Dylan Harltey let his country down – Jones

England captain Dylan Hartley has let “his country down” following his recent six week ban for striking an opponent according to Eddie Jones.
The 78-cap hooker has now been banned for a combined 60 weeks of his rugby career, costing him a place at both the 2007 and 2015 World Cups as well as a place on the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
His most recent indiscretion came just six minutes after coming on as a substitute for Northampton when he received a red card for a swinging arm on Leinster flanker Sean O’Brien.
“Dylan will be more disappointed than anyone about what has happened and he has got to cop the penalty because the World Rugby directive on protecting the head is 100 per cent right,” said Jones.
“He has let down himself, he has let down his club and he has let down his country.
“He is eligible for selection for the Six Nations and it comes down to the case for every selection — we pick the best 23 and if he is in the best 23, then he has a chance to be captain.”
Previous bans received by the 30-year-old include eye-gouging, biting, punching and verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes in the 2013 Premiership final, but under Jones Hartley has been a key component in England’s undefeated 2016 season.
“This is not the last chance for him but he understands that he can’t behave in the way he did. Up to this point he has had an exemplary record (for us),” Jones added.
“Discipline is not a black and white situation. Each player is judged on their merits and some players in our squad have already had more than one chance.”
Should Hartley not be ready to return to England’s starting line-up in the Six Nations opener against France, Jones has been quick to rule out a return to the captaincy for Chris Robshaw, instead hinting that Owen Farrell may be next in line to lead his country.
“Chris has done his stint and he is more value to us in what he now does,” he said.
“We can cope because we have to. There is confidence in Owen but it is about having the level under him to make sure he has the support there.
“It is about having leadership density in the team, about having enough leaders on the field.”