Care is hoping to prove himself at international level

Former footballer Danny Care wants to prove size does not matter when he lines up for England against the All Blacks in the second Test on Saturday.

Six years after being told he was too small to play for Sheffield Wednesday, the 21-year-old Care will make his maiden Test start at scrum-half .

"The new academy manager came in and said: 'He's too small. He can't play football'," said 5ft 9in Care.

"I felt I was good enough. That gave me motivation to never give up."

Care had played rugby at school and within 18 months of leaving Wednesday, Care had signed for the Leeds rugby academy before making his first XV debut at fly-half a year later.

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In 2006, Care moved to Harlequins and this season he kept fellow scrum-half Andy Gomarsall, who played in the 2007 World Cup final, out of the team.

Care came off the bench to make his Test debut during the 37-20 defeat to New Zealand last Saturday.

"I think I will have to play a little bit differently, especially with the likes of Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo after me," said Care as he looked ahead to Saturday's game.

"I think I need to be a bit more conservative because one mistake against New Zealand and you are seven points down. But if it is on then I will try it.

"As a scrum-half you have to be always talking. Andrew Ellis did that well for New Zealand last week and I will try and do the same."