Care to join us, Danny?
England v Barbarians Tomorrow, 3pm
BY ADAM HATHAWAY DANNY CARE tapped up Eddie Jones for the coffee which led to the scrumhalf’s England recall.
Care, out of the international frame since 2018, is on the bench for tomorrow’s Twickenham date with the Barbarians and could tour Australia this summer.
The 35-year-old thought he was done at Test level but his performances for Harlequins caught Jones’s attention.
And two months ago Care plucked up the courage to ask the head coach for a meeting when he stressed his desire to return.
Jones said: “After a game recently I texted him to say ‘well played’ as I thought he played really well. He came back and said he’d love to catch up. We had a coffee and he was very adamant on how keen he was to play for England. Then you start to get a bit more interested.”
Jonny Hill, the Salebound lock, is back starting after being out since November with a stress fracture of his right leg.
And Jonny May, the Gloucester wing, returns after five months out with a knee injury.
Joe Cokanasiga, last seen in last summer’s Tests against USA and Canada, is on the other wing and flanker Sam Underhill also returns against Fabien Galthie’s Baa Baas.
Jones will name his party for the three-Test tour to Australia on Monday after a match against a Barbarians side that includes George Kruis, the former England lock who is playing his last game before retirement.
Australian powerhouse second row Will Skelton is also in the side, which is captained by flanker Charles Ollivon, who led France to the Grand Slam.
England v Barbarians, tomorrow, 3pm, Amazon Prime.