Care tipped for shock Lions call after impressing watching Gatland

Danny Care bears all the hallmarks to be a left-field British and Irish Lions selection, Harlequins assistant coach Adam Jones believes.

Warren Gatland, the Lions head coach, was at Ashton Gate to watch the scrum-half deliver a masterclass in game management and opportunism. He mugged Bristol No8 Ben Earl for a try in the first half before pulling off a collector’s item dropped goal in the second.

Care has not played international rugby since the 2018 autumn internationals, but is playing as well as ever at 34 and is the form scrum-half in the Premiership.

Jones, who won the majority of his 95 Wales caps under Gatland, believes Care’s lack of international rugby will not prevent a first Lions call-up. “DC’S been brilliant,” Jones said. “He is controlling the game really well. There are a few good Welsh scrum-halves out there, but I’m sure he could sneak on the tour. Gats goes pretty left field with some selections. If DC’S the form nine in Britain and Ireland then he’ll go, regardless of his age. He will be fantastic.”

Harlequins blew a 12-point lead in the second half as a late penalty try and converted score by prop Kyle Sinckler maintained Bristol’s habit of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Harlequins still impressed, however, with the experienced fullback Mike Brown and loosehead Joe Marler also catching the eye – and potentially Gatland’s attention.

“DC’S been brilliant, but so have Browny and Marler,” Jones said. “Marler can still be playing Test matches and Browny is proving now that he could still be playing Test matches. He’s a solid, defensive fullback, like a Lee Byrne or a Leigh Halfpenny. He’s doing the basics very well and he is an absolute pain in the a--- over the ball for us. Joe is one of the best scrummaging looseheads in the world. They’re all incredibly professional. Their skinfolds are really low and they’re playing well. If that’s the way Gats goes, then they won’t let anyone down.”