"No one goes out on the field not knowing what [opponents will] do, down to the finest details," Youngs said. "Knowing what move they'll do in certain areas of the game, anything like that that can give us a slight advantage we'll take."
Youngs is top quality, just 15 matches into an international career which holds the promise of being particularly long and fruitful.
It began off the bench against Scotland, and on the wing, as a replacement for Ugo Monye.
His first start at Twickenham came in the 26-16 defeat by the All Blacks last November.
So in at least one respect he lags behind his father, Nick, who wore No 9 in England's 15-9 win over the All Blacks in 1983, one of his six caps.
Backtrack a step. Youngs junior became the youngest player in the English premiership, at 17, on his Leicester debut in 2007.
He played in two consecutive junior world championship finals against New Zealand - off the bench in the 38-3 loss in 2008 in Swansea; and starting in the 44-28 defeat in Japan a year later.
Youngs, whose CV also includes time in England's sevens side, was named Discovery of the Year for 2009-10. All of which hints at his elevation to Martin Johnson's squad being a natural progression.
The 22-year-old is from farming stock in Norfolk. He is a snappy, alert operator behind the England pack and has already had a significant impact on England's campaign.
Knee surgery in June meant he began the opening game against Argentina on the bench.
Things were looking distinctly dodgy for England late on, trailing by six points.
Youngs came on and within minutes darted around the defence to score by the posts. Impact off the bench? With bells on.
Youngs has also battled dyslexia and here lies a New Zealand link.
During his time at Gresham's school in Norfolk, he was taught by Johanna Emeney, an English teacher and poet now living in Auckland.
"I remember her well because I struggled with dyslexia terribly," Youngs said recently. "I owe her a lot."
For Emeney the memories are similarly strong.
"I do remember him very well. I remember him getting his B for English, picking me up and swinging me round on results day," she said yesterday.
"He was a funny, humorous but also an empathetic and sensitive kid. We're just terrifically proud of him."
Her husband David Beaney taught Youngs mathematics and will be at Eden Park tonight. No prizes for guessing which colour he'll be wearing.
An England win tonight will send Scotland packing for the first time before the quarter-finals. Their momentum has steadily built from that unconvincing 13-9 win over Argentina on September 10.
Georgia and Romania have been seen off and England feel ready to move up a notch.
"We've got a gameplan, we're going to stick to it and hopefully it'll be enough," Youngs said. "You'd rather win ugly than play with ambition and flair [and not]. The weekend is all about winning."
Youngs, and England, have a fair idea of Scotland's approach to tonight; sleeves up and into the breach.
Scotland must win by eight points to stay alive. They won't get that by sitting on their chuffs and playing the touchlines, especially considering it's 25 years since the Scots beat England by more than eight points; 28 since they beat England anywhere other than Murrayfield.
"We have to match them physically and I'd expect the forwards to go hammer and tongs at each other. But I'd always like to be behind our pack," Youngs said.
"Scotland are the ones who've got to come out and play. We've been playing good, attacking rugby. As long as we get that right it should be enough."
ENGLAND v SCOTLAND
Eden Park, 8.30 tonight
Ref: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
ENGLAND
Ben Foden
Chris Ashton
Manu Tuilagi
Mike Tindall
Delon Armitage
Jonny Wilkinson
Ben Youngs
James Haskell
Lewis Moody (c)
Tom Croft
Courtney Lawes
Louis Deacon
Dan Cole
Steve Thompson
Matt Stevens
Reserves: Dylan Hartley, Alex Corbisiero, Tom Palmer, Nick Easter, Richard Wigglesworth, Toby Flood, Matt Banahan.
SCOTLAND
Chris Paterson
Max Evans
Joe Ansbro
Sean Lamont
Simon Danielli
Ruaridh Jackson
Mike Blair
Richie Vernon
John Barclay
Ally Strokosch
Alastair Kellock (c)
Richie Gray
Euan Murray
Ross Ford
Allan Jacobsen
Reserves: Scott Lawson, Alasdair Dickinson, Nathan Hines, Ross Rennie, Chris Cusiter, Dan Parks, Nick de Luca.
