Hartley was destined to be first choice hooker at the World Cup until a four-week suspension for head-butting Saracens’ Jamie George resulted in him being jettisoned by the management.
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Dylan Hartley, the hooker with the skill-set from heaven and the disciplinary record from hell who is widely expected to be confirmed as England’s new captain early next week, feared he had wrecked his worldwide career for good when he was dropped from the red-rose squad for last year’s World Cup after the latest in a long line of run-ins with authority.
England was criticised in the World Cup for failing to select a specialist seven and the decision spectacularly backfired on them against Wales and Australia, with the latter ultimately knocking the hosts of their own World Cup.
Jim Mallinder, the Midlanders’ rugby director, believes he will rediscover the best of himself given time, but the clock is not now Hartley’s friend. “What I have now is a chance to get back there and wear the white shirt at Twickenham again”.
Hartley’s rap sheet totals more than a year on the sidelines for bans including biting, gouging, headbutting, and swearing at a referee.
“It’s a very informal relationship and it’s really more about the relationship I have with George but he’s obviously a world-class player and we can only benefit from his tuition”.
Hartley is eager to engage with Jones, the Australian who has been charged with reviving the English team after their World Cup disaster.
England open their Six nations campaign against Scotland on February 6.
Jones is due to reveal his choice of captain after speaking to senior players at the squad’s Surrey training camp.
New Zealand-born Hartley will get a chance to prove his fitness in Saturday’s European Champions Cup clash with the Scarlets following a spell out with concussion and a rib injury.
“It’s a huge change”.
“We’ve pulled two blokes out of their clubs and it has been like a nuclear bomb has gone off”, Jones said. I’m going in to impress, work and hopefully get in that team.
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“He’s a good mate and I just feel for him”.
