Murray Kinsella report from Syon Park, London
FOR THE THIRD Lions tour in a row, the England captain has missed out on selection, with Dylan Hartley following in the footsteps of Chris Robshaw in 2013 and Steve Borthwick in 2009.
Northampton Saints man Hartley has been involved in some controversial disciplinary issues throughout his career, but the Lions said it was purely a matter of preferring three other hookers for their strengths on the tour of New Zealand this summer.
Ireland’s Rory Best, Welshman Ken Owens and Jamie George – who played back-up to Hartley during England’s Six Nations triumph – will be the three options for the Lions in the number two shirt this time around.
31-year-old Hartley also missed out on touring with the Lions in 2013 after receiving an 11-week ban for swearing at referee Wayne Barnes, while also calling him a “cheat” during the Premiership final.
It means that today’s confirmation that he will not be heading to his native New Zealand with the Lions will have been an even bigger blow.
We had a long and lively debate about hookers and Dylan Hartley has done a great job for England in terms of competitiveness and leadership,” said Lions boss Warren Gatland after the squad was named.
“But then if we had picked Dylan, I’m sure that if we’d left out Jamie George, Rory Best or Ken Owens, we’d be asked about that – they were arguably the form players in the Six Nations.
“Four years ago we left out Rory Best and there was uproar in Ireland in terms of how unlucky he was. Dylan has been unlucky, but it’s not just there. There’s lots of talk about Joe Launchbury, Donnacha Ryan, the two Gray brothers, in terms of being left out.
“Selection is just a matter of opinion at the end of the day. We might disagree but that’s what makes it interesting.”
Intriguingly, the aforementioned Borthwick is now part of the Lions coaching staff as forwards coach.
The former second row is also part of the England coaching team, meaning he has worked with Hartley throughout their superb run of wins.
“It’s one of those positions where we’re absolutely spoiled for choice in the options we have,” said Borthwick of Hartley’s omission.
“Dylan has been a tremendous leader for England over the last period of time and has been playing well. The key for us was getting the right mix of players.
“We had lots of options and the three we’ve come to, we believe, give us the the right mix of strengths. From Jamie’s set-piece and his running game, Ken Owens’ form in the Six Nations was tremendous, Rory Best’s competitiveness, leadership, work at the set-piece.
“We believe that the three we’ve picked have the mix of abilities for what we want to do down in New Zealand.
“I know Dylan will be very disappointed not to be selected. He has the end of the season with his club and then the tour to Argentina to work towards.
“I think he will be very, very disappointed by it but the thing that has struck me is how resilient he is. He has bounced back from a lot of things. He’s a strong character.”
