Saturday 13 May 2017 00:59, UK
England head coach Eddie Jones says Dylan Hartley could lead the side at the 2019 World Cup.
Hartley has skippered England in all 17 of their Tests under Jones, despite concerns over his disciplinary record and the outstanding form of Saracens hooker Jamie George, who got the nod ahead of Hartley for the Lions tour.
Northampton man Hartley will, therefore, be England's captain for the summer tour of Argentina and Jones has opened the door for the 31-year-old to remain at the helm, if he maintains his form.
"Initially it was a two-year plan," said Jones. "After that it was going to come down to whether he's improving as a player and as a captain.
"He was measurably better during the Six Nations than he was in November. His captaincy has gone up to another level.
"The preparation he's doing for Argentina would suggest he's going in the right direction. There's no reason he can't carry on to 2019.
"It depends how hungry he is - whether he keeps on being the Butcher of Rotorua or becomes the Squire of Northampton."
A more pressing concern for Jones than Hartley's captaincy is what the Australian coach sees as a lack of size among the three-quarters, of whom impact replacement Ben Te'o is the biggest.
Two Tests against the Pumas next month gives Jones the opportunity to experiment and London Irish's giant 19-year-old wing Joe Cokanasiga is an option available to him.
"I'm prepared to gamble with a number of players to see where they can go," said Jones. "I'm convinced we need some more size in the backs.
"We've got a very small backline - no players over 94kgs - and you need some size in your backline to take on the best in the world.
"We've got a great opportunity to test players on this tour with our Lions away. If they're good enough, they'll play. If they're not they won't. There is an opportunity to lay on depth."
