In the week that one Harlequins scrum-half was ousted from the England line-up, director of rugby Dean Richards has backed another for a national call-up.

Andy Gomarsall has been left out of England head coach Brian Ashton's team to face France in Paris on Saturday - paying the price for indifferent performances in the defeat by Wales and the victory in Italy.

Sale Sharks' Richard Wigglesworth has been preferred in his place, putting the international future of the 33-year-old, one of England's World Cup heroes, in doubt.

At the same time, Danny Care - who has stepped into the breach at the Twickenham Stoop - was so impressive in Saturday's 36-15 victory over Worcester that his own international aspirations came under discussion afterwards.

The 21-year-old number nine followed an impressive England Saxons debut last week by pushing Will Skinner close for the man-of-the-match award.

And Richards believes Care is a certainty to force his way onto the senior international stage sooner or later.

"I can see Danny playing for England at some stage," said Richards.

"He has all the qualities you need to be an international player.

"Whether it is this year, next year or the year after that is not up to me, it is up to Brian Ashton.

"He offers a threat around the fringes at the ruck, which not many scrum-halves offer these days."

Back row ace Skinner, also rated as a potential England star by Richards, was also full of praise for Care, having latched on to a break from the former Leeds player to score a dazzling try on Saturday.

Skinner, 24, went as far as suggesting that fellow England Saxons Care and Adrian Jarvis provide his dream half-back pairing at The Stoop.

"It is good to be involved with Danny and Adrian at Saxons level," he said.

"You occasionally see different skills come out because they are working with different coaches and players.

"I always love working with Danny and Jarvo.

"Danny is electric around the pitch and can make a break out of anything.

"For me, you know that if you stay somewhere near him he'll get you the ball in some space."