The car park calling-out incident that convinced James Haskell that Dylan Hartley must go to Japan
Dylan Hartley has not played any rugby this year but has to lead England to the Rugby World Cup with his ability to “call out” fellow teammates a crucial skill that will be needed in Japan.
Hartley, 33, who has won 97 caps, needed surgery on a troublesome knee and his absence allowed Saracens Jamie George to assume the England No2 role in the Six Nations with Owen Farrell taking over the captaincy. However, James Haskell, the England and Northampton flanker, is adamant that Hartley, who last played at the end of December, must go to the World Cup as a key element in Eddie Jones’s squad and has seen at first hand the leadership qualities that set the combative hooker apart.
Haskell, an HSBC ambassador, said: “Obviously I am biased because he is a teammate and a good friend but I believe he has to go to Japan because over the last year and a half he has been playing the best rugby of his career. I love Jamie George and he is an incredible player and the media has been all about “get rid of Dylan bring in Jamie” and when things haven’t got that well while Dylan has been out, it is then a case of get him back into the side.
“Dylan has added ball carrying to his other elements and what people didn’t see is that Eddie Jones had him on the most ridiculous individual fitness programme as England captain. Dylan had to work doubly hard and when I would wake up at the squad hotel, he would already be on his second wrestling session then into something else and he really set the example for everyone. He brings a level of mental maturity and hard nosed old school that gets the best out of people.
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“He is willing to call players out and demands standards. We live in a World of Powerpoint presentations and business talk about open honesty and no one does it. To stand up at the front of an international squad and call someone out saying what they have been doing is not good enough is really impressive. It could be that Dylan had seen someone not doing extra training or skipping a recovery session and it is hard thing to do – to be the one calling a player out in front of all the other squad members.
“You need balls and modern players don’t like it and it is tough to call out teammates. Dylan works incredibly hard behind the scenes and being out injured for this long is not a major problem.
“When I was out with my toe injury, I actually felt better for not being involved in all of those matches and with the requirements Eddie put on him as captain, I think he will be in a fresher place. I know that Dylan is training his arse off and I would 100 per cent have him in there.”
Haskell discovered on his first day at Northampton about Hartley’s hard edge having moved from Wasps and the incident is still fresh in his memory.
“I parked where I thought was OK and because it was a hot day I put the car under this big tree. Dylan was talking to me like a best friend and right at the start of the team meeting he asks “right, who has parked that silver Range Rover under the tree? You know it’s not allowed so a crate of beer for the boys!”
“He looked at me and said he knew it was may car and that we didn’t do that as a team and it was unacceptable.”
“He could have given me a heads up when we were chatting but his attitude is that no one is bigger than the system. I got 18 Coronas for the boys and when Jamie Gibson was called out for the same thing he got a six-pack of Badger ale and was massively sharpened for that nonsense!”
Comments on RugbyPass
pure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
1 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to comments