penalty at the end to finish the match.
England’s World Cup ends in victory, an impressive comeback considering their situation at the start of the year. Once they received the bronze medals, Youngs walked toward the crowd and toward his family. Six of the younger members of the Youngs crew joined him on the field, two of them immediately running near the 22 and performing cartwheels. He walked with his family around the Stade de France one last time as an England player, ending a remarkable Test career of one of the sport’s most selfless players. “I have a lot of memories and I’m very grateful, so thank you everyone,” Youngs said. “I’m going to have a beer and have fun with the boys tonight.”
