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'He's dropped in very easily': The England verdict on Care return
Richard Cockerill has explained how well veteran scrum-half Danny Care has fitted into the England squad this week following his shock recall by Eddie Jones four years after he was last capped at international level. The 35-year-old last featured against Japan in 2018 but he was named last Sunday in the 36-strong squad preparing to play the Barbarians at Twickenham next Sunday.
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With Ben Youngs playing for Leicester in this Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership final and Raffi Quirke unavailable because of injury, Care was chosen as one of three scrum-halves along with Alex Mitchell and Harry Randall.
Touted all season as one of the standout performers in the Premiership, the 84-cap Care has now got his chance to prove to Jones that he still has what it takes at England level and the midweek indications were that his involvement might not only be just for this week.
Assistant coach Cockerill outlined on Wednesday that the Harlequins player is not only in with a shout of touring Australia next month but he also would a consideration for the 2023 World Cup if he maintains his form.
“I think everybody is contention, everybody in this squad for the last week and a half are all in contention,” said Cockerill when initially asked about the chances of Care going to Australia with England. “Everybody will have the opportunity on Sunday to put their hand up to go on tour so there is no door closed. If people train well enough and play well enough and contribute to what we are doing, everybody is in the mix.”
The discussion was then widened to take in next year’s World Cup in France, by which stage Care will be 36, and again Cockerill wasn’t dismissing the veteran half-back’s chances of inclusion. “Definitely. If he is playing well enough and is playing better than anybody else young or old, then he will come into contention because World Cups are about having that balance, having enough caps of experience to be able to control and manage the pressure but also those young guys who are so hungry and compete and coming through.
“It gives you that real balance of experience, energy, enthusiasm and making sure we have that real balance in our group. I don’t think age will be a barrier, whether young or old. It will be picked on how well guys are playing.
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“Danny is a competitor and he wants to compete – he wouldn’t be here if he didn’t have that focus to go to the World Cup. He is in great physical condition as a senior member of the squad so I would say he is very keen to compete for a spot.”
Cockerill further described how Care has fitted in with the England squad at Bagshot since last Sunday evening’s call-up. “He has been on great form for a little while now. He is full of energy and life. He is a good character and clearly a very good player so he is adding on and off the field, it has been really positive.
“He is very experienced, isn’t he? He has worked with Eddie before, he has worked with a lot of the guys that are in the squad now. He is a bright man, he picks things up very quickly. He is clearly a very instinctive player, he has dropped in very easily and training very well and being very good with the group.
“He has always been in England’s thoughts. He has been on great form for Quins. There are a lot of other good, young nines that have been brought through by Eddie and we have had Benny Youngs there as well. Danny has always been part of the selection conversation and Eddie thinks it is the right time to bring him back into the fold to help the group.”
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While Care is training away with England, his Harlequins teammate Joe Marler wasn’t chosen this week. Cockerill, though, insisted that exclusion doesn’t mean he won’t be considered for the squad to tour Australia.
“We are looking at bringing some younger props through. Bevan Rodd has been on great form for Sale, we know what Joe can do and it is an opportunity in these two mini-camps going into this (Barbarians) game to see some other guys.
“Like I said, everybody is available. No decision has been made about who is going to Australia or not. Eddie will have a framework of what he thinks. When it comes to the pinch we will see who are the right people to take to build for the World Cup.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
9 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
3 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
3 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
1 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
2 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
9 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
3 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
9 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
9 Go to commentsWowee!
9 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
9 Go to commentsJust remember: He is not a winger. Took Ian Foster 2 years to figure that out.
9 Go to commentsExcellent article, Nick. We (your RP colleague Brett McKay and my 8/9 Combo cohost), are going to have LSL on our podcast later this month. He has shown consistent excellence as a leader and lock. I’ll chat with you offline about a line of questioning if you have time. H
9 Go to commentsSo no Irish fan or journalist suggested JGP was as good as DuPont. Then even the guy who supposedly did is from Wales and said JGP would be the best around if it was t for DuPont. Right, so what is this story about again
17 Go to commentsGreat news for the URC. Leinster will always attract top talent. Another huge name added to their stable
9 Go to commentsWhen you look at Australian Rugby you can see the talent coming through. There’s young players everywhere. They have the makings of a strong Wallaby team for years to come if they trust their young players. There might be some short term pain but after 30 or 40 caps together a Wallaby group comprised of the current youngsters will really be top class. It seems like the threat of going under has focused the Rebels both on and off the field. They are having a go like a team with nothing to lose and winning back the fans whilst silencing their detractors. Its funny how an existential threat can spur a team on to new highs. Taking rugby back to the communities will help to build support and create a true team for the community and one rooted into it. It may just work and save the Rebels and if they can get the financing then maybe let them have a go at reinvention. I do feel though that Australian Rugby has one too many franchises. If the Rebels die all these solid young players get infused into other franchises who will have more money, depth and resources. It would make the Australian Rugby franchises so much stronger and they may come to achieve parity with the best franchises from NZ. Super Rugby is throwing up some really entertaining games. Not too much good defence but certainly high pace, try scoring magic on display. Melbourne are no exception to this.
9 Go to commentsMost articles (none Irish) said JGP might be second best globally (after Dupont). Anyway, he is playing great. Different player but maybe he is equal to Dupont in how he is reading games now. He is also running a lot of Dupont support lines and scoring a lot of tries. Dupont is best scrum half but JGP in next pack.
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