Hartley AGAIN

[Jon]

The BBC live sports news feed is suggesting the same - Hartley dropped.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/32884375

Edit, and now:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32931690

Press conference at 12:30.

[Will S]

I'm not the guys biggest fan but on a personal note I do feel sorry for him as he seems to let himself down at the worst possible times. First the Lions tour and now this.

[fleabane]

Self inflicted, and no need whatsoever to feel sorry for him.

[fentiger]

#rolemodel

[sapajo]

My opinion of Lancaster has improved after this decision, which is right for England and Hartley, who will now finally realise that you reap the seeds you sow.

[snoopster]

I'm not the guys biggest fan but on a personal note I do feel sorry for him as he seems to let himself down at the worst possible times. First the Lions tour and now this.

You forget that he was expected to make the WC squad before last, till he got banned for gouging two players in one match.
The latter being part of why I have no sympathy for him - his offences range from the outright vicious to the petulantly stupid, he's just someone who probably shouldn't be allowed on a rugby pitch for the good of those he plays against.

[drc_007]

His place has been taken by Jamie George

[jgriffin]

What happened was nothing. Total bl66dy mess, created by Lancaster's ludicrous 'moral' crusade (which included trashing MJ's reputation). I genuinely feel sorry for the bloke. get off your high horses, forum - it was a nothing incident and if it was a Tigers player you'd all be screaming blue murder.

[Soggypitch]

I feel sorry for him missing a WC for such a nothing incident. I agree is it was a Tiger's player we would all be "up in arms"!

However I think SL has made the correct decision on rugby grounds, as DH will miss all the warm ups and Fiji and he does have a suspect temperament and there are good replacements.

Should not be left out on moral grounds however.

[fleabane]

I agree Soggypitch, he his too much a liability, too easily wound up and a target for the opposition. His omission on these grounds alone should have been made some time ago. George or Cowan-dickie to be on the bus instead? C-D has his chance against the Baa-Baas.

[4071]

What happened was nothing. Total bl66dy mess, created by Lancaster's ludicrous 'moral' crusade (which included trashing MJ's reputation). I genuinely feel sorry for the bloke. get off your high horses, forum - it was a nothing incident and if it was a Tigers player you'd all be screaming blue murder.

This doesn't sound like a 'moral crusade' - it sounds like Lancaster has pragmatic rugby reasons for dropping him:

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We are obviously very disappointed with the situation that Dylan has put himself in and where that leaves us as a squad. I have spoken to him and he knows he has let himself and everyone down.

“If we selected him in the World Cup squad he would have played no competitive rugby at all and we would be left exposed with only two available hookers in what is a specialised position going into the Fiji game.

“All it would take is one injury during the week of the Fiji game and we would only have one fit hooker in the squad for our crucial opening game and this would leave us massively exposed.

“In addition, the regulations also clearly state that in our World Cup squad we must have sufficient cover that is suitably trained and experienced in the front row in case of injury. This is clearly not the case if we begin the tournament with a suspended hooker and as such we have been left with no choice but to replace him.

“It also goes without saying that we need all our players to be able to control their discipline and make good decisions under pressure, the World Cup will clearly require this, and Dylan has not clearly displayed this in this latest incident. This is an area that he still needs to address.

“Dylan will be replaced by Jamie George in the World Cup squad and will not be considered until the suspension is served. Jamie has obviously played well for Saracens this season and I’m sure will work extremely hard to take his opportunity.”

He doesn't even suggest that Hartley won't be picked if available in the future - just that the timing of this incident and ban gives Lancaster no choice but to find a replacement.

[Iain]

At least when the All Blacks dance away with the World Cup again we'll be smugly polishing the Moral High Ground Trophy.

[snoopster]

What happened was nothing. Total bl66dy mess, created by Lancaster's ludicrous 'moral' crusade (which included trashing MJ's reputation). I genuinely feel sorry for the bloke. get off your high horses, forum - it was a nothing incident and if it was a Tigers player you'd all be screaming blue murder.

It was a nothing incident.. but one Hartley created when there was no need.
His team had just scored a try and he went and shoved his head into the face of his opposing hooker. The fact he was cited and banned shows it was viewable as a red card - so at the moment his team scored a try, he could have celebrated it by collecting a red card.
It wasn't vicious, unlike some of his past offences, but it was extremely stupid, like other past offences he has committed.
Nothing to do with Lancaster - Hartley's utter stupidity got him a ban that meant it would always be very hard to pick him for the WC (missing the warm ups and the irst game) and to be honest, I think his form since Christmas has been poor and he was only in the England team through the 6Ns on reputation not form so not much of a loss.

[sapajo]

Total bl66dy mess, created by Lancaster's ludicrous 'moral' crusade (which included trashing MJ's reputation). I genuinely feel sorry for the bloke. get off your high horses, forum - it was a nothing incident and if it was a Tigers player you'd all be screaming blue murder.

Fact is that this total bl66dy mess was iniated by Hartley and it simply beggars belief to blame anyone else for it. The positive is that England will be stronger and better without him.

[Coops]

I'm not the guys biggest fan but on a personal note I do feel sorry for him as he seems to let himself down at the worst possible times. First the Lions tour and now this.

Self inflicted, and no need whatsoever to feel sorry for him.

In much the same vain as Manu.