A message to any aspiring young rugby players out there - display a complete lack of professionalism, get suspended regularly, often and for long periods for offences such as headbutting, eye gouging, biting and abusing the referee (in a cup final) and you too could go on to captain your (adopted) country.
A strange appointment this, and i for one am not happy about it.
But who else could we choose?
-- Edited by WorcesterMiller on Tuesday 26th of January 2016 12:55:01 PM
Any one of a number Worcester. The main argument for Hartley is that he is likely to be a regular pick (unlike Robshaw who he has replaced who was arguably not worth a place in the squad as a player alone) but there are so many injuries and substitutions in rugby union that it would be unusual if whoever they chose was on the pitch throughout a single game never mind a series of games. Hartley himself hasn't been an automatic choice even when available. Only the new coach knows what his first fifteen is likely to be, but if for example Tom Wood or Joe Launchbury are likely to be in it then they would have done fine. Apart from being a poor role model, Hartley lacks discipline in the heat of battle. He gives cheap penalties away. The Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks tend to target captains for special treatment whoever it is. Hartley is a sitting duck. For me, a dreadful choice whichever way you look at it.
Deserve's another chance in what is a very physical game. He's flawed but he and the others can take it.
He might come good.
If he has shown contrition and willingness to work on his behaviour a society based on crime and punishment can't punish him for longer than the rules allow without being deemed abusive in their own right.
Right decision, we've been nice and losers for too long, I'd much sooner we are nasty and winners! Having said that he will need to watch his tendency to over react when goaded but I'm with magic, this could well be the making of him.... and England.
I understand the contrary viewpoints, and thanks for posting them. Perhaps I am not forgiving enough. My instinct is that I am uncomfortable with the idea of someone with a long and ugly rap sheet leading us. Perhaps the fact that I don't rate him highly as a player to start with has influenced me as well. Captain or not, he needs to improve his lineout throwing and stop giving cheap penalties away. He will be under pressure to keep a cool head now and he will be tested, that is for sure. Lets hope we shove it to Scotland for starters and have a good six nations.
A strange appointment this, and i for one am not happy about it.
But who else could we choose?
-- Edited by WorcesterMiller on Tuesday 26th of January 2016 12:55:01 PM
Any one of a number Worcester. The main argument for Hartley is that he is likely to be a regular pick (unlike Robshaw who he has replaced who was arguably not worth a place in the squad as a player alone) but there are so many injuries and substitutions in rugby union that it would be unusual if whoever they chose was on the pitch throughout a single game never mind a series of games. Hartley himself hasn't been an automatic choice even when available. Only the new coach knows what his first fifteen is likely to be, but if for example Tom Wood or Joe Launchbury are likely to be in it then they would have done fine. Apart from being a poor role model, Hartley lacks discipline in the heat of battle. He gives cheap penalties away. The Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks tend to target captains for special treatment whoever it is. Hartley is a sitting duck. For me, a dreadful choice whichever way you look at it.
Joe Launchbury for me, Good lad on and off the pitch.
