Sport
Hartley eager to face ‘payback’ All Blacks
Hartley eager to face ‘payback’ All Blacks
AFP/London
New Zealand-born England hooker Dylan Hartley hopes his performance against Argentina will have done enough to earn him a starting spot when the All Blacks arrive at Twickenham. |
Hartley was man-of-the-match in England’s 31-12 win over the Pumas, their second straight victory in a November campaign that started with a 20-13 defeat of Australia.
The Northampton forward was at the heart of England’s dominant first-half display having been given a chance to start by national coach Stuart Lancaster in place of rival hooker Tom Youngs.
Now Hartley is aiming to be involved from the start when world champions New Zealand, who’ve won all 12 of their Tests so far in 2013, return to the ground where England beat them 38-21 in stunning style last year.
Reflecting on the Pumas match Hartley, who will win his 50th England cap if he features against New Zealand, said: “I enjoyed the game. It was good to be back and to contribute to a good first-half forward performance was satisfying.
“At the end of the tunnel I knew there was a starting place against the All Blacks available, but I didn’t want to get too caught up in that.
“It was more about doing my job in the team and I think I did that,” added the 27-year-old Hartley, born in Rotorua but who joined Northampton’s academy in 2005 after finding his opportunities as a then loosehead prop limited at home.
England were 24-6 up at half-time against Argentina, the kind of situation in which New Zealand would have likely gone on to win by a crushing margin.
Yet only a try shortly before the finish from replacement Ben Morgan extended England’s lead.
Hartley said England needed to play “the perfect game” if they were to beat New Zealand, 26-19 winners over France in Paris on Saturday,
“The All Blacks have been fantastic on recent form and come here with a big number one badge on,” said Hartley.
“There’s no doubt they’ll want revenge. They’re a proud nation and a proud team and will be looking for payback.
“We’ll have to be up for it and play the perfect game—for the whole game.”
Meanwhile Hartley’s club and Test colleague Tom Wood would like Red Rose wins over the All Blacks to stop becoming collectors items ahead of the 2015 World Cup in England.