Ben Youngs spoke to Sportsbeat about England’s strength in depth ahead of the Autumn Internationals.

With Billy Vunipola and Jack Nowell injured, and Kyle Sinckler and Joe Marler suspended, the squad depth will be tested – but there are always players unavailable for selection, and actually this year doesn’t seem as bad as some others. I believe it was 2014 when first-choice players such Alex Corbisiero, Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, James Haskell, and Manu Tuilagi were all injured at once, so actually in this context, the situation feels better in 2017.

Nevertheless, Eddie Jones has always said he wants to build the depth in every position ahead of Rugby World Cup 2019, and Youngs is optimistic.

“Have I known an England squad to be this strong? No, I haven’t,” said the 28-year-old. “This squad has not been together really since Ireland and the last game of the Six Nations, since then we have strengthened throughout every position.”

“Those young guys went to Argentina, and won 2-0 in that hostile environment which will have been an amazing experience. And then the Lions tour to New Zealand, that is the best of the best so you can only improve, and that combined experience means that we have come back together ready to go out and play.”

“You can lose guys just week to week, whether that is HIA or any number of other scenarios. But the depth we have now is just phenomenal – and that is what we need,” added Youngs, who has won 70 caps for his country. “No team has won a World Cup without having a to change a large part of their team, and it is clear to us that this is a massively important part of our development as a squad.”

“That element of excitement that [the young players] bring keeps everyone fresh – and young players know that that if you are good enough then there is no reason why you can’t be in the mix. All these players can see what is going on and think, I can do that as well.”

Meanwhile Youngs himself is feeling refreshed and reinvigorated after his summer break and a first full pre-season in years.

And while this autumn is a fantastic chance for England to continue their unbeaten run under Jones at Twickenham that currently stands at ten games, the real goal is the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

“Without a doubt, I would say this is the clearest World Cup plan we have had in my time with England. We have a clear system for how we are going to go to Japan in 2019,” he added. “It’s really clear about our objectives, and everyone has completely bought in.”

“We feel we are right where we need to be, and with Argentina up first, and them being in our pool at the World Cup, this is an important first game for us.”

Ben Youngs is a Land Rover ambassador. This year Land Rover celebrates its Testimonial Season of support for grassroots rugby in the UK. #WeDealInReal