Pulling up a seat at England’s training base to take questions from the press, Danny Care could barely contain his smile. ‘I thought I’d be sat where you lads are,’ joked the veteran, who was working in the media during the Six Nations.

Having being left out of all of Steve Borthwick’s initial squads, the closest Care got to a conversation with the national coach was a request to shoot footage for social media. His days in the England team appeared to be over.

‘At the Six Nations launch I asked Steve something about TikTok and he shook his head,’ recalled Care. ‘I was with Jamie Roberts and I said to Jamie, “I would love to get another crack at this”. As Steve shook his head and walked off, Jamie said, “You are done mate”. Look at me now!’

Refusing to back down, Care is now primed for World Cup selection. Borthwick is expected to take three scrum-halves to France, meaning Care will join Ben Youngs and Jack van Poortvliet in the final 33-man squad.

‘If you had asked me a couple of years ago, “Do I think I would playing for England in a World Cup?” I would have said “no”. But I still believed and I still dreamt there was a chance. When Steve picked the phone up and offered me the chance to come in and try and fight for a spot I have never put the phone down more excited.

‘My son Blake who had the phone at the time and he said, “Dad, you probably want to answer that!” Being back in this environment is brilliant. It is a different vibe and hopefully this England team will shock people at this World Cup, that is the aim.’

Care has unfinished business at World Cups. Of his 85 caps for England, just one of them has been in the biggest tournament: a token role in the dead rubber against Uruguay in 2015.

England’s core strategy in France will be based around a pragmatic game plan, focussing on territory and kicking metres. 

Borthwick perfected the approach at Leicester with Youngs and Van Poortvliet, but Care can add a flash of game-breaking magic.

‘We all know what World Cups are like, what rugby is like, things can change. In 2011, I had done the whole build-up going into that tournament. 

'For once I was probably number one 9 and I got named in the squad, played a warm-up game and ended up missing it. 

'I had already paid for my parents’ flights and they had a brilliant time. I was sat at home with crutches.

‘In 2015 I was delighted to get in the squad, wanted to offer more and wasn’t needed. One game, against Uruguay, one from one, I don’t know if there is many with a better record!

‘Then 2019, I didn’t even get into the squad. You turn into a fan in the end, but there's also that FOMO that, “God, I'd love to have been there”. 

'I am desperate to try and play more World Cup games, try and win some more games for England. 

'It will be a dream come true to get on that plane and hopefully I have done enough.’

Memories of his injury in 2011 may still haunt Care, but he will blank out any fears of a repeat as England prepare for their first warm-up game against Wales on Saturday. 

Australia captain Allan Alaalatoa suffered a World Cup-ending injury against the All Blacks on Saturday and Borthwick will be hoping for a clean bill of health when he names his final squad on Monday.

‘It is the nature of the beast, you are not playing tiddlywinks, it is a tough old sport and you can get injured at any point, any training session,’ said Care. 

‘It is the way it is, there is a bit of luck involved sometimes but you look at the body is the best it can be and a freak accident can happen and you can be the unfortunate one. 

'You try and not think about, just crack on and put your head 100 per cent into everything and then hope for the best.’