Dylan Hartley is a thug. More than a year’s worth of suspensions prove that. But can his latest attack on a rugby field be explained away as just another example of thuggery?
He was shown the line just six minutes after coming on against Leinster on Friday night thanks to this reckless and dangerous swing at Sean O’Brien, which reportedly left the Ireland flanker concussed.
The reaction of the England coach Eddie Jones, the man who made Hartley the captain of his adopted country’s Test team, said it all.
It was yet another example of the hooker’s indiscipline, but one of his predecessors as England captain was not letting Hartley off the hook by explaining it away as another example of his infamous temper.
Lawrence Dallaglio, speaking on BT Sport, believes this is far worse. The World Cup winner blamed it on Hartley “checking out” of his responsibilities with his club, who pay his wages.
“He has kind of checked out of playing for Northampton this season,” said the former flanker. “He has been brilliant for England, according to Eddie Jones he has been a good leader within that group but he has sort of checked out of playing for his club.
“I don’t think you can do that. I have been captain of England and I know what the pressures are like. It is tough, but when you come back you have to give your guys a lift. You need to get the banter back and get the spirits back and translate that confidence back to your club side.
“Every time that has been asked of him he has not done that, he has looked after number one. He needs to go away and have a look at his game and himself and come back as a Northampton Saints player.”
Such a damning indictment of Hartley’s commitment to the cause can only harm his Lions captaincy candidacy, just as much as a potential six-week ban.
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