Danny Care is the ultimate coach’s player, but do not confuse the compliment with teacher’s pet.
On Monday, Care called time on a remarkable international career lasting longer than that of any other England scrum-half, for time between first and last cap.
The 37-year-old’s England retirement allows boss Steve Borthwick to build for the future, but could also help keep him at Harlequins.
Care remains locked in talks for a new deal to extend his Quins stint to 19 years, and the ability to focus fully on his club will boost the chances of him staying.
That the irrepressible Care has managed 101 Test caps is rendered all the more impressive, given his wilderness years under Eddie Jones. The Australian was extremely particular about his scrum-halves, and Care’s face seemed hardly to fit in.
Even Care himself admitted he had not seen his late resurgence coming under head coach Borthwick. But his return to Test action and influence was both commanding and commendable, driving England to third at last year’s World Cup and third again in this year’s Six Nations.
Borthwick captained Care on his England debut, on tour against New Zealand in 2008. Richard Wigglesworth started that match and made way for Care in the second half.
England’s current head honcho and attack specialist were fully paid-up playing contemporaries of Care.
Nothing speaks to the evergreen Harlequin’s endearing personality traits and fierce attitude more than two of his former playing colleagues so readily drawing him back into the Test fold.
Borthwick needed players he could trust to help guide the younger members of a squad burnt by the scorched earth of the end of Jones’s time.
Even up to the World Cup warm-up matches, England were in disarray. Care’s first job was to help settle everyone down, restore calm and confidence.
But then his string of strong displays left Borthwick and Wigglesworth with little choice but to set him alongside Alex Mitchell as one of England’s two form nines.
Care played a crucial role off the bench in the push towards Marcus Smith’s winning drop-goal in the thrilling victory against Ireland.
Precious few players control their exit, but Care can ride off into the Test sunset, with a Quins swansong to come in a heartening dusk.
