Dylan Hartley blasts England's 'bull**it' excuses

Speaking on the

RugbyPass Offload,

he said: “Every organisation reviews and debriefs and consults. It’s almost like in society now we pander to everyone, we’ve got to answer to everyone.

“Review Eddie Jones, review the performance, set expectations and standards, we all know what they are; to win, to high achieve and to perform. But don’t put it in the public domain.

“It feels like one person has said make it public, and they’ve gone ‘Ohhh, we don’t want to offend that one guy. So let’s make it public.

“So for me, sitting there, I don’t understand why they’re airing their dirty laundry in public. Keep it internal.

“A faceless rugby expert has said they were fatigued. I don’t think they were fatigued. How can Saracens players be fatigued when they haven’t played any rugby?

“We were saying they needed game time, then how can you say a third of the team were fatigued. I think it’s all bull***.”

“The players need to better. The coaches need to be better. They’ve got the cattle, they got good enough players. The competition got better. They need to get better.”

Hartley said: "At 30 years old with 50 caps, he has reached a good blend. There is a balance between his set-piece excellence and some nice little touches. I would say he is the first hooker Warren Gatland will pick for the Lions tour next year and there is nobody really challenging him."

Hartley said: " He’s diligent off the field, which I was. He has a strong voice, which you need when talking to a group of men. He’s a world-class player. For me, he’d be the first name on the team-sheet at 10 or 12… even six or eight."

Hartley said: ""Alun Wyn is probably the front-runner at the moment but there's lots to happen between now and the announcement of the squad."

Hartley said: “Curry has been absolutely magnificent for England in the last two years. Just his ball-carrying, his tackling, he’s cleaning out rucks…he can do everything.”

Hartley said: "I am sure Maro could be captain of England, and maybe the Lions."