‘We don’t use history, we don’t look at trends’: inside the mind of Dylan Hartley
• ‘History is history. We can only affect what happens on Saturday’
Many people believe Dylan Hartley is fortunate still to be captain of England. Maybe he is in some respects but every footsoldier loves a lucky general. Then again, how much luck is ultimately involved when you have led your team in 24 Test matches and lost once? The more I practise the luckier I get as Gary Player used to say.
In 12 home Tests as captain Hartley has yet to make a losing speech. With or without the armband he is unbeaten in an England jersey at Twickenham since November 2014. Since making his Six Nations debut in 2009 he has lost at HQ in the championship twice in 23 outings, to Ireland in 2010 and Wales in 2012. Martin Johnson, for comparison’s sake, had a marginally worse ratio, having also suffered two home defeats in the tournament in 19 attempts from 1993 to 2003.
Continue reading...from The Guardian http://ift.tt/2nUGSFG
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