Ben Youngs, the former England halfback who once derided the Wallabies, has done an about-face and now says he is a fan, tipping Australia as a dark horse for the 2027 World Cup on home soil.
Youngs' change of heart comes ahead of the Wallabies' clash with England at Twickenham on Monday. Speaking to this masthead, he said he was "slightly nervous" about the match and cautioned English fans against reading too much into Australia's Bledisloe Cup losses. He said the scorelines did not reflect the actual games and pointed to the Wallabies' win over South Africa as a "hell of a win".
Two years ago, after Australia's record 67-27 defeat to Argentina, Youngs questioned on his podcast For the Love of Rugby whether the British and Irish Lions should even tour Australia. “Australia, don't waste my time,” he said ahead of the 2024 England match. But the Wallabies beat England that year, and players used his comments as motivation. “It's always great to shut up critics,” Fraser McReight said after that game. Youngs ate humble pie and has since become an admirer.
Youngs says the Wallabies' pack can mix it, their back row can compete with anyone in the world and their backline has talent most international teams would want. He admires new coach Les Kiss and rates McReight as one of the best No.7s in the world. However, he identifies the halves (positions 9 and 10) as an Achilles' heel. “That's the disconnect, because you've got a pack that can mix it, especially when Will Skelton gets back from his Achilles injury,” he said.
On England, Youngs says the team lacks a consistent identity and the selection has not matched strategy. He contrasts England's pragmatic Test style with the more expansive game seen in the English Premiership. "The big question really for everyone this autumn is, we're not 100 per cent sure where England are at and which direction they're going," he said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Youngs' endorsement adds a credible international voice to the growing optimism around the Wallabies' prospects ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
- It signals a shift in external perception of Australian rugby, which has struggled in recent years, and may boost morale within the squad.
- This weekend's clash at Twickenham will be an early test of the Wallabies' form under new coach Les Kiss.
Background
Ben Youngs is a former England halfback known for his sharp analysis. His recent praise marks a stark reversal from his earlier dismissal of the Wallabies as unworthy of attention, a view that backfired when Australia beat England in 2024. The Wallabies have since made strides, including a competitive showing against the British and Irish Lions in 2025.
What to Watch
- The Wallabies' performance at Twickenham will show whether Youngs' assessment is shared by results.
- The return of Will Skelton from injury could address the disconnect Youngs identified in the halves.
- England's team selection and strategy over the coming months will reveal whether they resolve the identity crisis Youngs highlighted.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedBen Youngs is now a Wallabies fan and considers Australia a dark horse for the 2027 World Cup on home soil.WA Today - Latest News: “he is now a big fan and believes Australia are dark horses for the 2027 World Cup on home soil.”
- SupportedYoungs said he was “slightly nervous” ahead of the match.WA Today - Latest News: ““Genuinely, as we lead towards this weekend, I’m slightly nervous about it,” Youngs said.”
- SupportedYoungs warned English fans not to read too much into Australia’s Bledisloe losses.WA Today - Latest News: “Speaking to this masthead in London ahead of Monday’s clash, Youngs said he rated the Wallabies’ chances based on their form, and warned England fans from reading too much into Australia’s two losses to the All Blacks.”
- SupportedYoungs said the scorelines did not reflect the actual games.WA Today - Latest News: ““The scorelines and the actual results don’t reflect those games.”
- SupportedYoungs called Australia’s win over South Africa a “hell of a win”.WA Today - Latest News: ““And the South Africa win was a hell of a win.”
- SupportedAfter Australia’s record 67-27 loss to Argentina, Youngs questioned whether the British and Irish Lions should tour Australia.WA Today - Latest News: “Youngs questioned whether the British and Irish Lions should even be touring Australia in 2025, and should instead go to South Africa.”
- SupportedYoungs said, “Australia, don't waste my time,” about predictions for the 2024 England clash.WA Today - Latest News: ““Australia, don’t waste my time,” Youngs said regarding predictions for the England clash in 2024.”
- SupportedAfter Australia beat England in 2024, players were spurred on by Youngs’ comments.WA Today - Latest News: “But after the Wallabies rolled England, it emerged the Australians had been spurred on by Youngs’ comments”
- SupportedMcReight said, “It's always great to shut up critics,” after the game.WA Today - Latest News: ““It’s always great to shut up critics,” Fraser McReight said post-game.”
- SupportedYoungs rates McReight as one of the world’s best No.7s and admires new coach Les Kiss.WA Today - Latest News: “Youngs is an admirer of new Wallabies coach Les Kiss, and rates McReight as one of the best No.7s in the world.”
- SupportedYoungs identifies the halves as an Australian weakness and says the pack can mix it, especially when Will Skelton returns from his Achilles injury.WA Today - Latest News: ““The Achilles’ heel for me at the moment watching Australia, is the halves; they just haven’t quite got that cutting quality,” Youngs said. “That’s the disconnect, because you’ve got a pack that can mix it, especially when (Will) Skelton gets back from his Achilles injury.”
- SupportedYoungs says England lacks consistency and a clear identity, and that its selection has not matched its strategy.WA Today - Latest News: ““The big thing from an English fans’ perspective is, we are still yet to see consistency in this team and an identity of how they want to play. And the team selection has not married up with team strategy.”