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Youngs ‘Definitely Under Pressure’

Norwich-born scrum-half, Ben Youngs, believes that the form of Lee Dickson has made him surplus to requirements in the England side. Youngs, who plies his trade at the Leicester Tigers, has struggled with injuries, in recent months, and was substituted during England’s match with Italy, at the weekend.

Youngs was one of a number of victims of England’s disastrous World Cup campaign, in the sense that he was returned to his domestic club in a less-than-ideal condition. Tigers coach, Richard Cockerill, intimated that England had thrown Youngs into the mix without consideration for his physical condition. Those following the Six Nations 2012 betting need to remember this.

The youngster was forced into surgery last summer to have cartilage removed from inside his left knee. He was almost immediately transferred to England medics, to hasten his recovery in time for the World Cup. However, in October, Cockerill noted that the Tigers would have done a better job of rehabilitating Youngs’ knee. Fans of will greenwood rugby betting previews and tips at betfair need to bear this in mind.

Youngs had been England’s first-choice scrum-half prior to his surgery, but his absence from the domestic game in the wake of the World Cup allowed Dickson to break into the side. “I’ve got to stay positive”, the player said. “I’ve got to work very hard and try and prove myself because I’m definitely under pressure.”

Unfortunately, for Youngs’ peace of mind, at least, the team that will play Wales at Twickenham will not be announced until Thursday. “Hopefully, if I get another chance, it might click”, Youngs said, after lamenting his recent form in the Six Nations. “I need to get back to playing my natural game.”

Dickson, whose brother, Karl, is also in the England side, came back from a broken hand in under a week to replace Youngs in Rome, at the weekend. The Germany-born scrum-half says that he is “very confident” in his abilities on the pitch.