“He's electric, there’s no substitute for that sometimes - Cadan is more than capable of stepping up”
Cadan Murley has scored eight tries for Harlequins this season
©Harlequins/Shutterstock
After 11 pulsating rounds of Gallagher Premiership action, the pause button has been pressed on the league as the stars of English rugby’s top-flight turn their attention to the Six Nations.
This year’s competition marks 25 years of the championships and speaking on behalf of TNT Sports, former England international Danny Care believes the Six Nations is still the best tournament in the world.
“I might be biased, but compared with any sport, I still think it's the best tournament in the world.” Care tells TRU.
“It brings people together, which I think is great, and obviously, you tie in that with going down to the pub to watch it. Sport does transcend things. You can forget about what's gone on in your life, or what's happened at work, or anything that's going on at home.
“You see a couple of mates in the pub, or your family together in a pub, and it's the nicest, coolest feeling just to watch some live sport and be in the moment and forget about everything for a while so when the Six Nations comes around, it's so unique. There's nothing like it.”
From an England perspective, they get their Six Nations campaign underway in the toughest fashion imaginable with a trip to Dublin to face reigning champions Ireland on Saturday.
But despite Ireland targeting a third title in a row and sitting second in the world rankings, Steve Borthwick’s side will be enthused by the memory of their dramatic 23-22 victory in last year’s tournament, where a late Marcus Smith drop-goal handed Ireland their only defeat.
“I'm really excited for this year's tournament,” Care adds.
“There's a lot of jeopardy in this one. There are a few talking points, and there's a chance for someone to go and grab and take this tournament which I think is great. There's no clear favourite, and I’m hopeful for England's chances.”
Despite their poor run of form during the Autumn Nations Series, which saw England only secure one victory from their four games, Care is hopeful for a change in form.
“The autumn was disappointing results-wise, but hopefully, we can take the positives from that and the learnings,” says Care.
“Hopefully, they've kind of got the defeats out of the way and paved the way for a positive tournament this time around.”
There is no denying the quality that England have at their disposal, and as a current Premiership player, the Harlequins scrum-half was keen to highlight this point.
“Week in and week out, in the Premiership, you see unbelievable matches and some unbelievably skilful players,” Care adds. “Hopefully, there's going to be a load of confident lads going into camp this Six Nations.
“I'd really like to see England see the best of Ollie Lawrence this Six Nations because I genuinely think he's got the potential to be world-class.
“He showed it the other day with that assist in the Champions Cup against Leinster, and he's doing that kind of thing regularly for Bath in the Premiership. I want to see that in an England shirt with Marcus [Smith].
“I think that ‘Marcus and Ollie connection’ could flourish.”
And Care’s wish has been granted with Smith continuing at fly-half while Lawrence is in the midfield alongside Henry Slade for England’s opener in Dublin.
The headline team news sees Tom and Ben Curry both start together in the back-row while Care’s Harlequins teammate Cadan Murley has been handed a debut by Borthwick.
Murley has been preferred over Ollie Sleightholme and Elliot Daly and speaking before Tuesday’s team announcement, Care was keen to see one of the shining lights of the Premiership get his opportunity on the international stage.
“Cadan has been so unfortunate with injuries,” Care says. “He always seems to get injured just before campaigns. He’s been in and around the squad for a while and, hopefully, gets a chance to wear that England shirt because I know how much it means to him.
“He's electric, and there’s no substitute for that sometimes, and I know, given the opportunity, he’s more than capable of stepping up to that next level.”
Elsewhere, Ben Earl will join the Curry twins in the back-row while Borthwick has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench with one of the stars of the Premiership this season, Saracens’ Tom Willis, included.
Northampton’s Alex Mitchell will start at scrum-half after recovering from a recent knee injury while clubmate Tommy Freeman is on the right wing and Leicester Tigers’ Freddie Steward returns at full-back.
In the pack, Luke Cowan-Dickie will slot into a front-row which also contains Ellis Genge and Will Stuart while new skipper Maro Itoje partners George Martin in the second-row.
For the first time in a long time, Care will be watching the Six Nations as a fan after retiring from England duties following last year’s tournament.
The 38-year-old - who recently signed a one-year contract extension to stay at Harlequins - achieved 101 caps for his country and won three Six Nations titles but once the latest edition of the championships concludes, Care will be pulling on the ‘quarters’ again as Quins hunt down a top-four finish in the Premiership.
“I still love it [playing]. I really do,” Care, who has become a regular member of the TNT Sports punditry team this season, says.
“There's no feeling like it. I always said I'd keep going as long as I physically feel able and able to help the team, and I still feel like I can do that.
“I know it can't last forever, but I know I can't go back to it and do it once I stopped so that's why I still want to keep doing it.
“Top four is 100 per cent still the aim for us this season. It was at the start of the year, and it definitely still is.”
England team vs Ireland: Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Murley; M Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, T Curry, B Curry, Earl.
Replacements: Dan, Baxter, Heyes, Chessum, Cunningham-South, Willis, Randall, F Smith.
