CARE’S RIVALS | WHO STANDS TO GAIN?
BEN YOUNGS
The Northampton Saints No9 became Martin Johnson’s favoured scrum-half but injuries undermined his World Cup preparations and, had Danny Care been fit, he maye have overtaken Youngs in the pecking order. Care was the man in form this season anyway, so Youngs is now firmly first choice.
JOE SIMPSON
A late call-up to Martin Johnson’s World Cup squad following the injury to Care, the uncapped Simpson only ended up playing 13 minutes of the disastrous campaign, as a replacement against Georgia. However, with Care out and Richard Wigglesworth injured, Simpson is the de facto No2.
BEN SPENCER
The Saracens teenager may be only half-way through his first season in the top flight, having joined from Cambridge in the summer, but has impressed so much in the absence of Wigglesworth that he is being tipped as a possible shock inclusion in Stuart Lancaster’s first elite player squad.