Can Care dominate England's scrum half future?
Tom Driscoll
Posted on: 15 November 2008 - 11:43
American Football
A solution to the number nine problem
The attacking verve displayed by England's new look back line in their 39-19 victory over the Pacific Islanders was met with a cautious yet considerable praise by the media collective.
Their focus centred predominantly on, and in this instance quite rightly, the silky man-of-the-match display by full back débutante Delon Armitage, and for more rather predictable reasons, on the ubiquitous Danny Cipriani.
Although hardly ignored, Danny Care's impressive performance at scrum half, in just his third start for his country, carried less coverage than may have been warranted given the problematic nature of this position and the pressing desire for a long term solution to the position vacated by the World Cup winning number nine Matt Dawson.
Andy Gomershall, Peter Richards, Richard Wigglesworth and Harry Ellis have all had notable opportunities to secure control, and barring Gomershall who aged 35 and in the very twilight of his career, stewarded the position admirably at the World Cup in 2007, none of the recent incumbents have made the number nine 9 shirt their own. Is Danny Care then, the answer to England's problem position?
Care: the heir?
Care's stirring performance was characterised by the incisive freedom of his play by which he sniped and darted between the Pacific Islanders defence, regularly breaking through the tackle and setting up an attacking platform for his fellow backs to exploit.
His movement from receiving line-out ball was a constant threat and his jinking run from one second half set piece led to London Irish second row Nick Kennedy's debut try.
But it was his willingness to take the initiative from the number nine position which really stood out for marked praise and displayed an assured command of the English back line attack that has been noticeably absent since Dawson occupied the scrum half position to glittering success.
Alongside his fellow 21 year-old half back partner Cipriani, he orchestrated the decision making of the English attack, as exemplified by his quickly tapped penalty deep within his own 22, which released wing Ugo Moyne to gift Danny Cipriani with his first international five-pointer.
A look at Opponent's can offer advice and development
Whilst praise is duly merited for his performance last weekend, Care's claim to the starting number nine berth will undergo more stringent examination as England prepare to face the might of the Southern Hemisphere in the next three consecutive weekends.
Indeed it's apt that in Care's strive to replace one of English rugby's most decorated half backs, he will face both Luke Burgess of Australia and Fourie Du Preez of South Africa in the space of a fortnight, players who have successfully replaced two of the most adulated scrum halves of the professional era.
Du Preez, in replacing the recent IRB International Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Joost Van Der Westhuzen, has been a revelation, earning the praise of All Black Coach Graham Henry as the best half back in the world.
And in similar circumstances, Luke Burgess, who like Care holds only a handful of International caps, has secured the position vacated by the most capped player on history, George Gregan, with a host assured of displays at the 2008 Tri-Nations series.
Both of these young players have replaced bone fide greats of the professional era and talismanic figure of their respected countries with performances of great aplomb and maturity. It is their light that Care should strive to follow.