Murray Kinsella reports from Franklin’s Gardens
NORTHAMPTON DIRECTOR OF rugby Jim Mallinder expects hooker Dylan Hartley to be banned after his red card for a swinging arm to the back of Sean O’Brien’s head in the second half of Leinster’s 37-10 win in Franklin’s Gardens.
The England captain lasted only six minutes from the time he was brought off the Saints’ bench in the second half, with Leinster going on to secure a bonus-point victory after referee Jerome Garces sent Hartley off for his mindless act of violence.
Speaking after the game at Franklin’s Gardens, a visibly deflated Mallinder was in no doubt about the decision.
“It’s a strike to the head. We’ve seen enough of them over the last few weeks,” said Mallinder. “I think it was a red card.”
Hartley’s red came just after the Saints had fallen 20-10 behind to Leinster following Sean O’Brien’s try, and Mallinder stated that he didn’t believe it was the deciding of the game.
I wouldn’t say it cost us the game, I think we started badly and came back into the game pretty well,” said Mallinder.
“We had just conceded a try actually, we were already a few points down. But I think when you go down to 14 men against such a quality side as Leinster then you’re always going to be up against it.”
He’ll get a decent ban for the offence?
“Yeah, I think so,” replied Mallinder.
Hartley has a chequered disciplinary past and was a controversial choice as England captain at the start of Eddie Jones’ tenure. The England head coach was present at Franklin’s Gardens and was seen putting his head in his hands after Hartley’s red card.
The hooker had enjoyed an incident-free 2016 and been praised for turning around his temperament since being appointed as England captain, but this was the old, thuggish Hartley.
Certainly, he’s been playing really well and leading England by example, so it was disappointing that on returning from England after doing such a job that that happens,” said Mallinder.
Finally, asked if he was personally disappointed with Hartley for his red card, Mallinder said it was a collective frustration.
“I’m disappointed for the team. When you play a team like Leinster you want all your best players playing and you need fifteen players on the field.”
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Hartley’s always been a dirtbag. Nothing changed just because he’s the England captain. Roll on the 6 Nations. You’ll still see the RFU trying to justify him as Lions captain.
If there’s any justice he’d be banned for the 6 Nations. If good disciplinary records can reduce bans, surely they have to extend them for cases like Hartley. Sadly, his bans only seem to get shorter, though….
@ijlester: But As England captain he was flawless in a disciplinary respect the last 12 Months?
He’s been England captain since February, so it’s actually just 10 months. He couldn’t even go a year without something like this happening.
Really refreshing for once to hear a coach be honest when questioned about a yellow/red card offense. Mallinder didn’t shy away or fudge the question as nearly all other managers do when confronted with similar incidents. Fair play.
Malinder comes across as a nice honest guy, just like Lancaster was. It’s a shame the RFU don’t respect honesty. Lancaster had the nads to drop Hartley as captain only for him to be reinstated under Jones.
Mallinder presides over a team of serial offenders and currently has two starters on suspension with his own appointed captain now facing yet another suspension. The players are certainly responsible for their actions but the Coach is responsible for tolerance he shows for thugs. These are incidents where someone made a bad tackle, they are outright foul play, criminal behaviour in any other environment and Mallinder needs to be held responsible for tolerating such carry on; one has to think it is quietly condoned unless it is rooted out.
Hartley is a spineless tw@t.
Swinging goodbye to lions captaincy
You’d never see him take a swing at O’Brien face on.
I normally can’t stand tmo decisions for foul play cause when u slow an incident down to frame by frame it always looks 20 times worse than in real time, when players have split seconds to react but my god that was filth. He knew what he was doing and hopefully gets the max ban
100% agree . It was actually an act of cowardice . He saw SOB was held and head his head was vulnerable , he followed though as hard as could with intent . He deserves a long ban . Northampton should cut their losses with this dope
That yoke is a coward shouldn’t be let next nor near a team sport, or people for that matter
I did not see the match (competing obligation) but given Hartley’s record he could be facing a ban til the end of the season. And I have no problem with that. He is a thug.
Agreed that should finish him for the captaincy of he Lions and possibly for England if Jones is as tough as he appears to be.
Start writing the obituary
Once a thug..
PS is SOB injured as a result?
Obviously wants to spend Christmas with his family
Hartley is a tool surprised Mallinder has not been sacked long ago
Too many bans not enough action against him There’s no putting manners on him. Cowardly thug and RFU seem to reward this attitude. 3 month ban at this stage is minimum he should get.
Didn’t Peter Clohessy get a 6 month ban for stamping ? Something similar is warranted here.
Leopards don’t change their spots !
Once a thug always a thug. RFU will get around it… so good this year etc..
An Act of Contrition and two Hail Marys seems to satisfy the RFU most times
Big brave man, hitting from behind, what a coward, if face to face with SOB would he have done it? There you go….. Should be no place on Lions for cowards
Nice to see the English media condemning Hartley for this. There was a time when they’d defend or play down this kind of thing.
He’s been banned for a total of 54 weeks over his rugby career, even before this incident. He shouldn’t be England captain but it’s too late for that argument. Hopefully the Lion’s committee have more sense.
The Irish boys will get Hartley lying at the bottom of a ruck at the Aviva in March.
Revenge will be sweet!
Oran a bonus point win is all the revenge we need.
Hartley is exactly the type of player needed in the lions. A good dust up with these kiwi so called hard lads is due. Its not chess we’re talking about here