Change of Hart is just a one-off
is uncomfortable. We want to test our ability, if Dylan’s not available, to put a team on the field and have leadership density. So it’s an opportunity for these guys to show it. “Dylan is our captain and he has done a great job, but we’ve decided to start with Jamie for this game. “It’s a great opportunity to develop the leadership of the side and those two guys [Ford and Robshaw] did a great job for us against the Barbarians. It’s a good fit; a good, an even spread of responsibility between Chris and George. It just works well for us in this game.
“Dylan understands it’s about developing a team for the World Cup. We know he’s a great captain and we know he can do a great job for us.
“But this is an opportunity for the rest of the squad to show they can step up.
“There’s no decision on the World Cup. The only decision we’ve made is that, all things being equal, and he doesn’t have one of those mystical experiences at Franklin’s Gardens, that he’ll be captain for the Six Nations. As long as that mist doesn’t come in over Franklin’s Gardens.” For his part, Hartley says he would be a hypocrite if he did not play his part as a replacement.
He said: “In the 20-odd games I have played under Eddie I have sat in front of the room and said, ‘Boys, we have all got a role to play – whether you are going home on Tuesday or you are a finisher or a starter’.
“So it would unfair for me to say that for the last two years and not fulfil my role. I am not stepping down. I understand what we are doing.
“We are growing the squad and finding out about ourselves. It is a good chance to let the team run itself.
“I will still run the team with meetings in the evenings – I am still doing my bit there.”
Jones has made nine changes from the side that beat Australia 30-6 at Twickenham last Saturday with Robshaw moving to openside to accommodate Maro Itoje at No6 and Exeter’s Sam Simmonds at No8.
Mike Brown returns at full-back after a head injury and Jones reunites the midfield of Ford, Alex Lozowski and Henry Slade that started the first Test in Argentina in June.
Leicester loose-head Ellis Genge is in for the rested Mako Vunipola, Bath second-row Charlie Ewels comes in for Courtney Lawes, who is benched, and Danny Care starts at scrum-half ahead of Ben Youngs.
ENGLAND: Replacements: