New England captaincy Dylan Hartley has copped a bashing from fans but most of the British rugby media is taking a wait and see approach to his controversial appointment.
Former test back Austin Healey was an exception, leading the attack on Eddie Jones' decision to appoint rugby's most notorious thug as test captain, replacing Chris Robshaw. Hartley has received 54 weeks of suspensions for eye-gouging, biting, punching, swearing, elbowing and head-butting.
The 29-year-old led England in a test against South Africa in 2012, and now has the job permanently. His elevation brought mixed reactions, with the sports writers noting a change in direction from the more idealistic era under Stuart Lancaster who dropped players for disciplinary reasons.
Healey told his Telegraph readers: "I don't have anything against Dylan personally, but he is not even the best hooker at his club at the moment. He has started one match in two months for Northampton and was not particularly good then. It is astounding then that he is being selected ahead of England's best hooker on the basis of no form and a history that is more chequered than the Formula One flags.
"(Tom Youngs) doesn't cost his team through a rush of blood to the head or get sent off."
