Hartley to miss key Saints game

NORTHAMPTON’S misfiring European Champions Cup campaign received the worst possible news ahead of this weekend’s return match at Leinster, with hooker Dylan Hartley banned for six weeks.

The New Zealand-born England skipper, 30, received the ban on Wednesday for striking Leinster flanker Sean O’Brien in last week’s crushing 37-10 defeat by the Irish province, for which he was shown a red card.

Saints coach Jim Mallinder said bluntly Hartley had let his side down.

The hooker will be available for England’s first Six Nations game next year, having received support from RFU chairman Ian Ritchie despite having taken his suspensions for foul play to a whopping 60 weeks.

More concerning for Northampton will be a daunting trip to Leinster, who sit atop Pool 4, with Montpellier taking on Castres in the other group game.

It is another story for Saints’ English Premiership rivals Saracens, the defending European champions now within one win of matching the tournament record of 13 consecutive victories, a mark held by Munster since 2007.

Saracens last week crushed Sale 50-3 at home and meet their English rivals again at the A J Bell Stadium on Sunday before heading to Parc y Scarlets in Round 5.

Second-placed Toulon will seek to make it two from two over the Scarlets after their 31-20 home victory.

Scarlets’ James Davies copped a three-week ban for obscene gestures after being penalised by the referee.

In Pool 1, there was a record defeat for Leicester at Thomond Park as Munster ran out 38-0 winners to make it two from two last weekend, and Glasgow beat last season’s runners-up, reigning French champions Racing 92, in Paris.

Pool 2 leaders Wasps also head to Ireland, hoping to complete the double over Connacht after a 32-17 triumph at the Ricoh Arena. – AFP