Care taken over England return

Danny Care
23 May 2012

Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care is aiming to use Saturday's Aviva Premiership final against Leicester to prove he is ready to reclaim the England number nine jersey.

Care has been recalled from international exile by England coach Stuart Lancaster to join a 42-man squad on the five-match, three-Test tour of South Africa. The 25-year-old has not played for his country since last August - injury forced him out of the World Cup and disciplinary issues then saw him axed for the RBS 6 Nations.

He will go head to head with long-time rival Ben Youngs on Saturday, and said: "This is the biggest club game in my life and to go up against Youngsy adds that extra spice. I always believed in myself to get back if I could find my form. I have a lot of self-belief and when I play to the top of my game I can be challenging to be the best scrum-half in England."

He added: "I really enjoy playing against Ben and testing myself against one of the best in the Premiership.

"This is a massive game for me as well as for the club."

Care had been on the brink of ousting Youngs as England's World Cup scrum-half when he suffered a foot injury in a warm-up game against Wales.

Northampton's Lee Dickson will travel to South Africa as England's first choice after leapfrogging Youngs in the pecking order during the Six Nations.

"Missing the Six Nations was heartbreaking but it was my own doing," Care admitted.

A shoulder injury denied Care the opportunity to play against Dickson in the Premiership semi-final but he has been cleared to play at Twickenham this weekend.

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