Duo target England roles

Toby Flood and Ben Youngs are looking to carry their club partnership onto the international stage next month as England take on all three Tri-Nations sides in their autumn series. [more]

Duo target England roles

Toby Flood and Ben Youngs are looking to carry their club partnership onto the international stage next month as England take on all three Tri-Nations sides in their autumn series.

The half-back duo plotted the downfall of the Scarlets in the second round of the Heineken Cup on the weekend in-front of England coaches Brian Smith, John Wells and Graham Rowntree, sending them a timely reminder ahead of the All Blacks match at Twickenham on 6 November.

Scrum half Youngs scored one try and made another in an amazing 10 minute burst at the start of the second half and his partnership with a fit again Flood, who notched up 16 points of his own could be the ideal solution for the national selectors.

"It would be great to be capped again," said Youngs, who scored a great solo try on hi first full start for England against Australia in the summer, "but I can only play as well as I can for Leicester and hope I get picked.

"I'm pretty happy with where I'm at. No disrespect to the guys who have played at No 10 since Toby has been injured, but it made my life so much easier having him back there.

"I know his game inside out and he is a great talent. It's always nice playing with him because he makes my life easier.

"We did a lot of graft in the first half and missed a few opportunities, but we knew they were going to crack at some stage. We have got a magnificent set of forwards and they played fantastically well.

"We've had a good start and we are really happy. Perpignan away and home and we can really see where we stand in this Pool when we go to France."

Youngs inspired the victory charge with his try a minute after the second half started and Flood's boot kept the scoreboard ticking over as he chipped in with five conversions and two penalties.

"The plan was to play for a full 80 minutes today and if we hadn't been so far ahead I'm sure that would have happened. The knee felt good and there wasn't any reaction," said Flood.

"I thought I'd be blowing a bit by the end, but my fitness was pretty good and I'm happy to be back on the pitch. I know Jonny Wilkinson is happy in Toulon and playing well as a result.

"I keep myself very distant from all the talk about who is the No 1. If it is Jonny, then I will just get on with it."

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