Care says sorry for sin-binning

(GETTY IMAGES)

England scrum half Danny Care has apologised for his sin-binning against Ireland which effectively cost his side the chance of victory.

The Harlequins player had been on the field just 12 minutes when he charged into Marcus Horan. He was given ten minutes in the sin-bin and with it notched up England's tenth yellow card in four games.

Ireland won the RBS 6 Nations game by just one point after a late rally by England - and Care's indiscipline, which led to Ronan O'Gara scoring three points from the resultant penalty, put the game out of England's reach.

Care has now said: "I don't think I can really defend what I did, but also I believe because of the disciplinary situation with England at the moment it was magnified," Care said. "I could only hold my hands up afterwards. I apologised to the boys and said I wouldn't let it happen again."

Martin Johnson, the England team manager, has been urged to drop Care for the match with France.