DANNY CARE experienced an autumn to forget in England rugby colours.

However, as coach Stuart Lancaster prepares to pick his Six Nations squad, the Harlequins No.9 is a man on a mission, desperate to prove his doubters wrong. The 28-year-old suffered a dramatic fall from grace in November; initially selected as Lancaster’s premier scrum-half.

Care started in the defeats by New Zealand and South Africa, winning his 50th international cap in the process.

However, he was dropped for the victories over Samoa and Australia, with Saracens’ Richard Wigglesworth promoted to the bench behind the starting Ben Youngs.

With a home World Cup on the horizon, Care had seemed Lancaster’s obvious choice to fill the decision-making void at No.9.

Now, in just a matter of months, the Harlequins man faces a fight to even make the matchday 23, with Lee Dickson, Joe Simpson, Wigglesworth and Youngs all impressing over the festive period.

Care said: “When you lose your place in any team it’s not nice.

“I have to treat every Harlequins game as a chance to prove I should be the starting England scrum-half. Every game I play for Quins is an opportunity to showcase what I’m about.

“The Six Nations will have quite a big bearing on who Stuart Lancaster wants to pick for the World Cup, so it would be nice to be involved in that.

“Hopefully, the door is open for anyone and, if they are playing well, then they’ll get their chance.

“I’ve had a good battle with Ben Youngs for the England scrum-half role over the last few years and Richard Wigglesworth is in there as well.

“Whoever is picked on the day, I will shake his hand and congratulate him.”

Danny Care is supporting Aviva Tackling Numbers, an innovative maths programme for 7-9 year olds. The programme aims to improve numeracy levels through rugby-based exercises and is run in partnership with Premiership Rugby. Visit www.aviva.co.uk/tacklingnumbers