Ben Youngs was so stunned to be selected in the England squad for Saturday's game against Scotland he thought Martin Johnson had his wires crossed.
Youngs says he thought England manager Johnson was discussing Leicester Tigers’ team selection when he was told he would be in the matchday 22 for the first time.
“Johnno called me aside and said 'you are on the bench',” said Youngs. “I replied that Leicester don't have a game so I have got the weekend off.
"He went: 'No, no, no - you are on the bench'.
"It took a good five seconds to work out what he was actually meaning."
Youngs added: “I was taken completely by surprise, I was not expecting it all. I was very excited and obviously delighted but once that settles in, after an hour or so, it is about focusing on your job and what we have to do to beat Scotland this weekend.”
Youngs joins Tigers teammates Dan Cole and Louis Deacon, who are named in the starting XV, and Toby Flood and Lewis Moody, who are also among the replacements for the Murrayfield clash.
He follows in the footsteps of his father, the former Tigers scrum-half Nick Youngs, who won six England caps and played in the 1984 Calcutta Cup match.
“I’ve not had a chance to speak to my dad yet but I’ve sent a text to him and the rest of the family and had some lovely replies already,” said Youngs.
“It just shows how much it means to myself and everybody in the family.
“This year was about playing for my club and doing as well as I can for Leicester Tigers. Anything that happens from that is a huge bonus. I got called into the Saxons and I was delighted by that, then this, it has all happened so fast.
“It has been a real rollercoaster, it’s happened so fast, I’m loving every moment but have to be very professional about it and not let it get the better of you and stay focused.
“I know all the Leicester guys in the squad obviously but I happen to know quite a few of the other boys as well and that makes it easy to settle in and the coaches have been great. It is good to know everyone and before you know it you are your normal self around the place which is how you want it to be
“I am quite a chilled bloke but I can’t see myself being too chilled out this weekend! At Leicester I’m quite relaxed and have a bit of a joke, but maybe there’ll be a different side to me this weekend. I will be nervous but if I get the chance to get out there you block out the crowd and hope it is like playing just another game,” he told the RFU podcast.
Youngs says he thought England manager Johnson was discussing Leicester Tigers’ team selection when he was told he would be in the matchday 22 for the first time.
“Johnno called me aside and said 'you are on the bench',” said Youngs. “I replied that Leicester don't have a game so I have got the weekend off.
"He went: 'No, no, no - you are on the bench'.
"It took a good five seconds to work out what he was actually meaning."
Youngs added: “I was taken completely by surprise, I was not expecting it all. I was very excited and obviously delighted but once that settles in, after an hour or so, it is about focusing on your job and what we have to do to beat Scotland this weekend.”
Youngs joins Tigers teammates Dan Cole and Louis Deacon, who are named in the starting XV, and Toby Flood and Lewis Moody, who are also among the replacements for the Murrayfield clash.
He follows in the footsteps of his father, the former Tigers scrum-half Nick Youngs, who won six England caps and played in the 1984 Calcutta Cup match.
“I’ve not had a chance to speak to my dad yet but I’ve sent a text to him and the rest of the family and had some lovely replies already,” said Youngs.
“It just shows how much it means to myself and everybody in the family.
“This year was about playing for my club and doing as well as I can for Leicester Tigers. Anything that happens from that is a huge bonus. I got called into the Saxons and I was delighted by that, then this, it has all happened so fast.
“It has been a real rollercoaster, it’s happened so fast, I’m loving every moment but have to be very professional about it and not let it get the better of you and stay focused.
“I know all the Leicester guys in the squad obviously but I happen to know quite a few of the other boys as well and that makes it easy to settle in and the coaches have been great. It is good to know everyone and before you know it you are your normal self around the place which is how you want it to be
“I am quite a chilled bloke but I can’t see myself being too chilled out this weekend! At Leicester I’m quite relaxed and have a bit of a joke, but maybe there’ll be a different side to me this weekend. I will be nervous but if I get the chance to get out there you block out the crowd and hope it is like playing just another game,” he told the RFU podcast.
