606 Picks the England Team to play Scotland in 6Ns - Hooker

Alex Cobisiero and Dan Cole have been voted as the props to start against Scotland, but who should go between them? There are perceived flaws with all the hookers available - much of it due to youth and inexperience.

I will try and list all potential candidates from the AP, but let me know if anyone is missed.

George Chuter and Andy Titterall (just resigned on loan for Sale) are not included deliberately due to already drawing their pensions. (Yes I am ageist )

I think you have to go Hartley, as he has been in and around the team for a while now. We really need him to step up though, or if he fails, one fo the others to come good and fast.

Yep, Hartley to start with Gray on the bench. If the props were more experienced I'd be tempted to start Gray.

Hartley seems to give away a lot of penalties

Does he? Hadn't noticed any more than most players. At the moment his biggest problem seems to be holding the ball. Perhaps he should stop rubbing them in greese before games.

I just thought it was mostly him during the world cup for popping up etc could well be wrong though, my English housemate had lots of four letter words for him.

Much has been made that Hartley has barely had a break from rugby for so long...that his form is bad...maybe / maybe not.

He's not impressing me at the moment...and i would look to another...Grey seems to be doing ok...pop him in.

Im hoping that Lindsay steps up...he's a big fella...and George at Sarries is learning of two top drawer hookers....

Agree Hartley doesn't give much away penalty wise. He does seem to have gone quite with the ball in hand though.

Gray for me should start. He's a quality all rounder and better in the set piece then Hartley, and yes I am massively biased.

Another biased post here (as a Saints fan) but I don't think Harley is playing all that badly, he's just not doing as much in the loose as he is capable of As others have said he seems to be dropping the ball a little too frequently at the moment as well.

The guy needs a serious rest. Due to the lack of squad depth, along with all the top level games Saints played last season he ended playing for a lot of hours, certainly more than most hookers and in pretty high intensity matches as well. He then more or less went straight into world cup training. By the end of this season he is going to have played for about 18 months straight.

He does have the experience though and I'm confident he wont let anyone down. Would start him in the 6N with Grey on the bench and probably Paice in the EPS (as long as he can improve his throwing). Hopefully then Grey would get enough experience to allow Hartley to miss the summer tour and start next season fresh.