Care continues to mature on way to becoming great all-rounder

For all Luther Burrell, Jonny May and Jack Nowell – with their combined total of just seven Tests – have dazzled at times against France and Scotland, none of their inroads would have been made without the continued slick service of Danny Care.

Compared to their callowness, the enigmatic scrum-half has been involved in the Red Rose camp for almost six years, sometimes thrilling and sometimes frustrating.

However, there is a sense that now, at the age of 27, the former Leeds Tykes player is maturing into just the sort of rounded, consistent No 9 his country require.

There has always been the dash and dare about his game, an impish quality which can bring crowds to their feet whether through a quick tap penalty or burst of acceleration to snipe away.

But Care has worked hard on improving other aspects, notably his organising quality and kicking, while his passing was of an extremely high standard out of Murrayfield’s cloying mud on Saturday.

Such fluent and swift service ensured his three-quarters were in motion quickly and hapless Scotland were forever on the back foot as England raised the Calcutta Cup once more.

Care, of course, was in danger of ruining his international career after a series of drink-related incidents saw him dropped from Stuart Lancaster’s Six Nations plans two years ago.

That came after the disappointment of missing the 2011 World Cup with a toe injury and, as recently as last autumn, he was still nowhere near the picture, behind Ben Youngs and Lee Dickson in the pecking order.

However, Lancaster – who first nurtured the Yorkshireman when in charge at Leeds Academy – brought him in from the cold to start in their Six Nations opener at Paris.

Care duly had what he described as his “best game ever for England” and that was followed up with another sterling effort in the 20-0 success north of the border.

Did, though, the Harlequins schemer ever think that chance to extend his international career had gone for good?

“No, I always believed I could get back in and get that shirt back,” Care told the Yorkshire Post.

“I am grateful for another opportunity and the Six Nations is such a special tournament.

“Coming to places like this (Murrayfield) and with such a special atmosphere, these are the type of games you want to be playing in.

“I am happy. It’s just great to be playing. It’s great to be in that nine shirt and winning with England. It’s a brilliant feeling. The wins don’t come around that often so you have to cherish them.

“It was a great performance from the boys against Scotland and sets us up nicely now for the rest of tournament.”

It certainly was ‘great’ and utterly dominant, so much so that Scotland did not touch the ball once in England’s 22 during the entire 80 minutes.

“To come to Edinburgh and not let them get a point is great for us and, obviously, we needed the win to kick-start the campaign,” said Care, who slotted an early drop goal to add to the one scored in the narrow defeat against France.

“It was tough in those conditions, such a heavy pitch, but we reacted well to them, played a bit of territory and then took our chances when we had them.

“We were a bit sloppy towards the end of the game. We could have had some more points, but we’ll take the win.”

It was Care’s invention that created hulking centre Burrell’s try, edging sideways and teasing the Scottish defence before picking out the Northampton centre with a lovely flat pass that left the visitors rooted.

“I just saw the big man – and the big gap – and just put him in for one,” he said, as they reunited a partnership that was initiated in Leeds colours.

“He’s settled in so well and not looked out of place at all. He’s deserved his chance for a while now and taken it with both hands.

“It was a great line for that try and he nearly got another one later on.

“He’s a quality player, merits this chance and, hopefully, he’ll go on and get plenty more caps.

“We went through the Academy together at Leeds and played a lot of 19s and 21s stuff together.

“So it’s great to see another Leeds (Tykes) lad getting an England shirt.”

England’s next opponents are Ireland at Twickenham a week on Saturday when the hosts will bid to wreck their opponents’ grand slam hopes while maintaining their own bid for championship success.

Lancaster, meanwhile, has been impressed with Care’s renaissance.

“He was (sharp) and his game management and kicking game was much better this week as well,” he said.

“There were lots of times we got in and around that 22 area and the way he managed our way out of that was much improved.

“They are the areas we have worked on. It wasn’t a day for his running game but that’s what we’re trying to develop in Danny – that all-round game as well as a player who can create something out of nothing.”

The signs are all there that Care is taking care to make sure that happens.

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