England can deliver Six Nations ‘shock’ – Care

England can “shock” Ireland and set themselves up for a run at the Six Nations title, says three-time winner Danny Care.

Steve Borthwick’s team travels to Ireland on Saturday to officially launch the tournament, which will be the first time it has ever won it three straight times.

Care, the scrumhalf for the Harlequins, has won more than 100 caps for England over the course of their 16-year career, and believes that a victory there could set them on the path to a trophy-winning season for the first time since 2020.

“If you go to Dublin and [just] try and stay in the game you could get blown away – but if England really go after Ireland and put their game on the park, I think they could cause them some trouble,” the 39-year-old told BBC Sport London.

“Steve]Borthwick] will be saying ‘ let’s shock a few people, let’s get out of the blocks fast ‘ and momentum is massive in this tournament, like no other. If you can get going and start building momentum, something just happens.

Borthwick’s side came within a whisker of beating the All Blacks as George Ford’s last-play drop-goal effort went agonisingly wide of the post.

And Australia needed Max Jorgensen’s last-gasp try in the 84th minute to steal victory.

England lost its fifth game in a row to South Africa, but Care thinks the squad will have learned a lot from the series’ defeat in November.

” We’ve seen flashes of brilliance from the England team, “he said”. They played against the best teams in the world in those games, which is a positive in my opinion of the autumn.

“It will all be forgotten if England wins the Six Nations.”

France are currently the favorites to win the trophy in March despite having a good chance of clinching England’s first title in five years.

The return of star scrum-half Antoine Dupont is key to that prediction.

After representing France at their home Olympics last year, the 28-year-old is now the captain, helping them capture the gold medal in the men’s rugby sevens with two tries in the final.

” I think people forget he didn’t play]in the Six Nations] last year, “said Care, who won the tournament with England in 2011, 2016 and 2017.

I have France in my tournament favorites because of his return this year, so I’m happy to have him back. He’s that good, he’s consistently brilliant.

“]Ireland] are right up there, they really are. It’s amazing to have completed your third consecutive victory, which has never before happened.

” I know how hard it is to win one, we managed to back it up]with a second] one year, but to do three in a row]would be] unbelievable.

You have two teams playing in England and Scotland, and they both feel like they could win if they do things right. Then there are Wales and Italy, who will say, “Well, we think we can probably beat anyone on our day.”

England go into the tournament without many former stalwarts, including Care.

Former Quins prop Joe Marler has completely retired from professional rugby, while former captains Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes are currently playing in France.

However, Care chose three players who will be crucial to the national side’s success in the upcoming years, including the winner of the 2016 Grand Slam with England and the member of the squad that advanced to the 2019 World Cup final:

At the conclusion of the 2023 World Cup, Hooker George, 34, replaced Farrell as Saracens captain after moving to Racing 92.

I had the experience of being with Jamie George, who did an unbelievable job as captain, and I knew that first-hand.

Knowing him like I do, I am aware that he was the first person to call in to congratulate Maro, which is absolutely essential information about Jamie. He’ll continue to be a major force behind that team.