Courtney Lawes
COURTNEY LAWES has vowed not to explode like Dylan Hartley and turn the air blue during England’s tour of Argentina.
Instead of accusing the referee of being a “f***ing cheat” – like Hartley did in the Aviva Premiership Final last month – the 6ft 7ins, 18st giant insists: “I will just go and hurt someone!”
Lawes has backed his troubled Northampton team-mate Hartley to save his international career following his ten-week ban for swearing at referee Wayne Barnes.
The hooker will be spending the summer at home having wrecked both a chance to go to Australia with the Lions – and on the England trip.
Lawes, 24, who plays in England’s opening tour clash against a Consur XV in Uruguay today said: “Frustration starts to come in if things are not going your way and it’s difficult to control it at times.
“I just try to keep things to myself. If I feel angry, I try to hurt someone.
“It’s easier when you are not skipper because you don’t have to deal with referees.
“I was so disappointed for Dylan when I heard he couldn’t go with the Lions. It must have been devastating.
“I am sure what was said was misinterpreted.
“He is a great player and he started to get on top of his anger as a skipper, he has done really well.
“You have got to get on with it and Dylan won’t let it linger. He will always have it in the back of his head but I am sure he will turn it into a positive.”
Mind you, the last time Lawes played Argentina he was banned for two weeks for kneeing Puma hooker Mario Ladesma during the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster will be hoping Lawes, who lines up in the second row today, keeps the lid on his temper this time around.
Lawes said: “I feel strong and quick and I know that in terms of physicality and athleticism there aren’t too many second-rows out there who can do what I can do.
“It has been a tough couple of years for me because it’s very hard to develop as a player when you are injured for so long, and then you are not able to get back into the starting 15.
“I don’t think I was written off but I wasn’t doing the things I know I could. I just want a shot to prove that I can play well.”
England: Foden, May, Burrell, Eastmond, Strettle, Myler, Wigglesworth, Marler; Paice, Thomas, Lawes, Myall, Wood (c), Johnson, Vunipola. Replacements: Buchanan, Corbisiero, Doran Jones, Attwood, Kvesic, Dickson, Burns, Joseph.
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