Bring on the best, says Care after impressive return to fold

England lost their three-Test series in South Africa 2-0 but return home with a lot of credit after two battling defeats and a creditable draw.

Care also made a triumphant return to the side with a starring role in the 14-14 draw which wrapped up the tour on a positive note at Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

The 25-year-old said: “We were disappointed to draw at the end but we will take the positives – we have taken a massive step forward and, hopefully, we can build some momentum for the autumn.

“I think it has reconfirmed our belief that we can beat the best sides in the world.

“We have had three games against a very tough team, one of the best in the world, and we have drawn one and lost two.

“That isn’t good enough but we have taken big steps forward.

“Everyone is dying to get back in an England shirt in the autumn.”

Care missed last year’s World Cup through injury and was then dropped for the Six Nations by head coach Stuart Lancaster after a series of alcohol-related off-field incidents.

The Harlequins half-back was warned he would have to reform his ways to stand any chance of earning an international recall.

He proved he had done that by finishing the domestic season strongly but, behind Ben Youngs and Lee Dickson in the pecking order, had to sit out the first two Tests. A shoulder injury to Youngs allowed him the chance to start in Port Elizabeth and he grasped the opportunity by producing a dynamic display which included scoring England’s only try.

That gave the tourists a slender lead in the first half but their hopes seemed to be fading as JP Pietersen crossed for the Springboks just after the hour.

But England refused to buckle on a wet night and claimed a share of the spoils after Owen Farrell, an early replacement for injured fly-half Toby Flood, landed his second penalty.

Care, who played under Lancaster for Leeds Tykes at Headingley, said: “It has been nearly a year since I last started for England and it was awesome to be out there, starting and playing a full game.

“I don’t know where the man of the match came from but I’ll take it. It was great to be back out there.

“I’m grateful to Stuart for giving me the chance to play again and show what I can do. It is just a shame we didn’t get the win we all wanted.”

Three players who will be looking to improve, however, are back-row Ben Morgan, who struggled to make an impact in the first two Tests and was dropped for the third; South African-born lock Mouritz Botha, who was unable to impose himself and now finds himself behind Tom Palmer in the pecking order, and Leicester lock Geoff Parling, who proved himself as a super organiser at the lineout but his performances otherwise lacked dynamism. He needs to start next season in better form.