Hartley welcomes Lancaster approach
January 31, 2012 08:57:03 UK
England hooker Dylan Hartley has been impressed by interim head coach Stuart Lancaster ahead of the opening Six Nations encounter against Scotland.
Dylan Hartley has welcomed a fresh approach with England.Hartley is one of the few players yet to be coached by Lancaster, but with preparation time limited, the front-rower has been struck by his boss' effective regime.
He said: "He's direct, simple and I think it sums up the last three days, it's been simple. We've achieved everything that we've needed to over the last few days and we're in a good place.
"Yesterday we started to fully focus on Scotland, so we've got the team gelled together and we've an understanding of how we want to play."
England are 1.80 to win at Murrayfield on Saturday, with the hosts 2.20 to win for the third time in the last four Calcutta Cup clashes on home soil.
Lancaster's men are 26.00 to go on and win the Six Nations title and 4.00 to secure a Triple Crown.
Meanwhile, despite Chris Robshaw obtaining the captaincy for the first two Six Nations games, Hartley could well get the opportunity to lead his country later on in the competition, having led his club side Northampton for the past two seasons.
He's direct, simple and I think it sums up the last three days, it's been simple.
Dylan Hartley
And in an inexperienced squad with several uncapped players, Hartley believes his time in the England team has enabled him to naturally assume a leadership position.
"It's just something that happens," he said. "I've been in and around the squad a few years and in terms of games played, I'm one of the lucky ones that's got a few caps to their name.
"It comes naturally with your leaders out there, it's not just myself, it's not only coaches that promote these players, these players are promoting themselves, and the likes of Lee Dickson for example, Calum Clarke and Tom Wood, they all do a job for me at Northampton.
"Certainly, already in the last few days, what I've seen them bring to this camp, they've continued that role. It's what you do at your club, that's why you're picked to be here."
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