Care ready to silence critics

 

Care suffered a poor year-end tour with England after throwing an intercept pass for Springbok Ja Serfontein that saw England lose to South Africa.

 

The England No.9was dropped from the international scene after claiming his 50th cap in the defeat to South Africa and was replaced by Leicester's Ben Youngs.

 

But he is determined to show his credentials as his country's top scrumhalf with back-to-back victories starting with the Twickenham Stoop clash with three-time champions and quarterfinal rivals Leinster.

 

"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 said.

 

"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."

 

Quins and Leinster both have eight points from their two matches so far this season. They have both scored three tries but it is the London side who have the better defensive record – having leaked just one try to Leinster's three.

 

And Care knows they will have to show the same steel in defence if they are to take control of Champions Cup pool two.

 

"We want to go as far as we can, but we will take each game as it comes," said 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 No.10s playing flyhalf and inside centre.

 

"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."