Danny Care to miss the semi-final – Rugby News Update
Danny Care, the 25-year-old Harlequins' scrum-half, is set to miss his club’s semi-final clash against Northampton, as is still recovering from a shoulder injury that has kept him out of action.
However, the head coach, Conor O’Shea, is not going to let his side lose the focus ahead of this all important match, and he wants his team to put in the performance that has kept them on top of the Aviva Premiership table since September 17.
“To be top of the leaderboard from the word go and to take all that pressure is testament to the group they are," O'Shea said. "There was an empty feeling in some ways after the Sale game on Saturday because we know we still face a massive task.”
It is unfortunate for Care that he will miss the game, as he would have gone up against England's current first-choice scrum-half, Lee Dickson, and he could have showed his mettle to Stuart Lancaster, the England head coach, to prove he deserves a place
in the starting line up.
England is touring South Africa in the summer for a three-match test series, along with playing two other mid-week games. Care has been called up in the squad but he has been given a stern warning by the England boss, as he expects his players to behave
on and off the field, with Quins' scrum-half having a brush with the authorities frequently since the turn of the year.
However, O’Shea is focused on his team, also understanding the magnitude of the game. On the match itself, he said, "But you don't expect things to be easy at this stage, do you? We can't wait. If we're clinical and we stop them when they have opportunities
we'll win but it's going to be incredibly tight."
There are some important last few matches in the Aviva Premiership with the title on the line. Care must be gutted to miss out, as he could really show the England boss that he is ready to stake a claim in the England setup and his past is behind him.
Care has played 32 times for England, with his last match coming a year ago.
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