After being dropped by England, scrum-half Danny Care caught up with Ben Hampshire to reflect on becoming a father, earning his 50th cap, losing his starting berth and express his determination to return stronger...
Friday 5 December 2014 21:00, UK
From the undulating highs of becoming a father for the first time to leading his country into battle on a milestone cap before being dropped from the international stage, it is fair to say it has been a roller-coaster couple of months for Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care.
In yesteryear, Care was hitting the tabloid front pages rather than the back, though speaking to the 27-year-old you now hear a distinct maturity and grounding - a clear aura of a man determined to make the most of his talents.
Such diligence and commitment to the cause has been rewarded by Stuart Lancaster, the England head coach, and during the recent QBE Autumn International series, Care was the nation's most experienced player behind forwards Dylan Hartley and James Haskell.
England's clash with South Africa in the second match of the series saw Care collect his 50th cap and the landmark moment was made all the more poignant by the presence of his new No 1 fan, after his partner gave birth to their first son.
"It's been a mad few months," reflects Care. "Blake’s eight weeks (old) today and it's flown by really, it only seems like yesterday but it puts a lot of things into perspective. The best feeling in the world.
"Then to follow that with your 50th cap so soon, and he came to the game which was really special as well. It's been a pretty cool couple of months."
Ahead of the Springboks clash, captain Chris Robshaw offered Care the opportunity to lead the side out in front of a partisan crowd at Rugby HQ, a chance the half-back was not likely to eschew.
"It was an unbelievable feeling," he admits. "It’s every boy's dream to lead his country out to a game. When Robbo asked me if I wanted to do it, I was like, 'of course I do, just don't leave me out there too long'.
"They left me out there for about five or 10 seconds and it was unbelievable to have that reception from the crowd and to lead your team out into a huge Test match is something I will never forget. To have all my family there watching too, it was a very special memory."
In context of the current crop of players, Care is an elder statesman of the squad, but does the Twickenham experience still make the hairs on the back of his neck stand up? "Without a doubt," he exclaims.
"Every time you go out there, you're lucky to be able to play in that arena. For me, it's the best stadium in the world.
"You walk into the tunnel with all the messages of support and pictures from the fans, you see the wall of white as the run out and it's such an incredible feeling. You sing the anthem and the atmosphere is electric; we are very lucky to get to do that, it's the best feeling in sport."
It was an unbelievable feeling. It’s every boy’s dream to lead his country out to a game. When Robbo asked me if I wanted to do it I was like, ‘Of course I do, just don’t leave me out there too long’.
Sport, though, can be cruel. It portrays the spectrum of life with the exhilarating highs and deflating lows. Defeat to New Zealand and South Africa in the opening games of the autumn saw England's losing streak extended to five Tests and Care became victim of the changes made by Lancaster, losing his place to Leicester's Ben Youngs.
"Before the South Africa game, I was told there were going to be some changes for the week after, so I kind of expected to not be starting, but maybe still be involved," he recalls.
"Obviously I wasn't involved at all and then the lads went and beat Samoa. People who have been in sport long enough know that if you change a team and they win, it's very hard to change it back.
"The lads then went on to beat Australia and it's just one of those things in sport really, you have your ups and downs, you're picked some weeks and not others. It's how you choose to react to that."
Rather than lamenting on what has gone before, Care is relishing the challenge ahead of him and it will seldom come more difficult than a double header against three-time European champions Leinster in the Champions Cup.
"We have some massive games for Quins in the next few weeks to play in and I just have to try and prove a few people wrong," Care insists.
"It's an absolutely huge game for us to host Leinster at The Stoop, I think it sold out ages ago, it's that type of game.
"We have an enormous amount of respect for Leinster and everything they have achieved in Europe before and what a great team they are. Sunday is going to be huge and these are the type of games you want to be playing in."
We have some massive games for Quins in the next few weeks to play in and I just have to try and prove a few people wrong. It’s an absolutely huge game for us to host Leinster at The Stoop.
Two wins from two mean Harlequins enter their clash with Leinster level on points at the Pool 2 summit, meaning back-to-back meetings with the Irish province will prove decisive in the outcome of the group.
"We want to go as far as we can, but we will take each game as it comes," says Care. "We know how tough Sunday is going to be, but we're excited to have all our England players back and everyone is really looking forward to it.
"We know how good Leinster can be, we know they have a strong scrum and maul. People like Heaslip and Cronin, the hooker, some really good ball carriers and then you have Eoin Reddan behind the pack who leads the team around really well and is always a threat.
"You then have Gopperth and Madigan, basically two 10s playing 10 and 12. They have some fantastic ball handlers out there and then Kearney out wide can just score tries for fun. There are a lot of threats we must look after."
Attempting to squeeze two fly-halves into one side is something England coach Lancaster tried against Samoa, with Bath's George Ford given his starting debut at No 10 and regular pivot Owen Farrell posted at No 12. While coy on selections moving forward, Care is a fervent believer that competition for places is healthy for the squad.
"I think it's great for competition, to have so many players pushing each other for position," he adds. "George and Owen are both excellent players who bring slightly different things to the game.
"Owen is a fantastic player but not just a fly-half, he can play centre as well. Both of them are going to play massive parts for England in the next few years and they’ll be fighting, alongside other fly-halves, to make the team."
Less concerned about the topical debates, Care understands the importance of focusing on his own game and improving in Quins colours.
"For me, it's just about playing as well as I can for Quins, we have a good two months together and a massive Christmas period," he reiterates.
"All I can do is play as well as I can in all those games and hopefully get that shirt back for the Six Nations.
"I was lucky enough to win one Six Nations title a few years ago and it was an unbelievable feeling and that is definitely the aim to get another and build some momentum going into the World Cup."
While it is undeniably set to a memorable first Christmas with his son, Care is going to be spending more time outwitting his adversaries in a bid to live up to the billing of "the best No 9 in Europe", which Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea handed him earlier in the week.
"I'd love some time off! It's a pretty hectic place as a sportsman over Christmas, everybody wants to be watching big games over the festive period so not really much scope for any time off for the moment," Care says with a steely-voiced determination undertone.
"I may have to try and twist Conor's arm for a day here or there," he jokes. "But most of all, I'm looking forward to playing in some massive games."
Danny Care is being fitted and measured for a bespoke suit by Savile Row tailor, Stowers of London, for more information visit www.stowers.london
