Former England captain Dylan Hartley admits his omission from Eddie Jones’ World Cup squad remains causing him to have.
The Northampton hooker was made out of England’s 31-man squad to the championship, having neglected to defeat a serious knee injury he suffered in December.
Hartley, who has 97 caps for England, had expected to bow from international rugby on a high in Japan, and it is coming to terms with being denied the chance.
“When the World Cup group was announcedit was like I had died – friends touch base and seeing if I was OK,” Hartley said.
“Ultimately, the way I looked in my whole arcade career and how I needed it to flake out, and also how it was goingwas that this would have been the greatest send-off, the fantasy finish into an international career.
“The simple fact is that you pick up an injury.
“For 3 years we’ve talked about winning the World Cup with Eddie, and I’ve headed that team, been part of that journey, to fall at the last hurdle… I do not understand the feeling.
“I wake up many nights thinking about it. It doesn’t sit well with me, but I have come to terms with it. You have to crack .”
Hartley believes England have an excellent likelihood of being the group that lifts the Webb Ellis Cup in Yokohama City on November 2, and that his omission to take care of.
“I really believe England (will win), they have got as good a chance to go and do it,” he explained.
“The strangest thing for me would be to believe if my leg was not [injured] at the moment I might be there together winning a World Cup. It’s tough to swallow.
“I expect they win and go. I’ll get on and be a glory supporter – recall me guys?
“I will be hanging from the face of this open-top bus, in my 97th (appearance) shirt.”
Hartley hasn’t featured at any degree of rugby as representing club side Northampton at a Gallagher Premiership clash with Worcester.
The 33-year-old admits he aggravated his knee injury.
“I attempted an (first ) approach with my knee, a very aggressive strategy, since I was given a few deadlines to meet, and the competitive approach did not get the job done,” said Hartley.
“I basically ended up at a worse position for attempting to come back too early. Ever since that happened, I knew I was not going to create the (World Cup) deadline.
“It was about the start of the camps, even when they first got together around the start of July. I tried return for this and basically put myself at a tiny hole emotionally and physically.”
Hartley spent a fortnight in Philadelphia working with strength and conditioning specialist Bill Knowles, whose past clients believes that therapy was valuable, and include Andy Murray.
“Everyone asks when you are coming back but I’ve learned that you do not put a time frame on it, because when you are 10 days out from it and you realize you are nowhere near, you can play these games on your head and it’s hard,” Hartley added.
“At the moment, I am constructing my tolerance to be able to run daily and participate every day.”
Read more here: http://nemetvolgyiantikvarium.hu/?p=3135