Eddie Jones confirmed this week that Dylan Hartley would captain England at this year's Six Nations, after his ban for a forearm smash to the back of Sean O'Brien's head expired in time for his nation's opening joust with France.
The six-week ban was the seventh suspension of Hartley's career, and he has now accumulated bans exceeding a year for the constancy of his on-field thuggery. At the time of his red card against Leinster, it was expected that he had dealt his hopes of captaining the Lions in his native New Zealand a fatal blow. Not so, according to Warren Gatland.
The Lions Head Coach has been speaking with the Telegraph ahead of the daunting tour to New Zealand, and during the course of the conversation, he admitted that Hartley remains in contention to captain the squad. When asked to ponder the captaincy, this was Gatland's response:
Is it someone who has been a Lion already or someone who has done a good job in this Six Nations? And yes, if Dylan Hartley leads England to another Grand Slam that could sway it.
Dylan has done a great job with his leadership with England. The sending-off [for Northampton] looked like frustration to me. But Dylan has to contend with pressure, too, that of Jamie George pushing for his place. As for Sam [Warburton], he’s got to get selected for Wales first and foremost. The captain has to be sure of his place. If he is not, then we will ruthless on tour and drop him.
In the same conversation, Gatland listed off a few of the players who have impressed him thus far, with two Irish centres included. Here's the pertinent line from the Telegraph's piece:
Gatland name-checks Irish duo, centres Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose, as players who have caught his eye, understandably so given that the Lions coach was in Chicago in November to witness Ireland’s dramatic win over the All Blacks. England lock, Maro Itoje, also crops up in conversation.
You can read the full interview here.
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