Harlequins' Danny Care 'desperate' to work with 'genius' England coach Steve Borthwick again at 2024 Six Nations
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Published 22/12/2023 at 19:28 GMT
Danny Care has heaped praise on England coach Steve Borthwick, describing him as a "genius" who people will soon come to appreciate. Borthwick led England to third place at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and next has his sights set on the 2024 Six Nations, which veteran Care admitted he is "desperate" to be a part of as he considers his future. Care's Harlequins face Bath live on TNT Sports on Saturday.
Steve Borthwick, the England head coach, talks to Danny Care in the warm up during the Summer International match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium on August 19, 2023 in Dublin,
Image credit: Getty Images
People will soon see the “genius” of Steve Borthwick, according to Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care, who is “desperate” to be in the England coach’s squad for the 2024 Six Nations.
Care was a part of Borthwick’s squad at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where the former Leicester Tigers boss overcame a tumultuous build-up to lead his country to a bronze medal.
Scrum-half Care turns 37 next month and admits that he is considering whether to continue next season, but his form for Quins in the Gallagher Premiership and at international level are convincing him he can still perform at the top of the sport.
Care will start at No. 9 for Quins on Saturday when they travel to Bath, live on TNT Sports, and made a plea to Borthwick for a Six Nations nod when the tournament starts in February.
“I loved working with Steve in the summer, I thought he was brilliant: he’s a genius, I think people probably don’t see that yet, but I think they will, and perhaps they are starting to,” Care told the Standard.
“He called pretty much that whole World Cup, from start to finish, in how it was going to end up, and it’s crazy how close he was.
“I’ve loved working for him and I’d love to still play in the Six Nations, but if not I'll be a very proud supporter of that team going forward.
“I think Steve’s done great things for the future and that team’s only going to get better.”
Care added: “I’ve had a good conversation with Steve at the end of the World Cup, where I told him I'm desperate to still play for England if you need me.
“I fully understand if it’s time to go with a young crop, and I’d be the first person to say, ‘fair play, it’s your decision’.
“He just said play as well as you can. So I’ll just play it by ear and have a crack and see what happens.”
Harlequins and Bath have both made strong starts to the season, with the Londoners in third, one point behind their hosts in second, going into the weekend.
Care is Quins’ record appearance holder, with 364 games to his name to go with his 96 England caps, and he said he’s still in the process of working out when he will hang up his boots.
“My contract, the last four years it’s been up every season and I’ve just done one-year renewals,” he said.
“It kind of gets to this time of the year, and you think ‘this could be the last year, you never know’.
“I’m in the same boat again this year, weighing everything up for the future, but I’m still enjoying my rugby, and still feeling like I can do it. “
Care added: “The contract situation, it probably helps a bit with performance that I can’t rest on any laurels, I’ve got to play well to deserve another contract next year.
“We're talking at the club at the minute. There's been a little bit of interest from outside as well, so I’ve got a few decisions to make over the next few weeks, and we’ll see what happens.
“I’ve been here 17 years, it’s been a long time. I couldn’t imagine playing for anyone else in England. Me and my family have a few decisions to make in the next few weeks and we’ll see what happens. But I’m loving it here, loving coming back to this club.
“The World Cup was a long process, five months away from the family, but it’s great to come back to the club - home. I still feel as though I can keep playing for a year or so more, and everyone I speak to tells me to keep playing as long as I can, so we’ll see.”
England’s Six Nations campaign begins away to Italy on February 3 and concludes in Lyon against France on March 16.
How to watch Bath v Harlequins live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Coverage of Bath v Harlequins on TNT Sports starts at 15:00 on Saturday, December 23, with kick-off at 15:05.
For the latest information on which rugby matches are on TNT Sports, click here.
PREMIERSHIP RUGBY MATCHES THIS WEEKEND ON TNT SPORTS
- Friday, December 22: Sale Sharks v Saracens - 19:45
- Saturday, December 23: Exeter Chiefs v Leicester - 15:00
- Saturday, December 23: Bath v Harlequins - 15:05
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