Hartley has been at the centre of some feisty exchanges between Gatland and his England counterpart Martin Johnson over the last fortnight ahead of Friday night’s RBS 6 Nations match.

But the 24-year-old Northampton hooker says Gatland’s comments have merely served to warn him of the special treatment that is in store across the Severn Bridge.

"If anything it's given me ten days to really prepare myself and motivate myself,” said Hartley, who was involved in some heated exchanges in Northampton’s Heineken Cup matches against Cardiff Blues.

“The motivation is there already, it's a big enough game and I want to do well in an England shirt.

"I suppose this is the first time someone has come after me in the press like that but I've had plenty of people try and test me on the field since the obvious four years ago.

"I think I've dealt with it well enough. It's ten days' warning of what's to come. I've dealt with it before, people coming after me."