Scrum-half Danny Care insists while England’s autumn internationals are a big attraction, it is the form of crisis club Harlequins that is his priority at the moment.

The 22-year-old had a significant hand in both Quins scores at the weekend as head coach John Kingston’s men kicked off the campaign with a 26-15 defeat to rivals London Wasps.

Care, now a regular starter behind the scrum for team boss Martin Johnson’s England, featured prominently for club and country last year culminating in a starring role for his country in Test encounters with Argentina over the summer.

Johnson’s men take on the South Americans, Australia and New Zealand in November as they prepare for a fresh assault on the Six Nations next years.

And Care, who believes the England set-up is stronger than 12 months ago, insists it is Quins’ tough start to the domestic campaign that is his sole focus for the time being.

“The (England) team has been together a lot longer now and we are closer as a group. We are building towards the World Cup now,” he said.

“We can always get better and we have got some tough internationals coming up in November, but personally I’m just thinking about playing for Quins.

“The club performed really well last year, but we are aiming to go one step better. We’ve got to back last season up by performing better.

“We have got a tough first few games in the Premiership, but then again they all are at this level. We want to win games, but it is going to be really tough. We can only take each game as it comes.”

The club had hoped to steer clear of controversy with the Bloodgate scandal still rumbling on as the European Rugby Cup board met again this week to discuss if further action was needed against chief executive Mark Evans and chairman Charles Jillings.

But second row George Robson ensured that wasn’t the case as he drew first blood to be sent-off inside the first minute for an alleged head butt, to all-but end Quins hopes of a positive start to the campaign on Saturday.

Care sparked the move that led to Ugo Monye’s opening score before he producing a sublime cross-kick to put in Gonzalo Camacho for his first try in Quins colours.

And the number nine reckons the Argentinean Sevens star is going to give Kingston a few headaches when it comes to selecting his first choice back three this season.

“Gonzalo impressed me when he played really well for Argentina over the summer and I think he is going to push the other wingers we have at the club,” he added.

“When Tommy Williams comes back there is going to be some serious competition for places. There are the likes of Sam Smith, George Lowe and Seb Stegmann coming through as well so it is looking good.”

Harlequins’ next three games: Sept 12 Leicester Tigers (h), 19 Saracens (h), 25 Newcastle Falcons (a).