Dylan Hartley has a huge job to keep Tom Youngs out – George Chuter

Tom Youngs can reclaim his place as England's starting hooker for the Six Nations, according to former Leicester mate George Chuter, who reckons current first choice Dylan Hartley will make way for the British Lion.
Youngs has only just returned after three months out with a shoulder injury, but Chuter is backing his old mucker to hit top form in double-quick time after being “underwhelmed” by Hartley's displays during the autumn series.
Chuter, now coaching Loughborough Students, told The Rugby Paper: “I'm a bit biased, but I just think Tom ticks all the boxes, whereas I think Dylan's some way off his best form and has been for a while. He's played a lot of rugby and it's showing.
“I was underwhelmed during the autumn. Rob Webber played well and did during the New Zealand tour, but, even playing for Northampton, Dylan doesn't look quite the player he was a few years ago. He doesn't seem to be carrying the ball as much.
“When he first came onto the scene he was one of the best carriers in the Premiership and Northampton based their game around him, but over the last couple of years we've seen less of that and he doesn't seem to have the same impact.
“His set-piece is okay, there's no issue there, but if you're looking at the Hartley of two or three years ago, he's a shadow of that. I don't know why, maybe it's the way England have been playing, but he just doesn't seem to be the same player to me.”
Chuter is tipping Youngs to shine between now and the Six Nations: “Youngsy's just played his first game back and is looking pretty good.
“His set-piece is good, regardless of what people say, and the work he does around the field is second to none. His engine is huge – his tackle count, aggression, the way he clears out – and as well as all that, he talks well and brings leadership.
“He's well rested, too. He had a hell of a three years from breaking into Leicester's side to going on England and Lions tours and he'll tell you himself that he was out on his feet, but he's had a break now which in the long run will do him no harm.
“It won't take him long to get back into top form and it's a great position for England to be in ahead of the Six Nations. In a key position we've got three guys – Youngs, Webber and Hartley, who will come out of his slump – battling for the shirt.”
Chuter, meanwhile, has joined an illustrious list of ex-Leicester hookers to move into coaching after hanging up his boots, although he has no immediate desire to follow Richard Cockerill, Dorian West and James Buckland onto the full-time scene.
“I've always had half an eye on coaching and did a bit during my career,” Chuter said.
“I really enjoyed mentoring the younger guys coming through and when I saw what Loughborough was all about, it really appealed to me.
“I've learnt from top coaches – Pat Howard, John Wells and Cockers at Tigers, Francois Pienaar and Mark Evans at Saracens – and they've all given me different ideas that I'm using today. I'm a decent communicator and seem to get my ideas across.
“But I'm not convinced I'll become a full-time professional coach in the Premier- ship and it's not something I've ever aspired to. At the moment I'm enjoying being out of that pressure cooker and being more involved in the grassroots stuff.
“The higher you go the worse it is because of the added pressure of league positions, money, 20,000 people with expectation looking at you, the media and all that. Would I swap with Cockers? It's not something I'd want to jump straight into.”
Cockerill has been under fire recently, with former players such as Neil Back, Lewis Moody and Austin Healey wading in. But Tigers are fifth in the Premiership and Chuter is backing his old boss to ride out the storm and lead Leicester to glory.
He added: “It's easy for people to sit there and pass judgment when you're not involved in the day-to-day training or running of the club. But it's been a tough time for Cockers with injury and having a lot of young guys starting their careers.
“Leicester have had so much success over the years that one mediocre season is considered a failure, but nobody knows better than Cockers the importance of keeping your head down, working harder and believing you can turn the corner.
“The cavalry is slowly coming back and we've seen it all before. It was the same during the World Cup in 2011 when we were 11th in November but fought back to reach Twickenham.
“Cockers has got the experience and we've got some pretty senior guys coming back into the mix now. Whether it's a bit too late for Europe we'll find out over these next two weekends, but we're fifth in the league and I'd be confident there.”
NEALE HARVEY