Danny Care walks into the interview room at England’s Pennyhill Park training base and stops in his tracks, wondering which side to take.
“I thought I’d be sat where you all are,” jokes the evergreen Harlequins scrum-half. “I thought I would be doing punditry for the World Cup, so to have this opportunity now is just amazing.”
Care is on the cusp of selection for what might just prove his first World Cup proper, and at the grand old age of 36 with 87 Test caps under his belt.
The livewire half-back made his England debut in 2008, but cruel luck on the injury and selection front means he has only featured in one World Cup match.
Turning out for the dead rubber against Uruguay in 2015 does nowhere near justice to Care’s talents. And all of a sudden, the pacy No 9 has another chance to change those fortunes.
“At the Six Nations launch I was involved on the punditry side, and I had to ask Steve Borthwick something about TikTok,” said Care, cringing as he explained the toe-curling moment.
“I was with Jamie Roberts and admitted I would love to get another crack with England. As Steve shook his head and walked off, Jamie said ‘you are done mate’. But look at me now!”
Care has not featured for England since last summer’s tour to Australia, and is yet to play under new boss Borthwick.
But the in-form Quins star has forced his way into England’s World Cup training squad ahead of Northampton’s Alex Mitchell, who featured in the Six Nations.
The extended World Cup squad size of 33 leaves England highly likely to take three scrum-halves to France, with England starting their tournament by taking on Argentina in Marseille on September 9.
Care can add virtuosity and improvisation to Ben Youngs’ accuracy and tactical nous, with Jack van Poortvliet already a composed performer at just 22.
If Care received the consolatory selection of facing Uruguay in 2015 when England were dumped out of their home World Cup at the group stage, the quick-witted Leeds native suffered a worse blow four years earlier.
A foot injury sidelined Care from the 2011 tournament just when he appeared primed for regular action in New Zealand under Martin Johnson.
His parents still went out and had the time of their lives – it only made sense given Care himself had already paid for the trip. So when Borthwick called this time, Care needed no second invitation to join the World Cup camp.
I still believed and I still dreamt there was a chance of playing in another World Cup
“If you had asked me a couple of years ago if I thought I would be playing for England in a World Cup, I would have said no,” said Care.
“But I still believed and I still dreamt there was a chance and when Steve picked up the phone and offered me the chance to come in and try to fight for a spot, I have never put the phone down more excited.
“It was my son Blake who had the phone at the time and he said ‘you probably want to answer that’.
“Steve asked if I would be interested in fighting for a spot, he felt I could maybe help the team, add something to the squad. And the answer was yes straightaway.
“The one thing I have learned about Steve is he is very honest, he tells you exactly how it is. He told me I have got a genuine chance if I work hard and do the right things.”
