Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards has said that Danny Care should ignore the critics and play his natural game.
Quins boss praises under-fire scrum-half
Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards has said that Danny Care's man-of-the-match performance against Saracens shows why the scrum-half should ignore the critics and play his natural game.
Care's immediate international future was called into question last weekend after he received a yellow card against in England's Six Nations defeat against Ireland.
That outcome incurred the wrath of England manager Martin Johnson but the number nine responded with a fine performance - capped with a try - as Quins beat Saracens 21-15.
"You have to understand the nature of the beast," said Richards. "He's a cheeky guy and he enjoys having a go.
"He's always going to attack the fringes, he's always going to have a go and there's no way that I would want to - or try to - inhibit his nature or his character.
"He understands that he did wrong last week so there's no point beating the drum harder."
Richards also criticised the South African owners of opponents Saracens over the impending departure of 15 players as well as boss Eddie Jones.
"It's the way they have handled this and the ethos of the structure they are bringing in behind it," he added.
"What they are going to put in place when these players have gone is the worrying thing.
"Ruining a club like Saracens and turning it into a South African franchise is something which should be stopped - it's just not English rugby.
"How can you have a South African side in the English league? It's disgraceful."
He added: "We're always in the market and listening to what the agents are saying and we know there's been a huge push to bring in South African players into Saracens.
"The initial thought was that they had got 16 or 17 South African players lined up but some of these players have turned round and said 'If we are going to go and experience a different culture why go to a South African club in England'. It's quite bizarre, isn't it."
Turmoil
Although his side reacted to the turmoil at the club with a 24-23 win at Sale last weekend, Jones himself believed it had an effect against Quins.
"The first 40 minutes people had their heads all over the place," he said.
"They just weren't concentrating on the game and they are some of our best players who have been involved in what's going on. That's a concern for us.
"This week was always going to be much harder than last week. You know, you lose your girlfriend and go out and have a drink and for the next 48 hours you are all right.
"Then you go home and your girlfriend's not there and that's when it starts to sink in. That's what this week's been like. I was anticipating emotionally we'd struggle in the first part of the game but not as much as we did."
The Australian added: "I'm really disappointed with our application to play for each other and I apologise to our supporters for that. It's really not good enough."
