The 21-year-old Leicester half-back was sin-binned on 36 minutes for foolishly throwing the ball into the crowd to prevent Ireland from taking a quick lineout and he did not return in the second half as Danny Care filled the void at scrum-half.

But with or without Youngs, England could do little about Ireland’s marauding attack and crashed to a 24-8 defeat, ensuring there was no first Grand Slam for eight years for Martin Johnson’s men.

Youngs, and his half-back partnership with Leicester teammate Toby Flood, has been one of England’s shining lights in an impressive Six Nations campaign up until Saturday, but he acknowledged he must shoulder his fair share of the blame for England’s Dublin despair.

“I won't do it again and of course I regret it but I have to face up to it now,” said Youngs. “This is a good test so let's see what I am made of.

“I should hopefully come back a stronger character. I played like an idiot but I must take it on the chin. I have some good guys around me who will help me pull through.

“We will come back better from this, I'll guarantee that. I will work hard to make sure it never happens again.”

Courtesy of their four previous wins, coupled with Wales’ defeat in Paris on Saturday night, England were crowned Six Nations champions for the first time since 2003 – but flanker James Haskell admitted it was somewhat of a hollow victory.

"I am bitterly disappointed,” added Haskell. “You play four games and then lose the last one. Whatever happens about the title it takes the edge off eight weeks of hard work.”