England forwards coach Graham Rowntree is to counsel Dylan Hartley on his discipline knowing the Northampton hooker will be targeted by Wales in Friday's Six Nations opener.

Hartley's dismal disciplinary record has forced him to miss virtually an entire year of his career - his suspensions total 50 weeks for a range of offences including gouging and biting - and as recently as December he was sent off for use of the elbow against Leicester.

Having served the ensuing three-week ban, he was then dispatched to the sin-bin against Racing Metro in his comeback game for tackling on the ground and later revealed he had focused on his discipline in the build up to the match.

Dylan Hartley picked up a three-week ban for use of the elbow against Leicester in December © Getty Images

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Four years ago Wales coach Warren Gatland questioned Hartley's temperament, asking whether he would "choke and crack under pressure".

Instead, the 28-year-old produced one of his finest performances as England prevailed 26-19.

Rowntree takes exception to Gatland singling out a player for his mind games, but he knows Hartley's self-restraint will be tested at a hostile Millennium Stadium.

When asked if Hartley is under extra pressure on Friday night, Rowntree said: "Yes he is. Under pressure from himself as well and we have to manage that.

"It was interesting to hear his comments after the Racing Metro game when he said he prepared really well and yet he still got yellow-carded early doors.

"We will be speaking a lot this week about his clarity of thought going into this game, which is what we did four years ago when Gatland called him out.

"I don't like it when coaches do that. I was there when Gatland apologised as well. On that occasion, Dylan was nigh on man of the match. I have every faith in him.

"Determination is what I see in Dylan's eyes. He doesn't go out there to be carded, he goes out there with clear jobs to do. He did it very well in the autumn series.

"He had 94% lineout and was in the middle of all the good work in the set-piece.

"I need to make sure this week he is thinking about those things again - concentrating about the things he has to do for our team, not everything else."

Rowntree insists Hartley, who is outstanding at the set piece and with 61 caps is England's most seasoned campaigner, remains a key part of the team despite his recurring disciplinary lapses.

"Dylan is a key asset, an experienced asset, and I have worked with him since 2008 in this set-up. He has been in the middle of some big victories, some big performances for us," Rowntree said.

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