Dylan Hartley won't be sidetracked by Lions skipper talk

Dylan Hartley says his focus is solely on England and not on the possibility of captaining the Lions next summer.

The Northampton hooker's achievements in skippering England to the Six Nations title and a first Test series win in Australia mean he is the bookies' favourite to wear the Lions armband next summer.

But with four autumn Tests on the horizon, Hartley's priorities are clear.

"I am only judged on my next game for England," he said. "I need to make sure I am in that England team for South Africa in November, I am the form hooker and I am there or thereabouts.

"It's not something I ever set out to achieve. I am just happy where I am at the moment, with my focus on this job. It is a job that might come at the end of the season but right now my focus is on my club and my country.

"Most players are conscious of [the Lions tour] and they are hugely excited about it. But break it down. How do you play for your country? You play well for your club.

"How do you play well for your club? You train hard in pre-season, which is now, and you start the season well.

"For me it is all about Northampton, playing well, making sure I hold my hand up, making sure Eddie sees me and I'm in good form, ready to play for England. It's a bonus at the end of the season."

England take on South Africa on November 12 followed by Tests against Fiji, Argentina and Australia in consecutive weeks: win all four and they will match the 14-Test winning run set by Sir Clive Woodward's 2003 side.

"There's no win record without winning the first game," Hartley said. "So the biggest challenge for us is South Africa.

"I've never beaten South Africa and I don't think anyone in the squad's ever beaten them, so there's a massive challenge there for us."