2019 WORLD CUP BOOST FOR CAPTAIN HARTLEY

WHEN Dylan Hartley was snubbed by the Lions in May it placed a question mark over his long-term England future.

When Jamie George was selected in his place and started all three Tests against New Zealand, his short-term prospects didn’t look too flash either.

Hartley (right) never conceded an inch and, after leading England to a record win over Australia, was given a clear indication that the job of leading England into the 2019 World Cup is his to lose.

“Dylan was outstanding,” raved head coach Eddie Jones. “His captaincy was first-class. He’s moving from being a good captain to an even better captain.

“He’s seen the bottom of the trough and he’s now surfing at the top of the crest. He appreciates the opportunity of what he’s doing at the moment. He’s only going to grow as captain.” No matter that Hartley is 31 and had been replaced long before the try-spree that turned a nail biting contest into a rout. Remember that Jones had described the hooker’s initial appointment as a “two-year plan – after that it’s down to whether he’s improving as a player and as a captain”. The clear inference from Jones is that he has sufficiently stepped up his performance on both counts. “He manages both the referee and the team well,” Jones added. “It’s important for the captain to have a good relationship with the referee and Dylan has a good demeanour about him. “It’s difficult refereeing the game. We play a game that has contest in every component. One team’s trying to keep the ball, one is trying to get the ball. “So your ability to communicate effectively with the referee is so important. Dylan does that brilliantly.”