FORMER Prince Henry's GS captain Danny Care successfully skippered the England U-20 team to a 31-5 victory over Scotland.

Adel's Care and his squad spent a week trying to outwit England's senior stars prior to their game against Scotland at the Recreation Ground in Bath.

The 20-year-old NEC Harlequins scrum-half and his team-mates had been anything but tackle bag holders at the University of Bath, playing a valuable part in preparing the senior side for Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham, while honing themselves to face their own Scottish challenge.

Care, who pitted his 5ft 9in, 12st 2lbs frame against the likes of England lock Louis Deacon, said the sessions had been a real boost to Nigel Redman's side.

"It's been awesome. You look around and see people like Jonny Wilkinson and Phil Vickery. I think we did well as a team against them in attack and defence so that's definitely something that can help us," said Care.

"It was really good experience to come up against them - you learn so much from them and you aspire to be like them."

Care went on to complete a hat-trick of victories over Scotland in three different age groups in less than 12 months. Prior to the Under-20s win he had already tasted success for the Under-19s last February - a thumping 36-5 victory at the Stoop in which he scored two tries - and as an unused replacement in the 31-12 win for the Under-21s in last June's World Championship.

Care said: "I was really excited, especially to captain the side. It's a really big honour."

Care said: "There is a lot of young talent coming through these days and guys are younger than me. I always used to be one of the youngest but now I am one of the oldest so I've got to try and get my experienced head on. The skill levels of some of the guys coming through are awesome and they are going to be pushing for places."

England U-20s defeated Scotland 31-5 and David Tait celebrated his first start after being out four months with a broken leg with two tries as England kicked-off their U-21 Six Nations campaign.

The 19 year-old Sale Sharks player said: "My last start was for Sale against Harlequins in the first week of October so it's been a long road back but I'm really happy to be playing again. It's always great to be representing your country and tonight was a real honour."

England got off to a dream start when Tait picked up from a scrum, fed Danny Care, who split the defence down the right, and then took the scrum-half's perfect inside pass to race 30 metres to the posts.

"All credit to Danny, I just gave him the pop pass from the scrum and he gave me the inside ball and put me under the sticks," said Tait.

Care, who bruised a hip but should be fit for next week's clash against Italy, added: "We got off to a great start but it got a bit frustrating in the middle of the first half when we constantly piling on the pressure and couldn't break through. But eventually we were happy."

The Rugby Football Union, along with the other Home Unions, have switched from Under-21s, England having won the Grand Slam last season and also in the 2003/04 season, to an Under-20s age grade, with France and Italy due to follow suit in 2008 in an U-20s Six Nations Championship.

England are back at the Recreation Ground to face Italy U-21s next Friday, then meet Ireland U-20s in Athlone (February 23), France U-21s at Northampton (March 9) and Wales U-20s at Newport (March 16).