Ben Youngs warns England of the menace his Leicester team-mate Niki Goneva could pose for Fiji in the Rugby World Cup opener

Ben Youngs has warned England of the threat posed by his Leicester Tigers team-mate Niki Goneva ahead of Friday night's World Cup opener.

The England scrum-half, who will earn his 50th cap at Twickenham, has spent the last three seasons playing alongside the hulking centre and is all too aware of his ability with ball in hand.

Youngs said: 'Niki is one of the best players I've played with simply because he can either run over you or step you.

Ben Youngs (second right) has issued a warning to his England team-mates about the threat Fiji poses

Ben Youngs (second right) has issued a warning to his England team-mates about the threat Fiji poses

Youngs, given the nod at scrum-half, says his Leicester team-mate Niki Goneva could prove a menace

Youngs, given the nod at scrum-half, says his Leicester team-mate Niki Goneva could prove a menace

Youngs says Goneva 'can either run over you or step you', and that he is among the best he's played with

Youngs says Goneva 'can either run over you or step you', and that he is among the best he's played with

Sam Burgess, enjoying himself after making a break in training, could come face-to-face with Goneva 

Sam Burgess, enjoying himself after making a break in training, could come face-to-face with Goneva 

'He makes you do the splits as you try to tackle him simple because you don't know what way he will try to go.

'He's got all the ability, great hands and is a physical guy. He can be very physical, but also subtle with electric pace.

'He has the balance of both types of game and is one of many for Fiji.'

But Youngs, who at just 25 is one of the most senior members of Lancaster's squad, is confident England can deal with the threat of the likes of Goneva and giant wing Nemani Nadolo as they look to gather priceless momentum in their 'pool of death' which also features Wales and Australia. 

Centre Burgess is preparing to make his World Cup debut for England in his first year in the code

Centre Burgess is preparing to make his World Cup debut for England in his first year in the code

England's starting fly-half George Ford charges forward during training on Wednesday at Pennyhill Park

England's starting fly-half George Ford charges forward during training on Wednesday at Pennyhill Park

James Haskell (left), who missed out on selection for the opening match against Fiji, points at Joe Marler 

James Haskell (left), who missed out on selection for the opening match against Fiji, points at Joe Marler 

England players go through their stretching routine with resistance bands during final World Cup preparations

England players go through their stretching routine with resistance bands during final World Cup preparations

Starting props Marler (from left) and Dan Cole practice their ball carrying with David Wilson 

Starting props Marler (from left) and Dan Cole practice their ball carrying with David Wilson 

ENGLAND TEAM TO FACE FIJI

Starting XV: Brown; Watson, Jospeph, Barritt, May; Ford, B Youngs; Marler, T Youngs, Cole, Parling, Lawes, Wood, Robshaw (c) Morgan

Replacements: Webber, M Vunipola, Brookes, Launchbury, B Vunipola, Wigglesworth, Farrell, Burgess

He said: 'Fiji are a little bit of the unknown because they can do the unexpected.

'There's only so much prep we can do on them because they can do something out of nothing, that's the type of player they have.

'We'll have to make sure we're watertight in defence and force them to make errors and play too loose.' 

England captain Chris Robshaw stretches away from No 8 Billy Vunipola they are put through their paces

England captain Chris Robshaw stretches away from No 8 Billy Vunipola they are put through their paces

Robshaw leads his team into action on Friday at 8pm at Twickenham following the opening ceremony

Robshaw leads his team into action on Friday at 8pm at Twickenham following the opening ceremony

Jokes aside, Haskell gets to work in tandem with Tom Wood as he looks to prove himself ready for action 

Jokes aside, Haskell gets to work in tandem with Tom Wood as he looks to prove himself ready for action 

Robshaw (from left) and Haskell share a laugh alongside fellow forwards Geoff Parling and Joe Launchbury 

Robshaw (from left) and Haskell share a laugh alongside fellow forwards Geoff Parling and Joe Launchbury 

Billy Vunipola takes his turn to push himself after being named on the bench for the World Cup opener

Billy Vunipola takes his turn to push himself after being named on the bench for the World Cup opener

Joe Marler is locked in for the front row for Lancaster
Mako Vunipola will be keen to make an impact off the bench

Joe Marler (left) is locked in to start in the front row while Mako Vunipola will make an impact off the bench

Youngs, who spoke of his pride at reaching a half century of caps, added: 'We have a young group of guys who have no fear. They're too young to have any fear.' 

England's preparations continued on Wednesday after a day off, with a buoyant mood among a camp that appears to be embracing the challenge ahead. 

They take confidence into the opener with Stuart Lancaster naming an unchanged side to the one that impressed in their final warm-up win against Ireland.

The Pacific Islanders, refusing to welcome their role of underdogs, have named three UK-based players in their starting XV.  

England's forwards warm-up in the picturesque setting of their base in Surrey on Wednesday

England's forwards warm-up in the picturesque setting of their base in Surrey on Wednesday

Robshaw (from left), Billy Vunipola, Parling, Wood, Courtney Lawes, George Kruis and Haskell limber up

Robshaw (from left), Billy Vunipola, Parling, Wood, Courtney Lawes, George Kruis and Haskell limber up

Coach Stuart Lancaster (left) speaks with his assistant coaches Andy Farrell (left) and Graham Rowntree

Coach Stuart Lancaster (left) speaks with his assistant coaches Andy Farrell (left) and Graham Rowntree

Something in the distance catches the attention of Anthony Watson and Danny Care (centre left and right) 

Something in the distance catches the attention of Anthony Watson and Danny Care (centre left and right) 

England players hit the wall, but just for some stretching during their training session on Wednesday

England players hit the wall, but just for some stretching during their training session on Wednesday

Along with Goneva is Bath's Nikola Matawalu and Glasgow's Leone Nakarawa in coach John McKee's line-up to start against the hosts. 

Ospreys fly-half Josh Matavesi, London Irish wing Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Worcester's newly arrived lock Tevita Cavubati are among the replacements in a side that offers plenty of flair in attack and a much-improved set piece. 

Winger Anthony Watson will have the unenviable task of marking Fiji’s giant try machine Nemami Nadolo.

England's preparations have entered their final phase with only their Fiji clash in focus now after their ritzy 'Wear The Rose' send-off in front of a sold-out O2 crowd of 18,000 last week, featuring Take That, and a 'Welcome Ceremony' at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on Saturday. 

 

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