ENGLAND SQUAD
DANNY CARE has plunged from hero to zero after being axed by Eddie Jones for Saturday’s England-Australia showdown.
A year ago Care was hailed as “brilliant” by Jones for coming off the bench against the Wallabies and inspiring England’s grandstand finish in their 30-6 win.
“He was here, there and everywhere – like a little Alexis Sanchez,” raved Jones (right) over a 10-minute cameo which brought Care one try and two assists.
This Saturday, against the same opposition, the scrum-half will not even get on the pitch after Jones ruled that he should carry the can for Japan embarrassing his team.
“Selection is always a response to performance,” said the boss, cutting the Yorkshireman from the entire squad, along with Alex Lozowski and No.8 Zach Mercer.
“We weren’t happy with some aspects on Saturday and he can go away and work on them.”
Care’s 84-cap career has been a triumph for perseverance. Just five Englishmen have played more times for their country – yet only twice since Jones came to power has he started two Tests in a row.
It would be ludicrous to write off the Harlequin, who is desperate to play in a World
Cup aft er missing 2011 through injury and not figuring in 2015 before England were eliminated.
But he now has work to do having fallen behind perennial rivals Ben Youngs and 35-year-old Richard Wigglesworth in the No.9 pecking order. Against Japan, England players admitted their attitude and intensity levels dropped off after Care opened the scoring.
One of the main duties of a scrumhalf is to set tone and tempo. Not for the first time Charlie Ewels, Jamie George, Dylan Hartley, Alec Hepburn, Ted Hill, Nathan Hughes, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Ben Moon, Brad Shields, Kyle Sinckler, Elliott Stooke, Sam Underhill, Harry Williams, Mark Wilson.
Chris Ashton, Joe Cokanasiga, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Piers Francis, Jonny May, Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Ben Te’o, Manu Tuilagi, Richard Wigglesworth, Ben Youngs. the No.9 has paid for a collective failing. Lozowski and Mercer would have seen their demotion coming from a longer way off. The Saracens centre missed the one-on-one tackle which allowed opposite number Ryoto Nakamura to snatch Japan’s opening try and was unceremoniously hooked at half-time. Mercer lasted only nine minutes longer before Jones curtailed his full debut. Nathan Hughes, available again after suspension, returns in his place. But Manu Tuilagi is once again doubtful – as is Chris Ashton, who last night underwent a scan on his injured calf.
England remain fourth in the world rankings, two places ahead of an Australia team which has lost nine of its last 13 Tests.