HARTLEY BLOW CAN OPEN THE DOOR FOR FARRELL
EnGLAnD head coach eddie Jones was facing major leadership problems last night after captain Dylan Hartley ruled himself out of the June tour to South Africa.
The influential skipper was already out for the season with concussion, as revealed by Sportsmail last week. The northampton hooker will also be absent from england’s three-Test series against the Springboks, as his club confirmed that he has been advised to take a long break.
It is a worrying setback given Hartley’s history of concussion. Two years ago he said another significant head injury would force him to consider retirement.
For england and Jones, it is also a troubling development. Hartley has led england with an authority Jones relies upon. on the back of three straight defeats in the Six nations, Jones would have been desperate for Hartley to rally the squad. Instead he is left with an awkward dilemma.
All being well, the plan had been to rest the players who had the heaviest workload on the Lions’ tour of new Zealand last year and through this long domestic campaign. Farrell is high among that group, but the national coaches are now urgently discussing whether they can afford to remove another key leader from the squad.
It is thought no firm decision has been made, but with a tour squad due to be announced on May 10, time is running out.
If Hartley was available, Farrell would surely have been stood down, but now he is on course to step up to the captaincy. Many will see that as a precursor to what lies ahead for him and the national team in the run-in to next year’s World Cup.
Hartley will be shattered by this grim predicament. He has been unable to play since the end of the Six nations on March 17. The 32-year-old said: ‘I’m very disappointed that I will not be available for selection for Saints’ remaining games, as well as england’s tour.
‘It has been recommended by specialists that I take a break this summer and while I find that decision hard to accept, it’s important I listen to that advice. I intend to use this time to recover fully, so I can be ready to hit the ground running for pre-season.’
That amounts to putting on a brave face. Hartley has repeatedly confounded critics who have suggested he should be usurped in england’s front row by Lions Test hooker Jamie George. He has remained an integral figure within Jones’ set-up, despite sporadic appearances for his club.
After recovering from two episodes in quick succession in May 2016, Hartley said: ‘If I got another one now, I would be worried. I would probably start looking at other careers, or a long lay- off. every time you see your kid, you think, “If I hit my head again, what’s that going to mean?”.’
Jones will consider the captaincy equation knowing he has limited options. Farrell’s case is strengthened by Saracens’ absence from the final two rounds of this year’s Champions Cup, which means he will have rested more than normal at this business end of the season. otherwise, there are few obvious contenders.
Sportsmail understands that Chris robshaw is unlikely to be considered, but one candidate — if Farrell is rested — is friend and fellow fly-half George Ford.
Meanwhile, Manu Tuilagi has recovered from his latest injury, a pectoral strain, and Leicester expect him to play against newcastle at Welford road on Friday. ‘He’s been running, he was back into contact training last week and he should be involved,’ said Tigers head coach Matt o’Connor.
Wales and Lions wing George north is reportedly poised to join the ospreys from northampton at the end of this season, after signing a national dual contract with the Welsh rugby Union.