MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 02:25:55| >> :600:8153005:8153005:
Rugby World Cup | Semi-Finals
Oct 26, 2019 at 9am UK
 
England
19-7
New Zealand
Tuilagi (2')
FT
Savea (57')

Ben Youngs confident England have more to give ahead of New Zealand semi-final

Ben Youngs confident England have more to give ahead of New Zealand semi-final
© Reuters
Eddie Jones' side hammered Australia in the quarter-finals.

Ben Youngs says there is more to come as England prepare for a World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.

The reigning world champions stand between England and a place in the final on November 2.

And while the All Blacks will present a formidable challenge in Yokohama next Saturday, England's quarter-final demolition of Australia underlined their own title credentials.

The 40-16 victory equalled England's record winning margin against the Wallabies, showcasing a ruthless approach as they scored 23 unanswered points after Australia moved to within touching distance.

"There is definitely more in us," England scrum-half Youngs said. "We feel we can still notch it up.

"Eddie (England head coach Eddie Jones) said to us afterwards 'it is the most exciting week to be a rugby player, so let's make sure we enjoy it, but let's make sure we get better'.

"That is the key – we have to keep improving.

"The exciting thing for me is I know there is more in this team. Against Australia, our edge D (defence) was a little bit vulnerable at times, a bit soft. We will tidy up some of those areas.

"What I am most pleased about is the fact that the game got tight and put us under pressure, and everything that we rehearsed and practised and sat in meetings about how we handle it and how we get a grip on it, we were able to do.

Ben Youngs, right, helped England into the semi-finals
Ben Youngs, right, helped England into the semi-finals (David Davies/PA)

"That was really pleasing to do that in a huge game. Look back at South Africa in 2018, Scotland in the Six Nations, there have been times when we've been under the cosh and allowed cheap points.

"On Saturday, I thought that all that hard work we had done paid off."

As England move firmly into the tournament's business end, Youngs says that a summer spent together is reaping benefits.

"The World Cup is different because you get a huge period (of time) together and you are able to create bonds and invest more time into each other," he added.

"So that when it gets tough, you can trust your mates. We've got that club feel. That showed.

"That bit when they were really challenging our line and coming and coming in waves, and then they went to the scrum and kept coming. It was a tremendous defensive effort.

"Australia were always going to create opportunities. The pleasing thing was we stayed with how we wanted to play – no-one went off script.

"No-one tried to solve it on their own. We just stuck at it and eventually ground it down."

Youngs, meanwhile, paid tribute to dynamic England flankers Tom Curry and Sam Underhill, who dominated Australia's revered back-row double act of David Pocock and Michael Hooper.

"They have been phenomenal," he said. "What a fantastic day for those two to come out on top and test themselves against David and Hooper, who are tremendous players."

ID:375614: cacheID:375614:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7150:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
England captain Owen Farrell pictured on October 19, 2019
Read Next:
Rugby World Cup day 30: England to face All Blacks in semi-finals
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Blanch
Nadal
10am
Cachin
Ofner
10am
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
10am
Gasquet
Sonego
10am
Hanfmann
Mensik
10am
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
10am
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
10am
Lajovic
Monteiro
10am
Machac
Ruusuvuori
10am
Michelsen
Fonseca
10am
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
10am
O'Connell
Arnaldi
10am
Purcell
Giron
10am
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
10am
Tabilo
Cobolli
10am
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
10am
Azarenka
Maria
10am
Eala
Cirstea
10am
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
10am
Gauff
Rus
10am
Keys
Camelia-Begu
10am
Podoroska
Navarro
10am
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
10am
Swiatek
Wang
10am
Baez
Van Assche
10am
Coric
Zverev
10am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
10am
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
10am
Hurkacz
Draper
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Altmaier
Fils
10am
Darderi
Fritz
10am
Griekspoor
Daniel
10am
Munar
Struff
10am
Musetti
Seyboth Wild
10am
Navone
Rune
10am
Shevchenko
Alcaraz
10am
Alexandrova
Krueger
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
10am
Boulter
Montgomery
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Collins
Danilovic
3pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
10am
Dolehide
Kalinina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Linette
Sabalenka
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
10am
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
10am
Vekic
Sakkari
11.30am
Arango
Yastremska
11.30am
Osaka
Samsonova
11.30am
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
1pm
Haddad Maia
Errani
2.30pm
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
2.30pm
Mertens
Stephens


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!