DYLAN HARTLEY is refusing to sulk after Northampton Saints were thrashed by Saracens.
Hartley’s no-hopers shipped NINE tries at Twickenham in a 55-24 mauling by the European champions.
And things don’t get any easier for the Saints who take on fierce East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday night.
England sand Saints kipper Hartley said: “It was humbling.
“We need to keep our heads down and keep working, stick together as a team as we have a big challenge next in Leicester. The challenges come thick and fast in the Premiership, but we can’t sulk but it’s a good humbler for us.
“We can’t hang around and dwell on Sarries for too long, the ultimate thing is that we have to look at ourselves. Sarries are a good side, but I think we made them look even better with some pretty passive defence and slow reaction times in that transition.
“One game doesn’t derail our season. It just shows we have a lot to work on and it was a reality check.”
Sarries hooker Schalk Brits embarrassed opposite man Hartley and co.
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The 36-year-old ran riot at HQ with a hand in FIVE of their NINE scores and revealed after that he almost quit playing this summer.
Instead the star Springbok will turn out for one more season before being talked out of it by boss Mark McCall.
Brits said: “For me it feels like it is the right time – there are younger guys coming through. It is time to sit back and have a beer and enjoy watching it and not just get bashed up.
“I had three operations in the off-season so it is enough. There was always an inkling to play another one, from a cultural point of view we have lost some big individuals so I have decided to do one more.
“The plan was to do a bit of studying – this will definitely be my last season.I did accountancy in Stellenbosch and I spoke to Cambridge and Oxford to do an MBA.
“I am 36 and it is time to say goodbye to this lovely game but there is still a season and my role is to play as best as I can and to help the other guys as well.”
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