Danny Care: 'So it's the last time I'll be giving him an assist!'

Having once been one of Eddie Jones’ arch-finishers for England, Danny Care reprised that role for Harlequins at the weekend, steering his side to victory over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park to leave them in fifth place in the Gallagher Premiership ahead of the November break.

The 37-year-old replaced Will Porter with 20 minutes remaining and with the visitors holding a 19-26 advantage, and ensured his side would be heading back to London with five points in the closing seconds when he put Cadan Murley in for a try.

What the former England scrum-half was not expecting was the abuse that would come his way after the match from none other than Murley himself.

England coach Steve Borthwick on the importance of winning close matches

Steve Borthwick on what he learned from the narrow defeats to New Zealand in the summer.

England coach Steve Borthwick on the importance of winning close matches

Steve Borthwick on what he learned from the narrow defeats to New Zealand in the summer.

After sniping down the left flank from halfway, Care deftly dropped the ball onto his foot on the 22, allowing his winger – 12 years his junior – to chase after and score. That was the source of ridicule post-match, however, as he was met with accusations that he was “slow”.

While that is not the response any player would want after putting their team-mate in for a try, Care did confess recently that that was going through his mind when he saw Exeter and Italy back-row Ross Vintcent haring after him. He therefore had a choice to make.

Stop that Danny Care! 🎯

Cadan Murley caps off a Quins win! #GallagherPrem | #EXEvHAR pic.twitter.com/bj5Sv7yhy0

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) October 27, 2024

“Honesty call, I thought I was in,” TNT Sports pundit Care said to RugbyPass. “Then I soon realised I was getting caught by a back-rower who’d played 80 minutes already, he’s a fast lad.

“So in that moment, I had a decision to make and the decision was that I don’t want to get caught on camera and everyone’s saying how slow I am or that I’ve lost my pace. So in my head, I was like ‘well the good idea is for us to score still’ and I just put it on a plate for Cades to score, backing my skill, which is what happened.

“However, I came off the pitch and Cades has called me an old man and said that I’m slow. So it’s the last time I’ll be giving him an assist!”

Quins stayed in the hunt for a top-four berth with the victory and prevented a sizeable gap from emerging between fourth and fifth.

Openside Will Evans came to the fore in the victory, scoring two of his side’s five tries. The 27-year-old has long been one of Quins’ standout players, and is the perennial turnover supremo in the Premiership.

Such is the wealth of back-row options that England currently have though that Evans is not in the international picture despite his form.

When discussing his Quins team-mate, the 101-cap Care admitted that it is unfortunate that he is playing at a time where there are “world-class” players ahead of him “who have earned the right to not lose the shirt.”

Should the call ever come from Steve Borthwick, Care has no doubt that the flanker would be able to make an impression on the Test stage.

“I’ve said it before, he would take to international rugby just fine,” Care said. “He’s a brilliant rugby player and it’s one of those, sometimes it’s a person’s opinion. Unfortunately for Will, he’s got brilliant, world-class players that have already proven themselves in an international arena who are still really young and able to do it.

“It might be if Will was five years younger, he may have been the one that’s given an opportunity like a [Tom] Curry or [Sam] Underhill was. Unfortunately, for some lads, it’s just a bit of timing. He’s got brilliant players, unfortunately, ahead of him who have earned the right to not lose the shirt.

“Some people get an opportunity because there’s an older player on the way out, I think of me getting an opportunity to play for England for the first time was when Andy Gomarsall was stepping away because he was as old as I am now. Sometimes it works well for you, sometimes it doesn’t. Unfortunately for Will he’s got to keep going and hope that one day maybe it might happen.”

Evans was joined on the scoresheet by summer signing Rodrigo Isgro, who now has three tries in two matches after making his debut the week before against Bath.

The reigning World Rugby sevens player of the year has enjoyed a barnstorming start to life in Quins quarters, so much so that Care feels he was “born to play” for the club.

“He’s brilliant,” said Care. “Firstly, an unbelievable person, a great bloke. He’s settled into Quins so, so well. I think he was always born to play for Harlequins. What an athlete? Great in the air, strong, quick. Beautiful man as well, he’s going to break a few hearts.”

With the Premiership on a month-long hiatus, Quins will switch their focus to the Premiership Rugby Cup, which begins with a short trip to Richmond on Saturday to face London Scottish.

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