Lancaster: Danny must take Care
England coach Stuart Lancaster has warned scrumhalf Danny Care he is “treading a very fine line” following his recall to the Test squad for next month’s tour of South Africa.
Lancaster left the Harlequins No.9 on the sidelines of the squad following his arrest for drink-driving in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
That was one of four recent incidents that have brought Care into contact with the police and the 25-year-old is currently on police bail after being arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, a claim he denies.
However, Lancaster, having recently met with Care, whom he first knew when they were both at Leeds, was confident the case won’t disrupt England’s tour.
“In order to be an England player on the field you have to be able to lead yourself off the field. Danny needed to reassure me he could,” Lancaster said after naming his 42-man squad for the five-match tour which features three Tests against the Springboks.
“I met Danny. I am pleased with the progress he has made and the maturity he is now showing off the field.
“It is a great opportunity but equally he knows he is treading a very fine line, but I trust him enough to have the confidence to take him.
“He is a player in form and playing at a good club who are in a big (Premiership) semifinal this weekend.
“I spoke to the solicitor involved [in the case] and there will be nothing happening during the tour. There is no period where he will be brought back during the tour.
“I am very much with Conor (O’Shea, Harlequins director of rugby) on this one – we understand the context of what went on that particular evening and Danny’s selection is the right one.”
Saturday’s semifinal will see Care, who has been in fine form of his career this season, go up against Northampton’s Lee Dickson, the incumbent England scrumhalf.
Care told Wednesday’s London Evening Standard he’d stopped drinking alcohol in a bid to revive his England career, saying: “It’s been a while off the booze now. I don’t have a drink problem – but I’ve made bad decisions when I’ve been drinking and now, hopefully, the trouble will go away.”
AFP
