Former World Cup winner Kyran Bracken admits man of the moment Ben Youngs can reignite one of English rugby’s fiercest rivalries.
The battle for the No.9 shirt was never more intense than between 51-cap Bracken and 77-cap Matt Dawson, beginning in 1995 and culminating in England’s most famous win at the Telstra Stadium in 2003.
Once again the old adversaries find themselves in opposite corners with Youngs being coached by Bracken while three-time British & Irish Lion Dawson is advising Care on the arts of half-back play.
Youngs stole the show on his full debut having taken Care’s place in England’s 21-20 defeat of Australia and Bracken maintains the 20-year-old has all the tools in his locker to become the best scrum-half in the world.
He said: “It is quite ironic – Matt Dawson is advising Danny Care and I am working with Ben now.
“England are very lucky to have them together. Hopefully it is going to be a rivalry that is going to last for years and make them both much better players.
“They both have similarities and there’s no doubt they are very talented players.
“From my point of view I want Ben to have the best skillset in the world so when he is not playing at 100 per-cent then he will still be in the team for his technique. There were plenty of times I was picked for my pass ahead of Matt Dawson.
“Ben reminds of me of Joost van der Westhuizen with his pass although I am not saying he is anywhere as good as van der Westhuizen is at the moment.
“But to become the best in the world you have to have something special and that is what he has.”
