Dylan Hartley's Ban Highlights Hidden Problem for Warren Gatland
Dylan Hartley’s sending off prompted widespread outrage and demands for his name to be removed from the list of possible Lions’ captains – but it may have exposed an even bigger problem for Warren Gatland ahead of next summer’s tour, writes James Harrington.
England captain Dylan Hartley’s red card and subsequent six-week ban for that clothesline on Sean O’Brien during Northampton’s European Champions Cup third-round home defeat to Leinster prompted immediate calls for Warren Gatland to scratch his name from the list of possible captains for next summer’s Lions’ tour of New Zealand.
He was handed a mid-range sanction after being cited for striking an opponent, and will be able to return on January 23. It means that he will be available for England for their opening 2017 Six Nations’ match against France on February 4, no doubt to the relief of Eddie Jones, but to the howling dissatisfaction of many.
A high-end sanction would have seen him miss, at least, the opening matches of the tournament.
Detractors’ demands regarding the Lions’ captaincy – loud and vociferous and impassioned as they were and as justified as they may have been – miss an important point.
The fact is Hartley has never been a shoo-in for the Lions’ captaincy. Not even close.
Gatland himself gently pointed this out when asked whether the incident at Franklin’s Gardens would have any bearing on his choice of skipper. “It’s so early to be thinking that far ahead,” he told Sky Sports. “There are a number of people who will be in contention for a potential captain’s role. It is about picking the squad first.
“To be fair to Dylan, in the last 12 months he has had a great track record … Hopefully he will take his punishment and get back for the Six Nations and hope he goes well.”
Other public Hartley apologists – including RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie and former Lions’ coach Sir Ian McGeechan – have also been quick point out that the England captain’s behaviour on international duty has been nothing short of exemplary.
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Gatland’s coy comments are being interpreted as a door held open for Hartley.
But they may hide a bigger issue – that the coach is not sure there’s an obvious captain out there. So, who could be in the frame? Probably not Hartley, despite Gatland’s warmish, comforting words, but also probably not Wales skipper Sam Warburton, his go-to man in 2013.
On current form alone, neither Hartley or Warburton would get a game for their national sides, let alone the Lions. This latest ban notwithstanding, Hartley has been a rare sight in Saints’ clothing since he was named England captain, and Warburton has fallen down the Wales’ flankers’ pecking order.
Scotland’s Greig Laidlaw, meanwhile, is also a long way down the list of likely Test scrum-halves, which means – at this stage – the captaincy is surely not an option.
Which leaves Rory Best. He’s a different player from the one who endured a fairly miserable tour of Australia in 2013. Back then, concerns over his lineout throwing meant he was not included in the original tour party. Ironically, he was only called-up when Hartley was scrubbed from the squad after his foul-mouthed disagreement with referee Wayne Barnes during that year’s Premiership final led to an 11-week ban.
But the jitters returned during a midweek defeat against the Brumbies before the first Test, and Best could not break into the Test squad, remaining very much third-choice behind Richard Hibbard and Tom Youngs.
Four years’ later, the lineout appears to be a concern no longer, after Best worked hard to improve that area of his game. And Gatland has guardedly endorsed the Ulsterman’s credentials. He told the New Zealand Herald: “He is scrummaging well, he is experienced. He has grown into that leadership role. There is a lot to admire about Rory Best.”
But, like Hartley, the Ireland skipper suffers a problem in the shape of Saracens’ hooker and Hartley’s international understudy Jamie George, who must be on glowing brightly on Gatland’s radar as a Test starter.
The coach has given himself a bizarre out by insisting the tour captain is not guaranteed a Test place – but it is surely logical to assume that, injury permitting, the Lions’ captain will start the big games. And if Best, Hartley, Laidlaw and Warburton are not on that teamsheet, who could it be?
In 1997, an unexpected name was selected to captain the Lions on their tour of South Africa. Two years later, he became captain of England. Four years after that, he lifted the World Cup.
Two decades later, it may be the time has come for another Martin Johnson moment.
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments