One of the heroes of Leicester Tigers' historic victory over South Africa has been told to show consistency if he wants to start on a regular basis.

Scrum-half Ben Youngs, who is still only 20, enjoyed his best game in a starting shirt eight days ago, helping Tigers become the first English club to beat the touring Boks.

Tipped by Tigers legend Austin Healey as a future England player when he first burst on the scene, Youngs has made a big impact off the bench.

But head coach Richard Cockerill, who has chosen Youngs for today's LV= Cup clash at home to Newport Gwent Dragons, says he needs to produce that sort of performance week in, week out if he is to prise the No.9 shirt from James Grindal and Harry Ellis.

The Springboks game was only Youngs' sixth start for the club, having made 35 appearances from the bench.

Not only did the son of former Tigers scrum-half Nick Youngs cause a constant threat to the Springboks with ball in hand, he also showed tremendous nerve to register 17 points with the boot as a part-time kicker.

"Ben wants his opportunity. He is a very good player but he has to be more consistent," said Cockerill. "That was the best game I have seen him play as a starter. But he has to earn his spot too. Just being a good youngster with a huge amount of potential doesn't mean you start matches.

"On Friday, he did really, really well and we will see where that takes him. At this club, nobody gets given anything, he has to earn it and he knows that.

"He is learning, as a young man, that he has to put the work in off the field and be fit enough to do what he can do for 70 or 80 minutes instead of 30 or 40 minutes off the bench.

"That is exactly what he is starting to do. I have been getting a lot of stick for not starting Ben, but I have to do what is best for the team.

"I have a lot of time for Ben, he will be here for a long, long time and he has a huge future ahead of him, but I have to pick the right team for the right game."

Youngs' kicking performance against the Springboks could give him an extra edge to his game that could prove vital in future selection.

Frenchman Julien Dupuy showed last season, before his move to Stade Francais, how valuable a kicking scrum-half can be. And Cockerill said it is a string to his bow that Youngs should pursue.

"I have decided to let him kick at goal because he has been threatening to kick for two years," said Cockerill. "Ben has played fly-half as a youngster and he has kicked goals before.

"This year, I told him to take it a bit more seriously and said if you can do it, do it properly."