Dlyan Hartley collects Sean O'Brien on the side of the head. Photo / Twitter
Dylan Hartley will discover this week if he has any chance of leading England into the Six Nations when he faces a disciplinary panel following his latest red-card shame.
Coach Eddie Jones will have a tough decision to make, with prominent figures insisting that Rotorua-born Hartley's lapse showed he is not captaincy material.
The Northampton and England hooker was sent off for a swinging arm to the back of Leinster flanker Sean O'Brien's head just six minutes after coming on as a second-half replacement in Friday night's crushing home defeat to the three-time European champions.
The 30-year-old, a controversial appointment as England captain by Jones who has led his team to 13 successive international victories, looks certain to receive a substantial ban. This could threaten his Six Nations participation, scheduled to kick off against France on February 4.
The entry point suspension for striking an opponent with the arm is two weeks but with Hartley's appalling disciplinary record - banned for a total of 54 weeks for a combination of gouging, head-butting, biting, abusing a referee and punching - he could face a far lengthier ban.
The fact O'Brien left the field for a Head Injury Assessment and did not return following Hartley's reckless challenge certainly won't help the Northampton player. Neither will World Rugby's latest directive for referees and disciplinary boards to come down especially hard on players making contact with other player's heads, recklessly or otherwise.
Eight weeks is the top-end entry point, which could be extended further if Hartley's track record is considered.
European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), who organise the European Champions Cup, confirmed on Saturday that Hartley's disciplinary hearing will take place within the next five days.
Any remote hope Hartley had of being named captain for next year's Lions tour to New Zealand now appears dead in the water.
Former Ireland and Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll tweeted: 'Mindless from Hartley. Lions Captain???!
Former England player Pat Sanderson said: 'Eddie Jones has got a decision to make because some coaches would not forgive that. We thought Dylan had got this out of his system but clearly he hasn't. With Jamie George playing so well for Saracens, Eddie has a decision to make.'
Hartley's sending-off left Saints a near-impossible mission as they went on to suffer another humiliating defeat which leaves coach Jim Mallinder clinging to his job. With Calum Clark (three weeks for elbowing) and Kieran Brookes (two weeks for reckless contact with head) also serving bans, Northampton's discipline has dropped off a cliff while their form implodes.
Hartley was criticised by former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio, who accused the current skipper of acting in his own interests when playing for Northampton.
'There's no doubt it was a red card,' Dallaglio said on BT Sport. 'It was an unnecessary challenge, a swinging arm. It is reckless and got what it deserved.
'Dylan's sort of checked out of playing for Northampton. He's been brilliant for England. According to Eddie Jones he's been a great leader. But he's checked out of playing for his club and I don't think you can do that.
'I've been captain of England and I know the pressures. It's tough. But when you go back to your club you need to lift spirits, get the banter back and translate that confidence back to your club side. Every time that's been asked of him, he's not done that, he's just looked after number one.'
WATCH: England Captain Dylan Hartley receives RED CARD v Leinster for swinging arm on flanker Sean O'Brien @ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/Pej8RMgUa1
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) December 9, 2016