DC: 'We're working hard every day'
Danny Care is convinced England are ready to produce "something special" in Saturday's Calcutta Cup showdown with Scotland.
Martin Johnson has shown faith in his misfiring backs for the trip to Murrayfield, despite concerns over their lack of cutting edge and inability to score tries.
But Care believes there is a performance brewing - and he is determined to repay that loyalty by unleashing the as-yet-unseen potential in England's back division.
"We have shown glimpses of how good we can be. We have just lacked a clinical edge in finishing off the tries," said the scrum-half.
"We are working hard every day in training on that last finishing touch - and when it does click I think it will be something really special. Hopefully we can do that this weekend.
"It is great to have the confidence from the coaches to get a run in the team because we are never going to improve if we keep chopping and changing every game.
"Hopefully we can put in a strong performance and get a win."
Care's ambitions may seem a little far-fetched, given neither of the last two Calcutta Cup matches at Murrayfield have yielded a win for England or even a try.
England have to go back to 2004, when they were newly-crowned world champions and put 35 points on Scotland, for a performance at Murrayfield that could be described as anywhere close to fluid.
The theme of missed try-scoring opportunities has been constant throughout Johnson's reign and attack coach Brian Smith addressed it again this week, claiming the players had let themselves down.
There is no doubt the red rose back division are a frustrated bunch and full-back Delon Armitage could not hide his desire to prove that England can do more than talk a good game and make excuses.
"We've got players whose strength is coming from deep and beating players and we haven't used them. We've talked about it but we haven't done it," he said.
"We can't keep saying we're going to use it. There's no better time than right now to do it."
The finger has been pointed quite firmly at Jonny Wilkinson, with critics arguing that he is not a natural playmaker, decision-maker or a back-line general.
Care also holds a great deal of responsibility for injecting tempo into England's game after being given licence to play his natural style, not the shackled rugby he was forced to play last autumn.
And the Harlequins number nine is confident that with some quick ball - again, easier said than done against Scotland's back-row unit - he and Wilkinson can combine to sharpen England's cutting edge.
"I think Jonny and I are improving every week. He is obviously the best 10 I have ever worked with. It is great to have him outside you," said Care.
"Ireland were very good at getting over the ball and slowing it down. It is frustrating when you are playing against players like that because you want the ball on a plate and you have to dig for it a bit.
"This week we have worked a lot on our contact skills and our ruck drills and hopefully we can take that into the game and get some quick ball."
Care's own performances are driven by the increasing levels of competition for the scrum-half jersey, with the uncapped Ben Youngs being given his chance on the bench this week.
Paul Hodgson would be in many people's starting England team while 20-year-old Youngs has impressed for Leicester all season and Johnson felt he could not be overlooked any longer.
Care relishes that spirit of competition.
"It is great to have," he added.
"It is no easy ride and you know every time you put the shirt on that there are four or five other lads who want it off you and could come in and do a job.
"You have always got that pressure on you to play well and perform well.
"It is really unfortunate for Paul Hodgson but Youngsy has been playing so well for Leicester that it is hard to keep ignoring him.
"I am sure he will play some part of the game on Saturday, earn his first cap and do really well.
"With someone like Youngsy snapping at your heels you know you have to perform."
Comments
catchyname says...
why do the media continue to interview this second rate player and grade A idiot? Every game there are articles about his opinions. Hopefully the media will find some one better to interview.
Posted 19:51 11th March 2010
kent says...
You gotta laugh
Posted 18:32 11th March 2010