Northampton Saints: Hartley wants the new era to start with a bang
Saints skipper Dylan Hartley says England have to pile into Scotland from the first minute if they are to win at Murrayfield for the first time since 2004.
Hartley is excited by the new era under Stuart Lancaster after the dismal World Cup campaign in the country where he was born.
After becoming England’s first choice hooker during last season’s Six Nations he suddenly found himself behind Steve Thompson in New Zealand. Now the former Saint has retired, Hartley is set to takeover the mantle and has become part of Lancaster’s leadership group.
At the World Cup, England scraped past Scotland with a last-gasp try from Saints winger Chris Ashton. This time Hartley says they need a fast start to quieten the normally vocal home support.
“We won the game in the last minute and we don’t want to be in that position again, chasing it,” said Hartley. “Kevin Sinfield and Jamie Peacock said (when they addressed us) last week - we can’t wait until we are 20 minutes into the game. We have got to start in the first minute, grab the game by the scruff of the neck. You can’t wait for something to happen. We have got to pile in.”
Hartley explained very few of this England squad have experienced those dark times in New Zealand. But perhaps more importantly, very few have experienced success either.
England’s heroes from 2003 - the likes of Mike Tindall, Thompson, Jonny Wilkinson - are all gone.
Big names from last year’s Six Nations title success have also been cast aside.
“It’s a new challenge,” said Hartley. “No one in here can say they have won the World Cup, no one in here can say they have won a Grand Slam. Only a few have won the Six Nations.
“We have a new group, we are going to grow and learn together. There are challenges ahead of us.
“It is difficult to win at Murrayfield. We haven’t won there in eight years. You can get into an arm wrestle with the Scots.
“It is just a challenge in itself, going away from home and winning.
“I don’t get intimidated. I enjoy it. The atmosphere is always good - the bagpipes, smoke, all the singing. It is the things you enjoy as a player. I am excited for it.”
Scotland’s back row are experts at combating sides who want to play with tempo and England are unlikely to get much of an opportunity to play free-flowing rugby at Murrayfield. But forwards coach Graham Rowntree insisted the shift in approach from England applies as much to their mindset as to their style of play.
“They have a good kicking game, a good pressure game. We have got to meet that head on,” said Rowntree.
“There will be fire and brimstone but I like to think we can bring a bit of that as well. We put our trust in these guys.
“We don’t want these guys to be harnessed by the fear of losing.
“Go out and play. Play like you do for your clubs. Don’t be worrying about making a mistake.”
Saints Under-19s shrugged off the absence of five players on England Under-18 duty to record a six-try 40-8 win over Bedford Blues.
Will Hooley, Howard Packman, Alex Wootton, Josh Skelcey, Charlie Esam and Sam Harry got the tries, with Hooley landing five conversions.
“With players like Reece Marshall, Danny Hobbs, Tom Stephenson, Sam Olver and Tom Collins away with England we needed guys to step up,” said Academy manager Alan Dickens. “So it was good to see Sam Harry, Will Hooley and Charlie Esam put in good performances, and for the full-time professionals like Alex Day, Danny Herriott and Teimana Harrison lead by example. It was also good to see Darryl Dyer return after a long absence with injury.”
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