Ountry is picked ahead of you’
in my position before, when you see guys come in like Brad Shields, whether through the residency or the grandmother. I had never been pushed out because of someone from another country. I had probably been a bit naive to that and just accepted it happens to other people, felt sorry for them, but thought that it would never happen to me. But then when it happens to you, it does sting. It really hurts.”
Care still retains a faint hope that fate could yet open the door for him to return. “He [Jones] just said, ‘Stay sharp, stay ready, you never know,’ ” he explained. “I know Ben and Dan [Robson] have been in the training squad ahead of me so I don’t know if he will go for them or if something happened to one of the nines then he would want a bit more experience.”
The 32-year-old certainly knows from bitter experience how injury can strike, having been ruled out of the 2011 World Cup in a warm-up game. In 2015, Care was included but only as third-choice and his sole game time came against Uruguay, by which time England had been eliminated.
“In 2015 doing all the training and being part of some of the worst training camps I have ever been involved in, being run into the ground, thinking we could win the World Cup and then not touching a ball until we were out of the tournament, it just felt like we had wasted our time,” Care said. “I have only played one World Cup game in 84 caps, which must be some sort of record. And not a good one to have.”
Under Stuart Lancaster, Care was never told why he dropped from first-choice to third-choice. Jones has at least provided an explanation and has since sat down with Care to go over his reasoning. “The one thing about Eddie is that he has always been honest with me,” Care said. “He has always said why I am not playing and given me a reason and things to work on. With World Cup selection, he said I was not sharp enough towards the end of the season and he is going with other people.”
Yet there is a world of difference between receiving an explanation and agreeing with it. Statistics show that per 80 minutes, Care scored more tries (0.63), made more metres (29.9) and provided more try assists (0.63) than any of his English rivals in the Gallagher Premiership last season. Care still firmly believes that he can make a difference, a view reinforced by watching England labour to a 13-6 defeat against Wales.
“Watching the game at the weekend, it felt like it was screaming out for a change in that second half and that’s something I have done well for England in the past years,” Care said. “Just changing it up. If you watched the game, I don’t think we were at our attacking best. Sometimes you need something a bit different to come on and change in the game.
“Willi is a good player. Gloucester had a good year. He is maybe what they are looking for in terms of adding a bit of control coming on for Ben, but I think I can provide that. I am probably labelled as a different type of player but I think I have enough experience to control a game.
“Coming off the bench in the past I feel I have added stuff to the team. I completely respect Eddie’s decision if he wants to go down a different route to me.”
In truth, the writing had been on the wall since Care was “rested” by Jones for the tour to South Africa last year. Recalled for the autumn internationals, Care made a strong impression coming off the bench against New Zealand and South Africa. Then came the match against Japan in which he started with a bang, scoring a trademark try, only for the game to fall apart. Care became the fall guy, having thrown an intercept and kicked the ball out at half-time with England trailing. Though the England coaches backed that decision, he was dropped for the next match against Australia. And with that the door closed.
The silver lining has been in spending the summer with his wife, Jodie, and five-year-old son Blake, who starts school in September. Jodie is also due to give birth to their second child two days after the World Cup final.
“The time I have had with them is invaluable,” Care said. “My wife knows that I am loving being there but as a professional rugby player I would have loved the opportunity to be out in Japan.”
Danny Care is joining an unrivalled Rugby World Cup team and will be contributing to The Telegraph throughout the tournament