Hartley takes blame for failing to deal with Italy’s tactics
earlier. We have now looked at scenarios where, if it happens again, we can react more quickly.
“I was trying to figure out what was happening. I was confused. Sometimes I saw one or two blue shirts and thought it was a ruck but it wasn’t until I saw [Italy scrum-half] Edoardo Gori standing in our passing channel that I got confused as to what was going on. I questioned the referee but he wasn’t going to change his mind, so I just rolled with it.
“That scenario is now covered. We have learnt from it. And if it happens again we will be tooled-up to deal with it.”
Part of that process has involved Hartley leading the way in getting to grips with every detail of the law book. The ploy adopted by Italy, to back off once the tackle is made so as not to form a ruck, thereby avoiding the setting up of an offside line, is not new but it has rarely been used to the extent that it was last Sunday.
And whatever demons and tricks might be lurking in the law book, Hartley is determined not to get caught out again.
“For me is it is a good lesson to brush up on the laws,” he said.
“I was in just about every breakdown, in the thick of it and pretty well equipped to see.
“We have seen it before but not all game, not continuously. But that is the learning, isn’t it? I have already done so [mugged up on laws]. I don’t actually possess a [law] book. Maybe I should get one. I think we all know that particular law now. We are all pretty clear on that.”