Every successful rugby team is based on partnerships. The partnership between the forwards and the backs. The partnerships between the front and second rows, between the two centres and between the wings and fullback.
However, one of the most important partnerships and understandings in rugby union is between the half-backs – the scrum-half and the fly-half.
These two players provide the pivotal link between the forwards and the backs. Their understanding, communication and cohesion is an essential component for success on the rugby field.
The duo currently occupying the number 9 and 10 jerseys for England are Ben Youngs and Toby Flood. Two young, exciting Leicester Tigers players who have forged a formidable pairing on both the domestic and international scene.
A defining year
This year sees the best players from all over the world travel to New Zealand for the seventh Rugby World Cup. With England’s mini revival-of-late seeing them start the Six Nations in impressive fashion, questions are being asked of Martin Johnson’s side. One of these questions is ‘Can Flood and Youngs lead England to World Cup glory?’
So just how much influence do Youngs and Flood have on this England side? It is clear to see that playing together week in and week out and developing their understanding at club level is benefitting England on the international stage.
Having said that, there are notable differences between how they play for Leicester and their country. There is no doubt that international rugby is completely different to that played in the Aviva Premiership as the intensity is so high and players are often afraid to try new things in fear of failure.
However, the opposite seems to be true for Youngs and Flood. At Leicester, a club notorious for its strong forward play, with emphasis on scrums and lineouts, the duo seem to play a rather patterned and structured game.
Fast progress
Yet at international level, Youngs especially, likes to play with instinct rather than sticking to structure. This unpredictability has most definitely contributed to the 21-year-old’s success for England. The fact that the young scrum-half also picked up the Leicester Tigers Player of the Season for the 2009/10 season speaks volumes for Youngs’ progress.
Flood, however, is no stranger to the international or domestic scene. Having been nurtured through the Newcastle Falcons’ academy, Flood was trained at his school by the golden boy of modern English rugby – Jonny Wilkinson. Flood has spent much of his career as Wilkinson’s understudy, first at Newcastle and then in his early England days.
With Flood’s 2008 transfer to Leicester he was given the opportunity to establish himself as a first-team fly-half and has worked hard on his game, particularly his kicking.
This improvement in kicking allows England to take advantage of opportunities from all over the pitch. Flood’s teammates now know that if they win a penalty anywhere within reasonable distance of the opposition’s posts, Flood will be likely to secure points.
A winning mentality
This attitude is essential going into a Rugby World Cup. As England showed most recently against France, they know how to win games and secure points, which is a key tournament mentality. Often in Rugby World Cups, the team that plays the most attractive rugby are not victorious over a side that is prepared to do the basics well and know how to close out games and keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Youngs and Flood have shown their adaptability to different conditions so far in this Six Nations campaign. They know when to kick, when to order a move and when to carry the ball themselves. These attributes will be essential, if England are to be in with a chance of winning the Rugby World Cup again.
However, don’t expect the starting half-backs to be the only influential players in Martin Johnson’s side. Almost as key as Youngs and Flood are the players that are used as their second-half replacements – Danny Care and Wilkinson. The livewire Care is always willing to test tiring defences with his lightening breaks from rucks and Wilkinson’s deadly boot provides England with a lethal weapon to kill off games.
Two players cannot make a successful team. For a team to be victorious, all players from 1 to 15 need to perform at their best. But I would expect Youngs and Flood to hugely influence England’s chances of success in New Zealand. Their basic understanding and partnership will be extremely tough for any international side to break down.