to qualify via the Aviva Premiership by finishing 7th, just outside the top 6 places which automatically qualified. Care scored 7 tries in all competitions during the season and was named in the ESPN Dream Team for 2010–11. In June 2011 Care was named in England's preliminary 45-man training squad prior to the Rugby World Cup. At the same time, in the July edition of Company magazine Care was nominated at 27th in the list of "the 50 sexiest single men in the UK". England's home-and-away Rugby World Cup "warm up" games against Wales in August gave Care the chance to press his claims for a place in the final 30-man squad to travel to New Zealand as well as an opportunity to re-claim the starting jersey in the absence of Ben Youngs who was recovering from knee surgery. In the opening game at Twickenham Care was partnered by Jonny Wilkinson at fly-half as England won 23–19. Paul Ackford of the Sunday Telegraph said Care was "part of a fine half-back pairing". Care received widespread praise, especially in Wales, for his sportsmanship during the game in refusing to play the ball at the base of a ruck when it was clear that Welsh full-back Morgan Stoddart was badly injured following a tackle. Referee Steve Walsh was forced to stop the game to allow Stoddart to be treated for what turned out to be a double fracture of tibia and fibula. For the return game in Cardiff a week later Wilkinson was rested in favour of Toby Flood and Care was on the replacements' bench with Richard Wigglesworth starting. Care was on the field as early as the 29th minute when Wigglesworth suffered a head injury. England lost 19–9 but Stephen Jones of the Sunday Times, a longtime critic of Care, said "Danny Care made a significant impact and was probably England's best player". Unfortunately Care sustained a torn plantar plate affecting the big toe of his left foot during the game, an injury which required surgery and which kept him out of England's squad for the World Cup. The medical reports confirming that surgery was required came just a few hours after Care had been informed by England Head Coach Martin Johnson that he would be included in the squad. Whilst recovering from his injury Care worked for ESPN and Sky Sports on rugby coverage as well as being an