Danny Care insists he does not hold a grudge against Stuart Lancaster

No grudge: Danny Care
Chris Jones21 October 2015

Danny Care today insisted his own bitter World Cup disappointment will not colour his verdict on Stuart Lancaster’s regime if asked for his opinion by the RFU review panel.

The new Harlequins captain is adamant he “does not hold any grudges” but admits he is still struggling to understand why he went from first‑choice scrum‑half to No3, which meant he only appeared in the ‘dead rubber’ against Uruguay at Manchester.

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie has confirmed player input will form an important part of the review into England’s pool-stage exit.

After the 2011 World Cup, confidential England player comments were leaked to a newspaper and there is concern that could happen again despite guarantees from Ritchie.

But Care (above) said: “As players we are happy to help with any opinions and I am open to answer any questions they want. I understand the coaches have a very tough task to pick the team and they felt I wasn’t needed but it won’t blur my judgment in terms of my opinions of the squad and the environment. We’ll have to see if they come knocking.

“It was a dream of mine to take part in a World Cup and I just felt I didn’t deserve for that drop to No3 to happen to me. I didn’t think I had played badly enough for that to happen but that one interception mistake against South Africa [last November] killed me. I have queried a lot with the England coaches the decision to knock me down and they said the other lads deserved a chance.

“Having waited so long to play in a World Cup, I didn’t feel I had been involved in one. As a player you can only go back to you club and stake your claim for the Six Nations. What will be, will be.”

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