The future looks bright for versatile players-Care

SUPER sub Danny Care built a 100-cap England career off the back of impacts from the bench but says that in the modern game, Swiss Army knife-like backs are now more important than ever.

- By BEN JAYCOCK

International teams now load their benches with forwards, with South Africa and France often operating with just one replacement back.

While scrum-half Care, 38, isn’t a fan of this trend, he says having the ability to play multiple positions gives players, like Elliot Daly, Marcus Smith and Henry Slade, a major advantage in today’s game.

Care told The Rugby Paper: “People often said to me, are you not annoyed you're on the bench? But it got to the stage where I really enjoyed that role. It’s a 23-man game and you have to utilise it best. In the Six Nations you saw some teams use their bench incredibly well.