1
How Ben Youngs rates Leinster and the scale of the task awaiting Leicester
By Chris Jones
Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs believes Leinster are the best club team in the world as he prepares to face the Irish province in Saturday’s eagerly anticipated Heineken Champions Cup quarter final at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
While Youngs could be accused of talking up the threat posed by Leinster, he bases his verdict on a the vastly experienced Irish squad spearheaded by Jonny Sexton and containing key members of the Ireland squad who have beaten England in their last two Six Nations meetings.
Leicester are top of the Gallagher Premiership and secured a home semi-final play-off thanks to a thumping 56-26 win over Bristol with Youngs pulling the tactical strings with halfback partner George Ford and they will have key roles against the Sexton-Jamison Gibson-Park double act for the opposition on Saturday.
Youngs said: “When you look at their star studded team, the amount of players who have won before in Europe with international experience and coming on the back of their Autumn and Six Nations performances. Sexton is a key man for them along with Gibson-Park and they are very settled and know each other really well. It is a great challenge for us and we get to see where we are at against the best club team in Europe if not the best in the world.
“It is everything we want to do and we have come on loads this season but let’s see how far we really have come. We understand it is going to take something special from us as a group of players and then get excited about it. We are home and playing a team that has been formidable for years in Europe and you know you have to have a week to peak to get the victory.
“It is going to have that test match feel about and that kind of build up. It is the kind of week we want to be part of. I was a travelling reserve in the 2009 final when we played Leinster with Sexton’s drop goal and coming up short. Leinster are steeped in history in Europe an their squad as vast experience and we have to recognise it will take a monumental effort.”
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' weaknesses
3
All Blacks player ratings vs Italy
4
Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu admits anger at Australian rugby
5
Latest Comments
GB = England, Scotland, Wales. UK = England, Wales, Scotland, NI
Nothing to stew son.
Go to commentsTupaea is a natural 12. What is it with you kiwis and playing players out of their positions. Is that some sort of national sport? Is that on purpose? You’ve got an utility back and a winger at 12 and 13 respectivelly. You played Savea at 8 for ages, wasting the potential of one of the world’s three best players in the last 4-5 years.
ALB is equally effective at 12 and 13, so why not have him or Tupaea at 12, and Proctor at 13? God forbid you’d have two midfielders playing at their natural positions! There must be a law in New Zealand, that prohibits that. Small sample size, but Proctor walked on water in his international debut at 13.
But the kiwi selectors seem to love Rieko’s speed, so as long as the horse is fast enough, they decided they’ll teach him to climb trees anyway.
You don’t have a better 10 than BB and Mo’unga. DMac is a more instinctive attacker (almost as good as Mo’unga … almost), but doesn’t have BB’s game-controlling skills. You have and will lose games due to his aimless kicking and spur-of-the-moment inventions none of his team mates are able to read at the international pace. Works okay at Super Rugby level, doesn’t mean it’s transferable to test matches. But hey, suit yourself.
Go to comments