Friday 6 January 2017 10:06, UK
Eddie Jones has offered no guarantees that Dylan Hartley will continue in his role as England captain after this season.
Hartley is serving a six-week suspension after being dismissed during Northampton's Champions Cup defeat to Leinster on December 9 for a high swinging-arm tackle on Sean O'Brien.
The 30-year-old hooker's latest ban means he has racked up 60 weeks in suspensions and prompted a furious reaction from Jones.
After the incident, Jones said: "He has let down himself, he has let down his club and he has let down his country."
Jones has since softened his stance, saying Hartley made a "judgement error" and confirmed he will lead England during the Six Nations as long as he can prove his fitness.
When asked about Hartley, Jones told the Daily Mail: "Listen, he's done a fantastic job for me. He is just a player who can bring people together. Some players, as you well know, can take a team forward and he's one of those players.
"He's not the greatest player in the world but he has got the rare ability to get players really playing for him."
Aside from his discipline issues, Hartley has done a stellar job since being chosen by Jones to succeed Chris Robshaw as captain.
England have won all 13 games for which Hartley has been skipper and last season captured their first Grand Slam since 2003.
However, despite the success, Jones hinted he may review the captaincy issue after this season as he continues to build towards the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
When asked if expected Hartley to continue as captain over the long term, Jones said: "We don't have to worry about that now because it will take care of itself.
"I see the 2019 World Cup as three projects - the first two years, the next two years and then the final three months.
"In the first two years how the team forms is completely different to the next two years and I know that Dylan is going to do a great job for us in that first two-year phase.
"Then we will assess what happens for the next two years."
