Tom Youngs: “My debt to selfless George Chuter”
There seemed to be symbolic changing of the guard last Saturday when Chuter was presented with an award for becoming the first man to play in 250 Premiership matches while Youngs was starting his first league match at Welford Road.
Youngs became a quizzer’s delight when made his international debut as a hooker – for England in their midweek games against the South African Barbarians in the summer – before he had started a home top-flight match for his club.
He had only been converted to the position from centre in 2008 by then Leicester coach Heyneke Meyer.
Youngs said: “When I went out to South Africa I had a few nerves but I felt I really grew into it and I came back with a lot more confidence and technical understanding of playing at hooker.
“When you watch and are involved in international matches you understand a lot more of the intricacies of the position.
“I still have a long way to go. I am still trying to learn the game so I don’t have time to stop and think about stuff but I’m fortunate to have some very good people around me at Leicester to learn off.
“George is very experienced and a great man to learn off. He still desperately wants to play every game but is willing to work on my game with me which shows a lot of character.
“Certainly it’s nice to come through pre-season and to be rewarded with the starting shirt. There’s great competition for places with George and Rob Hawkins and that makes it better in training that we’re all pushing each other on.”
Many players are described as a back trapped in a forward’s body and that has never been truer of Youngs or Schalk Brits, who played for Sarries against the Tigers at Wembley yesterday.
But while Youngs will always be blessed with quick hands, he maintains that his focus, since he started learning the tricks of the trade at Nottingham, has been on doing the basics first.
He said: “You never lose your back’s instinct. I have had to add other bits to my game and I feel I’ve done that although my first priority will be concentrating on my core skills as a hooker. If you get them right then you can look at the other stuff.
“Schalk is a fantastic player and when he came over he redefined the way hookers can play. I don’t think I play exactly like him but if I can offer any sort of option in attack then I will.
“I have learnt a huge amount about the position, particularly when I was playing at Nottingham.
“I remember playing against Doncaster and getting smacked within minutes of coming on and needing five stitches in my head.
“I still don’t know who threw that punch and I ended up throwing haymakers at everyone and that was probably because I was a bit raw.
“There were other games where I was scrummaging under real pressure and there were games I just tried to get through the 80 minutes.
“You remember those occasions and smile because it is all part of where I have got to today.”
DANIEL SCHOFIELD
