Hartley admits he has failed to make an impact at international level
By Nabil Hassan
It speaks volumes of how highly rated Dylan Hartley is at Northampton that at the age of 23 and despite his chequered history, he will be the man to lead the Saints this season.
And it is not any old season. This term they welcome back Heineken Cup rugby to Franklin's Gardens and also go into a campaign with genuine hopes of making the Guinness Premiership play-offs.
Two years ago it would have been unimaginable that Hartley would be leading the Saints so soon in his rugby career.
The New Zealand born hooker spent 26 weeks of 2007 on the sidelines having been banned for eye gouging and has also sought specialist advice from a sports psychologist to help channel his suspect temperament.
The past two years have not been without the odd indiscretion either, but despite that, Hartley was named Northampton captain in the summer by coach Jim Mallinder.
I feel like I haven't played well for England yet, I don't know what it is down to but it could be game time, it could be experience
Mallinder's eyes light up when he talks of Hartley and it is clear he feels an almost parental protectiveness when he talks of Northampton's brightest star.
He describes Hartley as "uncompromising, enthusiastic and a natural born leader" when explaining why he chose the player to spearhead his side's 2009/10 campaign.
"He plays the way we want to play, he plays on the edge and that is why the players respect him," adds Mallinder.
And when you spend time with Hartley it is easy to see what Mallinder means.
Hartley talks with pride when describing what a "huge honour" it is to be named Northampton captain.
He also talks with an intensity in his eyes and a nervous energy that is infectious and endearing.
You can also tell that Hartley is determined not to let Mallinder down and will do everything he can to repay his coach's faith in him.
Hartley is a mercurial talent and showed that with Northampton last season. But despite some fine performances for the Saints, he failed to make the most of several international opportunities that came his way at international level under England coach Martin Johnson.
He made nine appearances, all off the bench last term, but struggled to replicate the domestic form he had shown for his club.
It is an issue that troubles the young hooker, who was once described by former Lions centre Jeremy Guscott as England's solution to the troubled hooker position.
Hartley was given further opportunities in the summer, starting both Tests against Argentina, but still feels as though he let himself down.
In a newspaper article, Guscott later described Hartley as a "show-pony" after being unimpressed by his form in the summer.
But with a spring in his step and a new season set to begin, Hartley is desperate to make this his breakthrough year for England and make Guscott eat his words.
"I really want to nail that number two jersey and make it my own," Hartley tells BBC Sport.
"I feel like I haven't played well for England yet, I don't know what it is down to but it could be game time, it could be experience.
"I had an opportunity to play for England in the summer and I didn't feel like I played well. But all I can do is play well for Northampton, if I'm not doing that then I won't be playing well for England.
"Consistency for Northampton is my primary concern, everything else will follow."
With England, Hartley is currently playing understudy to Bath's Lee Mears, who was part of the British and Irish Lions squad that toured South Africa this summer.
But success as captain for Northampton should see him given further opportunities to displace Mears.
Appearances in the Heineken Cup will also give him the perfect opportunity to test himself against some of the biggest names in world rugby.
And Hartley is fully aware that the competition is an ideal preparation for international rugby.
Hartley happy with captaincy
"If you want to play for England you've got to be playing well for your club," he adds.
"And in terms of the Heineken Cup you are playing against some big names, Jerry Flannery (Munster hooker) for example, and against some big clubs, in big venues on the big stage and it is a good competition to test yourself and show what you are capable of.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Born in the Maori heartland of Rotorua, Hartley has represented England at U18, U19 and U21 level. He has England Saxons experience and offers Johnson something different to Mears.
He has the physicality of the Bath hooker but is also blessed with excellent handling ability, honed from endless days of playing touch rugby in New Zealand.
Hartley also plays on the edge, but is learning to direct his aggression in a controlled manner.
But any pre-conceptions that Hartley will tone that intensity down now he has the added responsibility of captaincy are quickly dismissed.
"I won't change the way I play because of the captaincy, I won't change as a person, I'll crack on, get my head down and get on with it," he concludes.
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