Getting Stuck In

Rotorua-raised Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley, 23, hopes to play for England in the Six Nations and, according to the Telegraph’s Paul Ackford, “Hartley is a find for England because he plays with a rage that all good international teams need”. “Dog, devil, attitude — call it what you will — is beyond coaching, and the men who have it are precious. As with all proper forwards, Hartley wears pain as a badge of pride. ‘I love where I play. I’m heavy and I’m not as fast or as skilful as the backs, so hooker suits me. What front-rowers are good at is putting their heads where other people won’t and pushing and enjoying the contact side of things, getting their ears squeezed.’ England need to stir themselves for this Six Nations and Hartley could just be the man wielding the spoon.”