England hooker Dylan Hartley insists he has repaid Stuart Lancaster's faith

Dylan Hartley insists his form for England during the current Six Nations tournament has justified Stuart Lancaster's decision to overlook his dismal disciplinary record.

Hartley has missed virtually an entire year of his career with the suspensions he has incurred for a range of offences including gouging and biting totalling 50 weeks.

As recently as December he was sent off for use of the elbow against Leicester and having served the ensuing three-week ban, he was then dispatched to the sin-bin for tackling on the ground in his comeback game against Racing Metro.

Lancaster, England's head coach, has issued repeated reminders of the disciplinary standards he expects of his players and it was against this backdrop that Hartley entered the Six Nations.

However, the Northampton hooker feels his performances in the victories over Wales and Italy illustrate why he has been retained.

"It was said that Stuart had a perfect opportunity to drop me, but I think I've given him the reason to keep me here in the first two games," Hartley said.

"I'm not an enforcer. Someone like Billy Vunipola is our enforcer. My set piece is my first and foremost role and I think that's why Stuart has got me in the team.

"I'm confident in my ability there. I know what I'm good at and I'm happy with that.

"I know when I get it right I can do the business on the day, so I wasn't worried about being dropped. I don't think anyone on the field wants to get yellow cards.

"There's a fine line and cards seem to find their way to me. I'm well aware of that before I take the field.

"I understand what the perception of me is. Whenever I can, I change that. But unfortunately it's hard to change. And every now and then I give them something to keep that perception alive."

When asked what was said when he returned to the England camp in January, Hartley said: "Those chats between me and whoever I'm talking to stay between those walls. That's the nice thing about this group - it's tight knit."

England will glimpse sight of a first Six Nations title under Lancaster if they dispatch champions Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

It is a collision between the competition's only unbeaten teams and with two rounds remaining, the winners will be in the driving seat heading into the decisive final fortnight.

Hartley voiced his yearning to win some silverware with England knowing that the Dublin showdown will be pivotal to the outcome to the Championship.

"We don't want to be plucky losers and all that. At Northampton we experienced four semi-finals and lost, we went to Heineken Cup final and lost, we went to a Premiership final and lost," Hartley said.

"There is plenty of hurt and there have been plenty of downs. At some stage it has got to come right for this team. We have experienced a lot of near-misses so something has to come right soon.

"The way we have started this Six Nations means we can be confident, but I suppose it will come down to this weekend.

"Ireland are the current champions. We want to be champions and I don't think there's any shame in saying that.

"They are the current holders and we want that trophy. If we want it we're going have to go out there and win this weekend."