Hartley place not guaranteed, says Jones ahead of pre-Six Nations training camp
>> LONDON: Eddie Jones included Dylan Hartley in his Six Nations squad yesterday but refused to guarantee his Grand Slam-winning captain a starting place.
Northampton hooker Hartley, who last season captained England to a Six Nations title with a clean sweep of wins, is currently serving a six-week ban for striking.
Hartley came through a ‘simulated match trial’ fitness test on Wednesday and was included in a 34-man squad announced by Jones.
Jones, though, did not name Hartley — or anyone else — as captain yesterday.
Hartley — who has missed more than a year of his career through suspension — is not expected to play before England face France in their Six Nations opener at Twickenham on Feb 4.
“Dylan is moving in the right direction. He’s progressed from probably in the autumn when we’d have given him a five out of 10 in terms of being ready to play,” Jones told reporters at Twickenham.
“Now he’s more like a seven out of ten.”
England travel to Portugal for a Jan 22-27 training camp and Jones said: “Given that he has a good couple of days training in Portugal, I anticipate him being ready for the first Test match.
“I’ll have a look at him on Monday and Tuesday.”
But the Australian stressed: “The captaincy like the jersey is not a permanent position — nothing is permanent in our team.
“No one owns the jersey, it’s something you borrow.”
England are currently on a 14-match winning streak, with 13 of those victories coming since Jones took charge following the 2015 World Cup.
England’s latest squad included three uncapped players in fly-half Alex Lozowski, back row Mike Williams and prop Nathan Catt.
But they will be without former captain Chris Robshaw for the whole of the Six Nations after the Harlequins flanker had shoulder surgery while fellow back-row forward Billy Vunipola will miss at least the opening rounds because of a knee problem.
But lock George Kruis was included following a recent cheekbone injury while Saracens second row partner Maro Itoje returned after missing England’s end-of-year campaign in 2016 with a hand problem.
Back-row James Haskell, who suffered a toe injury late last year before being concussed this month, was passed fit as was wing Anthony Watson.
Despite his vast experience, Jones — Australia’s coach when they were beaten by England in the 2003 World Cup final to England — said he’d been taken aback by the passion involved in the Six Nations.
“At the start of last year’s Six Nations I probably didn’t realise the enormity of the tournament and how intense the rivalry is between the countries, so this year we’ ll be better prepared for it and we are looking forward to being daring in our game against France on 4 February.”