England v Australia: Wallabies scrum-half Nick Phipps delivers verdict on Ben Youngs
ENGLAND and Wallaby coaches Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika might have spent all week lobbing verbal grenades at each other, but at least one Australian has joined his opposite number’s fan club.
Nick Phipps and Ben Youngs (right) will line up against each other at Twickenham
Scrum-half Nick Phipps lines up against Ben Youngs at Twickenham this afternoon and is gushing with praise for his rival.
Jones and Cheika might not be sharing a beer after the match but Phipps and Youngs look odds-on to be having a jar together.
Nick Phipps (right) is set to start against England at Twickenham
Ben Youngs has impressed as England's scrum-half under head coach Eddie Jones
He is a player I really enjoy watching and off the field he is a great bloke
Phipps said: “I have played against him plenty of times. He is a guy I really like to watch play rugby – he is exciting and always looking for opportunities himself. He works with his forwards well and his service is good.
“He is a player I really enjoy watching and off the field he is a great bloke – but more importantly on the field he is a fierce competitor which I love. I am going to have a lot of work to do to make sure we stay on top of him.”
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Phipps was up against Youngs in all three of the summer Tests Down Under and on the wrong side of the scoreboard every time, but is itching for revenge.
The 27-year old added: “They were thoroughly deserved winners and we have got to try and come to their backyard and do the same sort of thing that they did to us.
“This is our 15th game of the year and we have had a lot of time between then and now. We know we weren’t performing as a team.”