Norfolk is celebrating after local hero Ben Youngs helped England secure a place in the Rugby World Cup final.

Youngs, from Aylsham, played a key role as England defeated reigning champions New Zealand 19-7 in Yokohama in Japan today.

Eddie Jones' side now go on to play either South Africa or Wales in the final next weekend. They meet tomorrow.

Youngs, 30, who used to play for Holt and North Walsham, is scrum-half for both England and Leicester Tigers and won praise across social media for his performance in the semi-final.

He had a try controversially disallowed which would have made England's win even more emphatic.

In a nod to Mr Youngs' local links, Bakers and Larners, a department store in Holt, tweeted: ""Congratulations to @EnglandRugby for getting through to the final! Browse online at bakersandlarners.co.uk/sports/rugby or pop into our Intersport department. And you never know you could be the next Ben Youngs."

Liz Elcoate tweeted: "Knighthood for Ben Youngs #RWC2019"

And Emily Spencer tweeted: "Ben Youngs on another LEVEL #RWC19"

Gareth Jenkinson tweeted: "Wow, just wow. England score again, Ben Youngs this time snipes around the fringe close to the line and scores. #ENGvNZL #RWC2019"

Roderick Jaynes tweeted: "Exceptional game from Ben Youngs."

Mr Youngs comes from a family of rugby players. His father, Nick Young, played scrum-half for bother Leicester and England and his brother, Tom Youngs, is a hooker for Leicester Tigers.

From the moment Manu Tuilagi crossed after 97 seconds an extraordinary match beckoned and the final scoreline did little justice to the domination of Jones' men, who were superior in every single facet of the game.

New Zealand had won their previous 18 World Cup matches dating back to 2007 but at International Stadium Yokohama they were flattened by a juggernaut led by the unstoppable Maro Itoje.

Everywhere across the pitch they won significant battles, Itoje supported by brilliant flankers Tom Curry and Sam Underhill who carried the fight to feared opponents right from the start.

New Zealand's selection of lock Scott Barrett as an additional line-out jumper at six backfired as they were demolished at the set-piece to the point that Sam Cane, a recognised flanker, was brought on at half-time.

Eastern Daily Press: England teammates celebrate a try by Englands Ben Youngs, right, from Norfolk that was overturned after an offside call during the semifinal against New Zealand last weekend (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)England teammates celebrate a try by Englands Ben Youngs, right, from Norfolk that was overturned after an offside call during the semifinal against New Zealand last weekend (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) (Image: Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Eastern Daily Press: England's Ben Youngs scores a try which is later ruled out following a TMO decision during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Semi Final match at International Stadium Yokohama. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday October 26, 2019. See PA story RUGBYU England. Photo credit should read: Adam Davy/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. Strictly no commercial use or association. Still image use only. Use implies acceptance of RWC 2019 T&Cs (in particular Section 5 of RWC 2019 T&Cs) at URL: bit.ly/2knOId6England's Ben Youngs scores a try which is later ruled out following a TMO decision during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Semi Final match at International Stadium Yokohama. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday October 26, 2019. See PA story RUGBYU England. Photo credit should read: Adam Davy/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. Strictly no commercial use or association. Still image use only. Use implies acceptance of RWC 2019 T&Cs (in particular Section 5 of RWC 2019 T&Cs) at URL: bit.ly/2knOId6 (Image: PA Wire)

Eastern Daily Press: Ben Youngs during a training session in Chiba Picture: PABen Youngs during a training session in Chiba Picture: PA (Image: PA Wire)