Dylan Hartley and the Test rugby statistic that looks unfavourably on player welfare in England
Dylan Hartley gave awareness to a curious international rugby fact during a recent interview promoting his new autobiography - why does England only have one Test cap centurion?
A dozen countries feature in the list of the world's 50 most capped Test players. Australia and New Zealand lead the way with eight centurions each followed by Italy on seven players, with Wales, Ireland and South Africa next best on five players apiece. In sharp contrast, England check in twelfth and last, Jason Leonard their sole representative.
Amid concerns over the welfare of players playing in the Premiership during a 2019/20 resumption where teams are staging midweek matches, Hartley's solution to the international level quirk is the RFU introduction of central contracts.
However, this is something he just can't see ever happening given the power wielded by clubs in England compared to other rival countries.
Asked by The Guardian if player welfare can ever improve, the 97-capped Hartley replied: “Certainly not in England. I can’t see it getting better. How many players play 100 Tests for England? One at the moment. Jason Leonard.
"I got close. Ben Youngs is right there (on 99 caps). Look at New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland. Even the Welsh players. Because they’re managed a lot better they play longer.
"We all say: ‘We’re England fans.’ But the clubs aren’t England fans. I understand. Why would they pay someone ridiculous sums of money and then only have them play ten games a year?
“I can’t see it [central contracts] happening. But, for us to have a consistently successful international product, players need to focus on England.”
In the top 50 list of capped players, Leonard ranks 18th on 119 caps, 29 behind the charting-topping New Zealander, Richie McCaw, on 148.
TOP 50 TEST RUGBY APPEARANCE LIST BY COUNTRY
AUSTRALIA - 8
Gregan (139), Moore (129), Ashley-Cooper (121), Sharpe (116), Smith (111), Genia (110), Kepu (110), Giteau (103)
NEW ZEALAND - 8
McCaw (148), Mealamu (132), Read (127), Woodcock (118), Whitelock (117), Carter (112), Franks (108), Nonu (103)
ITALY - 7
Parisse (142), Castrogiovanni (119), Zanni (119), Bortolami (112), Bergamasco (106), Ghiraldini (104), Lo Cicero (103)
WALES - 5
AW Jones (147), Jenkins (134), S Jones (110), Williams (104), Thomas (103)
(*all won Lions caps)
IRELAND - 5
O'Driscoll (141), O'Gara (130), Best (124), O'Connell (115), Hayes (107)
(* all bar Best won Lions caps)
SOUTH AFRICA - 5
Matfield (127), Habana (124), Mtawarira (117) Smit (111), de Villiers (109)
SCOTLAND - 3
Ford (111) Paterson (109), Lamont (105)
(*Ford won Lions caps)
FRANCE - 2
Pelous (118), Sella (111)
ROMANIA - 2
Vlaicu (124), Fercu (109)
GEORGIA - 2
Kacharava (122), Kvirikashvili (115)
RUSSIA - 2
Kushnarev (115), Gresev (103)
ENGLAND - 1
Leonard (119)
(*also won Lions caps)
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John, McKenzie was 10 years ago and he only lasted 15 months until the disgustingly unfair affair that brought him down. I thought that if he didn't get another gig over Eddie V2 then he was done. I read that he had been approached but declined to put his name in the ring.
There are no potential Wallaby coaches outside of McKellar unless you have some inside info?
Go to commentsThe way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.
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