Doubters taken Care of as Danny prepares for quarters

DANNY CARE reckons England have proved they are not a Mickey Mouse side as they sailed into the World Cup last eight.

Fresh from a break at Disneyland Paris with his wife Jodie and three young children, the scrum-half insists England have silenced the doubters.

They are three wins from three and have a quarter-final spot booked ahead of their final pool match, against Samoa in Lille, on Saturday.

England are miles ahead of where they were in a dismal warm-up series that saw three defeats in four and suspensions for Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola.

And Care, incredibly in his first away World Cup after making his debut in 2008, says Steve Borthwick’s side have stunned their followers.

The 36-year-old said: “It seems that people are pleasantly surprised that we’re actually doing all right! Before the tournament people were saying a lot of stuff about the team. When you don’t play well, do you deserve the negative stuff? I don’t know, but you get it when you wear this shirt.

“The feeling we’re feeling is massive support and optimism and a belief.”

England were given time off after last weekend’s 71-0 destruction of Chile and Care (right) and Ben Youngs plus

Ireland lock Iain Henderson were all spotted at the Paris amusement park – with Care much lighter in the pocket. He added: “It was a

pricey couple of days. We stayed on site at the Marvel Hotel and for what I paid I was expecting Iron Man to tuck me in at night!

“We’ve been in camp for 16 weeks, the lads that have been in at the start. It has been a long time, which we have needed, but you sometimes need a bit of a mental break as well.”

Away from the World Cup circus, English rugby suffered another blow last week when Championship outfit Jersey Reds, coached by Care’s pal from Leeds Rob Webber, ceased trading.

“I can’t imagine how those guys are feeling,” said Care.

“There’s the Irish, Wasps and Worcester situation as well. If we can do well at this World Cup and give some hope – there’s a massive responsibility whenever you wear this rose.

“The Jersey guys will be in our thoughts.”