Courtney Lawes has backed his Northampton clubmate Dylan Hartley to lead England to glory and said on Tuesday (26th January) "It was no coincidence that we won the Premiership while he was skipper. I have no doubts that he can replicate that kind of success here."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Courtney Lawes, England second row (Q: First day of training under Eddie Jones, how's the body after that?)

"Yes (laughs) it was a tough day, I kind of expected it though. So that's good, a good positive start for sure."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Courtney Lawes, England second row

(Q: Eddie Jones says he wants a dominant pack, what has he's done to emphasise that point and steer you along that path?)

"I suppose we are working very hard on our basics, to make sure we get the scrum right, make sure we get our lineout right, get our maul into the game. Things like that are the things he's looking for us to dominate in and make sure that we're top of the world in that kind of area."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Courtney Lawes, England second row

(Q: A lot of people have described Dylan Hartley as a controversial selection as England captain, do you think that was unfair?)

"I suppose anybody you pick is going to be controversial to somebody. I know Dylan is a great captain, I was under him while he was captain of the club, for how ever many years that was, four or five years and he was brilliant. It was no coincidence that we won the Premiership while he was skipper. I have no doubts that he can replicate that kind of success here."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Courtney Lawes, England second row

(Q: Has there been any talk about the World Cup among you and making amends?)

"No I don't suppose there has been a lot of chat about what's happened previously. It's kind of like a new slate, lots of new coaches, lots of new players. We can start from scratch and start building again and look to get it right. Start with winning really, that's what our goal is, that's what our whole ethos is about winning, winning rugby."