Guinness Premiership

Harlequins 21

Sale Sharks 9

Quins boss Conor O’Shea bugged England boss Martin Johnson with phone call after phone call to ensure Danny Care’s availability for Saturday’s win over Sale Sharks.

Care was supposed to be with the England squad ahead of this weekend’s key Six Nations game with France, but injuries left Quins struggling at scrum-half.

And with Nick Evans pulling out with injury the day before the game, and Rory Clegg coming in for just a fourth game of the season at fly-half, Care’s experience would prove vital.

O’Shea said: “I was on the phone everyday to Martin Johnson. It was a risk for him allowing Danny to play, but he also knew that if he comes off the bench against France, he will have to be sharp.

But Dave Moore, who did well the week before at Exeter, will step up again this week when we lose Danny again.”

Care himself was just grateful for the run out having not had a full 80 minutes since the New Year’s Day win over Northampton.

He said: “Martin (Johnson) just wished me luck and said go and play your normal game, and the great thing about playing for Quins is that I’m allowed to play my normal game.”

And Care was full of praise for man of the match Clegg, who is being groomed as Quins next number 10.

He added: “I thought Rory was outstanding, especially as he didn’t realise he was playing until the day before. He’s definitely coming of age, and he’s a fantastic player who is only going to get better and better.”

Clegg kicked three penalties and a conversion, while Joe Gray and Mike Brown ran in a try each to take the wind out of Sale. Quins visit London Irish on Saturday (3pm).