Tom will want to arrive at the lineout as early as he can, before the rest of the forwards. He will get the call from the team’s lineout leader and settle, so he can judge the wind and get his breathing right. Measured breathing helps when you are switching from performing aggressive skills to a part of the game which requires calm composure.
1 Once set, he will look at the opposition defence to assess how they are preparing. What comes next should be a steady, repetitive action. That is vital in achieving consistency, but also to avoid giving tell-tale clues to the opposition.
When I was playing I would scrutinise hookers to see if they did anything which gave away whether they were going long, for example. It was often something like a huge intake of breath, or the ball held further forward.
2 The hooker’s feet should be shoulder-width apart and remain planted. If he is moving on one foot it affects balance, which in turn can result in a wonky throw. Elbows should be tight into the body for the same reason.
3 If a hooker is right-handed, his right hand should be two-thirds back on the ball, with the other hand providing balance. The best exponents of the art start with the ball in the firing position, which allows them to react more quickly in propelling it.
P.S.For all the concern over Youngs’ accuracy, his throwing success in the Premiership is 81 per cent, compared to Dylan Hartley’s 86 per cent, so he isn’t far off England's No 1 hooker.
When throwing, the hooker wants both hands to go through together and release together. If one hand releases early, the ball is likely to drift. The fingers impart as much speed and spin as possible, which help the ball to fly true. A rugby ball that is not spinning in the air can go all over the place.
The easier throw is the fast, flat one and Youngs is better at that. If I was Fiji’s coach, I would be making sure all my jumpers went up front — forcing him to try long, looping throws. He isn’t as comfortable then.
The players who performed well on the summer tour, such as forwards Tom Johnson and Tom Palmer, have been rewarded. Now they have to build on that form. What’s great is that Tom Wood is back and Joe Launchbury makes his debut, so there is pressure from the bench. One area that needs development is midfield. I want to see more of a centre partnership emerge. Brad Barritt deserves another shot and Manu Tuilagi provides a fear factor, but makes mistakes.
Practice makes perfect: Tom Youngs, prepares to throw the ball during the England trainingIt was a tough call to leave out Ben Morgan and perhaps that is a hangover from the summer. I don’t think he was fit, but he could still come back and have a stormer in this series. Thomas Waldrom’s running game is superb and will suit playing Fiji.
The visitors haven’t had long together so they won’t be well-drilled, but their captain, Scarlets prop Deacon Manu, will know most of the England team well. In midfield, Vereniki Goneva of Leicester has real quality.
England have to keep the ball because Fiji have so many natural ball-carriers. I expect an intense first 20 minutes from Fiji before England pull away. It should be fairly comfortable.
Prediction: England 38 Fiji 15.
Ben Kay is a World Cup Winner and ESPN rugby analyst
More... The talk is over... it's time for England to deliver (starting with a big win over understrength Fiji) The Saturday debate: Which player are you most looking forward to seeing during the autumn internationals? Farrell demands England show 'no mercy' to Fiji as autumn internationals get underway EXCLUSIVE: Prop idol Cole has had to learn fast to lead England from the front
