Saints hooker Haywood: I knew Dylan would deliver

Mike Haywood insists he always knew Dylan Hartley would lead England to glory.
Mike Haywood (right) always had full faith in Saints team-mate Dylan Hartley (picture: Dylan Hartley)Mike Haywood (right) always had full faith in Saints team-mate Dylan Hartley (picture: Dylan Hartley)
Mike Haywood (right) always had full faith in Saints team-mate Dylan Hartley (picture: Dylan Hartley)

And he says Hartley’s success has given him ‘someone to chase’ as he bids to build his own international career.

Hartley’s England celebrated winning the Six Nations title last weekend thanks to Scotland’s success against France on Sunday.

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And they will now look to complete a Grand Slam by beating Les Bleus in Paris tonight.

It would make it a perfect first Six Nations campaign as skipper for Hartley, who was handed the role by new England head coach Eddie Jones in January.

And Haywood said: “I knew he was going to do a good job.

“He’s been great for us and he’s just a great guy really.

“His leadership skills are outstanding and everyone listens to him and follows him.

“I know why he’s done so well in the England role.

“I messaged him the other day to say congratulations and hopefully he can do well this weekend.”

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Haywood has continued to excel in Hartley’s absence, helping Saints to win five of their past six games.

The 24-year-old has started 16 of the club’s 22 matches this season, appearing in the other six from the bench.

And Haywood will be hoping to keep his place when Hartley returns.

“For me, it’s someone to chase,” he said.

“Being behind Dyls at the moment, if he’s playing well, I have to play well to get in the squad.

“It’s normally better for a team to have that competition because you have your best player on the pitch then.”