Danny Care believes England must drop Jack Van Poortvliet to avoid 'battering against Ireland

Wednesday, 15 March 2023 at 12:01

byRugby Rucker

Danny Care has encouraged Steve Borthwick to select Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith as the half-back pairing for the Ireland match in Dublin, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing speed.

Speaking to The Telegaph, he said: "If England are to challenge the likes of France and Ireland, they can’t do toe-to-toe with them,

“I don’t think they can. I think [France and Ireland] are too physical and too good at the nuts and bolts. I think you have to pick a team that runs teams around and runs quickly and the ball has to be gone from the breakdown in two seconds.

"IIf you sit and wait anywhere around four [seconds] then the French defence is just going to bully you.

“The same thing will happen in Ireland if they just want to kick, slow balls down and kick again, they’ll get battered. If they are to give Ireland a bit of a scare, then go and throw caution to the wind and go quickly.

"For me, the pairing I would pick at nine and 10 is Mitchell and Smith." added the 36-year-old

Ahead of the World Cup, he added: “England could stick with what they’ve got and limp out of the World Cup in a semi-final because of the draw, or they could go ‘let’s develop some of these lads,’

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“I feel like it was a bit of a wake-up call for everyone [in the England side] and a nod to how brilliant France are,

“I know Ireland are the number one team in the world and they won a couple of weeks ago but I think France would have beaten Ireland playing like that. I also think it shows that France are way down the line in terms of their journey.

“They had a bit of a re-set four of five years ago. They had some pain, had some heart ache and made some big decisions.

"Now I think them and Ireland are on a different planet at the moment. It’s almost unfair to judge England against them, even though you have to because they are the best at the moment. England are way behind that, I feel.”

“Manu Tuilagi Returns” – Expected England XV to Face Ireland

15. Freddie Steward

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14. Max Malins

11. Anthony Watson

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Marcus Smith of England during the Guinness Six Nations match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 11th March 2023 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.

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Ellis Genge

Ellis Genge of England during the Guinness Six Nations match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 11th March 2023 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.

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A frustrated Maro Itoje of England during the Guinness Six Nations match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 11th March 2023 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.

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