Wales boss Gatland praises Hartley as Millennium mind games underway
The Northampton captain, whose career has been riddled by disciplinary issues, is expected to start for England in Friday night’s eagerly-awaited RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
Gatland was critical of Hartley ahead of the corresponding fixture in 2011, claiming “he has always got a lot to say” and that “he went to pieces” during a club game against Leicester.
Gatland, though, selected Hartley for the 2013 Lions tour of Australia — a trip the player subsequently missed due to an 11-week suspension after he was sent off in the Aviva Premiership final for verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes.
The Wales head coach said yesterday: “Dylan brings an edge to the game. That’s what makes top players.
“I spoke to Dylan when we were at Twickenham, and we had a good chat about the Lions. I would have loved to have worked with him.
“I’ve got a huge amount of respect for him. He’s got an edge and is competitive, and he has that will to win. He has improved his game and is a quality hooker.
“I had a few words about him a number of years ago, and he shoved them back in my face and responded brilliantly with a fantastic performance (against Wales). As a coach, you have got to admire and respect that. He is a hard competitor, a winner and uncompromising.”
For his part England forwards coach Graham Rowntree takes exception to Gatland singling out a player for his mind games, but he knows Hartley’s self-restraint will be tested at a hostile Millennium Stadium.
When asked if Hartley is under extra pressure on Friday night, Rowntree said: “Yes he is. Under pressure from himself as well and we have to manage that.
“I need to make sure this week he is concentrating about the things he has to do for our team, not everything else.”
England have been decimated by injuries ahead of their latest Millennium Stadium visit, with the likes of Courtney Lawes, Joe Launchbury, Ben Morgan, Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi, David Wilson and Geoff Parling among those absent.
Such a lengthy injury list threatens to undermine England’s hopes of avenging a record 30-3 drubbing in Cardiff two years ago.
Prop David Wilson was added to England’s lengthy injury list yesterday but Dan Cole is available after recovering from his foot injury.
Wilson will miss the Millennium Stadium showdown after conceding defeat in his battle with a neck problem — it is hoped he will be fit to face Italy a week later — and is set to be replaced at tighthead by Cole.
“David’s not recovered from the nerve impingement,” Rowntree said.
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