Saturday 21 March 2015 09:34, UK
Dylan Hartley is one of only five players in England’s current squad to have won the Six Nations but the hooker says a win on Saturday would be better than his first.
Hartley was part of the England team that lifted the Six Nations trophy four years ago but the 28-year-old says the win barely counted because a loss to Ireland meant the team let the Grand Slam slip from their grasp.
And while the Grand Slam has eluded England once more - Ireland saw to that in emphatic fashion three weeks ago - Hartley insists lifting the trophy by toppling France at Twickenham on Saturday evening would provide the necessary boost before the World Cup.
"At the time it felt flat. Maybe until the day we do the Grand Slam it probably won't feel the same either. There is always that feeling hanging over,” Hartley said.
"Dublin (in 2011) didn't feel like any kind of victory. We couldn't even come away saying that we'd played well. It was disappointing and just a bad day all round.
"We won the title a few years ago in Dublin, but doing it at home on Saturday would be lovely. It's about timing as well - this team needs to win something before the World Cup and we've put that pressure on ourselves.
"From the outset of the tournament we said we wanted to win it. I don't think there's any shame in saying that."
England are favourites entering the final day of the Six Nations tournament, thanks to a points advantage of plus four, and with the latest kick-off of the day will know what they need to do after Wales face Italy and Ireland travel to Scotland.
And Hartley will get the chance to play a key role in England’s final push, with the Northampton captain holding off the challenge of Tom Youngs, who remains on the bench.
Concerns have been raised that Hartley's valuable aggression on the field is dulled by his repeated run-ins with disciplinary authorities and the front-rower admits he has become a more thoughtful player.
"This whole campaign for me has been about staying under the radar. I have been trying to focus on my rugby and so far it has been going well," he said.
"I am not making good headlines but I am not making bad ones either. I am just quietly going about my business and enjoying it."
