‘To play a part in the World Cup would be a dream come true’: Danny Care says he would love to be a part of Eddie Jones’s squad for France next year despite being hooked at half-time in brutal fashion during England’s summer tour of Australia
- Danny Care returned to the England squad for the first time since 2018 this July
- The scrum-half was hooked before half-time during the final game of the tour
- General view had been that Danny Care’s England career was done after that
Danny Care waited nearly four years for an England recall and hopes his brutal first-half axing by Eddie Jones in Sydney in July isn’t the end of his international career.
Veteran Harlequins scrum-half Care returned to the Test arena for the first time since 2018 this summer and helped England to a 2-1 series win over Australia.
But he was substituted by head coach Jones in only the 36th minute of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground in favour of rookie No 9 Jack van Poortvliet.
Danny Care’s hopes of being part of the squad for next year’s World Cup appeared to be dashed when he was hooked before half-time against Australia in July
Care followed former England internationals Luther Burrell and Teimana Harrison in suffering a first-half replacement in Australia at the hands of the ruthless Jones.
For many it spelled the end of his international career, but on the eve of the new season Care has admitted it would be a ‘dream come true’ to play at next year’s World Cup.
‘Obviously being taken off early there is nothing anyone can say to you at that point that is going to make you feel great,’ Care, who will be 36 in January, told Sportsmail.
The series win in Australia provided England with a confidence boost ahead of the year-long World Cup preparations
‘But the long-term goal was for us was to go and win a series in Australia and I wanted to help the team do that. It was not the way selfishly I’d have liked the series to end.
‘But we won 2-1 and I never thought I’d get back in. To get back in and have the honour of wearing the shirt again meant the world to me. If you’d had said to me a few years ago that would happen in the last Test, but you’d have got back in after four years out then I’d have snapped your hand off.
‘I wouldn’t change anything, I really wouldn’t. I’m big enough and old enough to take it and it’s happened to me before. Hopefully I’m better equipped to take it than some of the younger lads but there is no hiding away from the fact I didn’t play well in that third Test. Sometimes that happens.
‘It would have been very easy for me to go into a “poor me” mindset but the success we had there was huge. We made history in Australia and reflecting on it back home I was able to realise how proud it made me and my family.’
Care was replaced by Jack van Poortvliet before the half-time break in decider versus Australia
Care has been the Gallagher Premiership’s form scrum-half for the last two if not three seasons.
Leicester’s Van Poortvliet, 21, had a breakthrough first three Tests in Australia, but Care hopes a strong start to the new season with Harlequins can help him keep the pressure on.
‘I’ve got to play well enough to hopefully show to the coaches I can still help. The only way I can do that is playing well for Quins and trying to help us win some games,’ he said.
‘A career is never straightforward – there are always ups and downs. I always said I’d enjoy every minute of the last few years of my career and not die wondering.
Care says that his career has not been straightforward but that he retains hope of making France next autumn
‘If that appeals to the coaches, then great. To play a part in the World Cup would be a dream come true. I do believe England are going to be up there, I really do. I’d like to be a part of that.
‘I do see big things for England moving forward.’
Asked if he had debriefed his Sydney substitution with Jones, Care added: ‘We haven’t really caught up. He said he was really happy with how I went on the tour and how I was with the young lads.
‘He said to have a good summer and come back refreshed. You never really know what that means!
‘But I’m going to try my best to keep in his thoughts.’
The scrum-half was pictured at the season launch of the Gallagher Premiership at Twickenham
Care is set to miss the start of the new Premiership season with Harlequins because of his summer commitments in the southern hemisphere.
He believes England’s series win in Australia can be a turning point for Jones’ side after an underwhelming Six Nations which delivered just two wins.
The 2022/23 campaign begins next weekend with next year’s World Cup in France looming on the horizon.
The players lined up at the home of English rugby ahead of the new season starting next weekend
‘To go to Australia and win a series is not easy,’ Care said.
‘We’ve just seen Australia turn over the world champions. It was a big hurdle, I think. We wanted to get England winning again and put us on the right trajectory.
‘I really do think come France in 2023 England will have all the tools to have a really good crack.’
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