Danny Care inspired by Francesco Totti for Six Nations opener vs Italy
Thursday 1 February 2018 08:35, UK
Danny Care says retired footballer Francesco Totti is a huge inspiration for him as England prepare to face Italy in their Six Nations opener.
The Harlequins scrum-half revealed he occupied the former Italy and Roma forward's dressing room seat at the Stadio Olimpico two years ago and said "it would be cool to channel my inner Totti" this weekend in Rome.
"There was a race in the changing room - number 10 Totti is the one you want to sit in. I had Totti's place straight away," Care said.
"As a big football fan I looked up to him as one hell of a player. It's pretty cool to play at the same stadium as such a legend.
"It's an amazing stadium with loads of history and obviously being a big football fan it's a great place to go and play."
Care has emerged as an important asset for England when replacing Ben Youngs in the final quarter. Head coach Eddie Jones described him as the team's 'Alexis Sanchez' after his performance against Australia last autumn.
After this praise, Care is determined to be seen as more than a late replacement and added: "Eddie knows I want to start. He says just keep doing what you're doing.
"Whatever role I'm needed to play to help this team win games, I'm more than happy to do. Everyone wants to play as much as they can but I know how good a player Ben Youngs is."
Squad:
Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Nathan Earle (Saracens), Jonny May (Leicester), Anthony Watson (Bath), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Jack Nowell (Exeter). Ben Te'o (Worcester), Ben Youngs (Leicester).
Forwards: Gary Graham (Newcastle), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Simmonds (Exeter), Sam Underhill (Bath), Dan Cole (Leicester), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Alec Hepburn (Exeter), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter)
