England coach Eddie Jones said he wants fiery captain Dylan Hartley to play like Tarzan when the Six Nations tournament begins against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
“On the field he’s got to be Tarzan,” the Australian told the BBC on Monday. “He’s got to get out there and play with his heart and if he does that the players will follow him.”
Hartley was a controversial choice as captain because of the New Zealand-born player’s long history of ill-discipline at club level with Northampton.
Photo: Reuters
He has won 66 Test caps, but has accumulated bans totaling 54 weeks for head-butting, biting, gouging, swearing at referees, elbowing and punching.
Jones, who replaced Stuart Lancaster in November after England’s dismal showing at their home World Cup last year, has said he admires Hartley’s “aggressive and uncompromising approach,” but he also sees something else.
“The first time I met him, we came to the kitchen and he was speaking to people behind the counter, he was very polite and respectful,” he told the BBC. “He gets around, talks to people, encourages people to be involved.”
“Leadership is not about being in the front of the bus, beating your chest and saying: ‘do as I do.’ It’s about engaging people and finding out what qualities they have. I’ve been pleased how Dylan’s done that.”
Hartley is unlikely to play the full 80 minutes on Saturday and Jones said he would name a deputy when he announces his team.
The coach also indicated that 21-year-old Saracens forward Maro Itoje and Wasps back Elliot Daly need more time.
“Those two boys, I want them to be 60-Test players at least,” he said. “Now I’ve got to pick the right time to put them in.”
“They’ll play Test rugby for England — they’ll definitely play in the Six Nations at some stage, but I’ve got to pick the right opportunity for them to play,” Jones said.
“Their time will come,” he added.
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