t is telling that for all Ben Youngs has achieved in his international career – the Six Nations titles, the grand slam, the Australia whitewash, the British & Irish Lions tour and the run to the 2019 World Cup final – his proudest achievement is his durability. The fact that, for all the times his place in the England side has been questioned, that the next big thing at scrum-half emerged, Youngs kept his doubters and, for the most part, his rivals at bay. From a debut on the wing under Martin Johnson in 2010 and a first start and breakthrough performance in a victory over Australia in Sydney later that year, to his 127th and final appearance on Friday under Steve Borthwick, via Stuart Lancaster as well as Eddie Jones and his packet of sweets, Youngs has had the backing of four different coaches and he exits stage left as his country’s most capped men’s player. A composite image of Siya Kolisi and the Webb Ellis Cup Nervous Nienaber and Kolisi raise stakes for game of Springboks’ lives Read more “I have had four coaches with England and I have been picked by all four,” says Youngs, whose last game is the bronze medal match against Argentina in Paris. “And that is a nice touch. Every coach has a preference. Every coach wants different things but I have had four with England and I have been picked by all of them. I am proud of that because it shows I clearly bring something to the party.” Youngs’ imminent departure from the international stage comes hot on the heels of that of Courtney Lawes and he is unlikely to be the last from the current squad but the 34-year-old is in no doubt that he has made his decision at the right time. In recent years he has spoken of a determination to reach a fourth World Cup and it is to his great credit that he did so, maintaining the highest of standards despite the tragic death of his sister-in-law, Tiffany – the wife of his brother and fellow England international Tom – in June 2022. In France, however, Youngs has found himself at the bottom of the pecking order. Alex Mitchell has emerged as England’s first-choice – and produced a fine performance in the semi-final defeat by South Africa – while Danny Care has been preferred as the bench option. It cannot have been easy spending the best part of four months away from home to make two pool stage appearances off the bench against Japan and Chile before Friday’s fixture. Ben Youngs trains before England’s final match at the World Cup Ben Youngs will finish his England playing career against Argentina at the World Cup. Photograph: Dan Mullan/Getty Images “It’s definitely been different,” adds Youngs. “You still drive the team, you still speak in meetings and have a huge part in terms of giving off your experiences and helping the team and doing all that, you just don’t get to do it at the weekend. I’d be doing the team a disservice if I didn’t still do all those bits. “I’m proud and privileged that I’m able to call it a day on Friday and get that opportunity. I’ve done it for so long and there’s great talent within the 9 jersey. It just feels right. I feel so content. The fact I had this in my head for a long time and then I didn’t hesitate about it makes me realise that it’s absolutely the right decision. “I will miss the adrenaline of running out in front of a full stadium. I’ll actually miss the pressure of big games, when everything is on the line. I’ll miss the buildup to the week, when it’s a big week with your teammates – and I’ll also just miss that camaraderie; the common goal of trying to achieve something special within an elite group. There are a fair few things I’ll miss, but, equally, I’ll look back very fondly and very content.” Youngs has a season left on his Leicester contract and is relishing the chance to throw himself into club commitments, safe in the knowledge that he will not have to come and go during international campaigns. First, however, he intends to finish on a high with his family in attendance for his final swansong, including Tom and his niece, Maisie. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to The Breakdown Free weekly newsletter The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week"s action reviewed Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion “Playing alongside my brother was an incredibly proud moment for me,” he adds. “Having a tough spell off the field and still continuing to play for England, and playing rugby, when there was a lot of stuff going on away from the game. To get to 100 caps and be a part of that group is very special. “New Zealand in that semi-final was one of the greatest team performances I have ever been a part of. The grand slam win in Paris in 2016 and probably when we beat Ireland in the first round of the 2019 Six Nations – that was also one of my favourites wins. But you can’t beat going to Australia and whitewashing them 3-0. That was pretty special as well.” Asked how he wants to be remembered, Youngs says: “Somebody who has given a huge amount. I have seen it get real high with England and I have been through a few rebuilds. I think I am leaving it in a good spot and I would like to think I was someone who was a big part of a successful team and a team that I leave heading in the right direction.” His immediate response, however, was that it was for others to decide. From personal experience, Youngs was always one of the most engaging and personable members of whichever squad he was part of and the mind goes back to the 2019 World Cup and England’s pre-tournament training camp in Miyazaki in Japan. There had been an administrative mix-up, resulting in the press corps finding themselves staying in the same hotel as the England squad and whereas once upon a time a head coach would have insisted on such an arrangement, Jones was on the warpath about it. His animosity was reflected by some of that 2019 squad but bumping into Youngs you were always on safe ground, and though a cheery hello and brief conversation in the lift might sound like little, it went a long way with jet-lagged, disorientated journalists. On the field his contributions over the past 13 years are unmistakable but off it he will equally be missed.