Hartley hoping to keep his head
REPORTS AN EVENTFUL week for England captain Dylan Hartley, in which he found himself on the receiving end of a hiding at Twickenham and branded a lunatic by Eddie Jones, crescendos with the Premiership’s most toxic fixture today.
Hartley leads Northampton against Leicester at Franklin’s Gardens with plenty going on in his world.
His restoration to the Saints captaincy means he has been front and centre this week as Northampton have tried to piece together what went wrong last week against Saracens, when they shipped nine tries, and make sure it does not happen again in the East Midlands derby.
If Hartley was hoping for a quiet life at his club away from the England spotlight, he picked the wrong place.
“I’ve been in this game long enough to know that one game doesn’t define you, and I’m not going to let it derail our season,” he said. “We are motivated. We know what we need to do to get better.
“We are playing at home and we need to play a proud game. Leicester are a quality side. If we give them an ‘in’ during the opening exchanges it could be a long day for us.”
Hartley may be secretly wishing he had stayed on the backbenches but, having resumed the leadership role he relinquished in 2015 this season, there is no turning back now. “The challenge is a good thing,” he said. “It’s hard work but it’s bloody enjoyable when you see reward.
“Northampton expects just like England does.”
Jones’ playful questioning of Hartley’s sanity was delivered with a warmth that underlined how pleased he has been with the former sinning Saint as his leader. There was also a hint that, having led an understrength England to a terrific series victory in Argentina in the summer he would, all things being equal, be reappointed for the autumn.
Hartley, 31, has endured enough setbacks in an undulating career not to count his chickens. “That’s not guaranteed,” he said.
“I thought one way of trying to make those chances greater is to be doing it for my club week in, week out. Practising captaincy is a skill and I’d rather do it week in, week out so it’s not a big transition when I go into camp.
“Dealing with refs, communicating and game management should be things I’m doing week to week.”
Hartley’s style – direct but more thoughtful and personable than you might expect – was shaped by the example of fellow Kiwi Bruce Reihana, from whom he took over for his first stint as Saints captain in 2009.
“I first met Bruce when I was 11 years old back in New Zealand. He signed my ball. I’ve still got it in my mum’s loft somewhere,” he said.
“He, for me, in a club environment was a great guy. Physically, he was always leading by example and he was always approachable off the field as well.”
Saints, who conquered Europe in 2000, took the Premiership title in 2014 but last season’s seventh-place finish spoke of decline.
“I don’t think it was just one season,” said Hartley. “It has not been ideal. Our expectation is to be a top club, ultimately winning silverware. We tasted that so we know how good it is
Northampton expects just like England does
but we also know how hard it is to do.” Dan Biggar’s arrival next season promises much but he will be of no use in the here and now. An instant makeover is required against their fiercest rivals. To that end, Australia centre Rob Horne will make his debut after scoring in the A League on Monday and George North is on the wing. Tom Wood’s shoulder injury has forced a backrow reshuffle, with Teimana Harrison making his first appearance of the season at No 8 and Courtney Lawes at blindside flanker. Leicester’s start was poor too, a 27-23 home defeat by Bath. Lions prop Dan Cole makes his first start today while Matt Smith takes over from the injured Manu Tuilagi at outside centre. But Saints cannot be as bad as they were at Twickenham again. A packed Franklin’s Gardens will not accept it.