Gats missed trick over Ford says Care
DANNY CARE was always a likely candidate for England’s tour to Argentina but he did not expect to have George Ford for company.
Ford lost out to Wales’ Dan Biggar for a place in the Lions squad in New Zealand but showed coach Warren Gatland what he was missing with a No 10 masterclass in Saturday’s frantic 38-34 win over the Pumas in San Juan.
He scored 23 points, including a stunning try, and Care believes the Lions have missed a trick by not picking him.
“He’s only 24, which is scary with how mature and how good a player he is,” said Care. “I can’t believe he’s not further Down Under. He was brilliant. His goalkicking was the best I have seen from him. He was knocking them over from 50m on the angle.
“He can do everything and makes it look so simple – that’s the key thing for a fly-half. He is loud, he bosses the boys around and I know where he is at all times.”
There has been no let-up for England after their energy-sapping win in arid heat near the Andes. Head coach Eddie Jones says he runs an “exacting programme” and Care says the Australian’s methods helped get them over the line thanks to Denny Solomona’s late try.
And there is more of the same this week as the squad fly to Santa Fe for Saturday’s second Test.
Care said: “It was quick and incredibly dry – somebody said it was 10 per cent humidity. You made one run and could hardly feel your mouth but luckily that’s the way Eddie trains us.
“You run the length of the pitch, score a try and he has booted a ball 60 metres back the other way and you have to race back and play again. It’s for moments like that. That’s why we train so hard.”