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Ben Youngs will sign off his England career in Friday\u2019s World Cup bronze final content that the time is right to step out of the Test arena.<\/p>\n
The nation\u2019s most capped men\u2019s player with 126 appearances, a veteran of four World Cups, makes his first start of the tournament when England clash with Argentina at the Stade de France.<\/p>\n
It brings down the curtain on an outstanding 13-year Test odyssey, the majority of which he has spent as first-choice scrum-half before his slide down the pecking order at France 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not a part of me that thinks \u2018what if\u2019 \u2013 I\u2019m absolutely making the right call,\u201d said the Leicester and Lions half-back, who picked out the 2016 series whitewash of Australia as his career highlight.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just feels right. I feel so content. The fact I had this in my head for a long time and then I didn\u2019t hesitate about it makes me realise that it\u2019s absolutely the right decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve also got a young family and all the bits that come with that. So it\u2019s just the right time. I will go back and play my club rugby and I look forward to doing that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got great memories, it\u2019s been a great journey. The 13 years goes like that (clicks fingers). It will be nice to finish on a high on Friday.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll look back very fondly and very content. It’s been a great ride and I’m proud of it<\/p>\n
\u201cI will miss the adrenalin of running out in front of a full stadium. I\u2019ll actually miss the pressure of big games, when everything is on the line. I\u2019ll miss the build-up to the week, when it\u2019s a big week with your team-mates.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019ll also miss that camaraderie \u2013 the common goal of trying to achieve something special within an elite group.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, equally, I\u2019ll look back very fondly and very content. One door closes and another one opens.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Youngs told Steve Borthwick that it was time to call it a day, he was thanked by the head coach.<\/p>\n
In a neat piece of symmetry, Borthwick was also his captain when the 34-year-old made his debut as a replacement for injured wing Ugo Monye against Scotland in 2010.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember (assistant coach) Mike Ford running up and the touchline telling me what to do. It was 15-15. Steve was my captain. It was at Murrayfield,\u201d Youngs said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUgo went off on a stretcher, he was absolutely fine and he played the next week. He was like that character from Jerry Maguire! The game has changed a lot.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I got that first one I didn\u2019t think I would be sitting here 13 years later and having the opportunity to end it my way. It\u2019s been a great ride and I\u2019m proud of it.\u201d<\/p>\n