Johnson: Gatland’s Hartley jibe shows he’s feeling heat

MARTIN JOHNSON yesterday waded into the furore over Dylan Hartley and branded Warren Gatland’s attempts to wind up the England hooker as the actions of a man under pressure.

Wales coach Gatland lit the blue touch-paper ahead of a potentially explosive RBS 6 Nations showdown in Cardiff next Friday by branding Hartley a choker and questioning his temperament on the biggest stage.

Johnson is not easily goaded into a pre-match war of words but the England team manager returned fire with force.