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'Boys have been f****** grafting for years' - Marler on potential England return
By Online Editors
Joe Marler would be willing to interrupt his international retirement during the World Cup if called upon by Eddie Jones to solve an injury crisis at loosehead prop.
A significant hamstring injury will leave Mako Vunipola short of match fitness entering Japan 2019 but he is expected to recover from surgery in time to take his place in the squad.
Even the slither of doubt over Vunipola highlights the absence of Marler but the 59-cap Harlequins veteran is satisfied with last year’s decision to end his Test career in order to spend more time with his family.
England have depth in the position but Ellis Genge, Ben Moon, and Alec Hepburn are rookies in comparison. If the situation became dire, however, Marler would accept an approach from Jones.
“If they needed me to go out there and help them out, I’d have the conversation with my wife and think about it and say ‘yeah all right, I’ll help you out’,” Marler said.
“If it was an SOS scenario it would definitely be something I’d consider, but they’re not in an SOS scenario.
“Mako will be sweet, they’ve got Ben Moon, they’ve got Ellis Genge, they’ve got Alec Hepburn. They’ll go well.
“Me and Eddie have kept in contact on a casual basis, exchanged some messages about particular wines that we like, but nothing more than that.
“If they were desperate I would give them a hand, but they’re not, so, I’m happy where I’m at. I look forward to watching it as a fan and hopefully they go well.”
Marler is impressed by Genge, Moon, and Hepburn with the trio covering during Vunipola’s injury-hit season.
“For me, I wouldn’t be able to just walk up and just immerse myself in it all again. Boys have been f****** grafting for years,” he said.
“And massively there’s a respect for the boys who have stepped in when Mako was injured during the year.
“Not only has Mako been brilliant, but the boys came in, stepped up and proved their worth there.
“For the whole 12-18 months they have been doing that, so if someone went ‘I’ll come along even though I have done no work, done nothing’, then that is disrespectful.”
PA
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Latest Comments
Hoping Riley Higgins kicks on. Proctor must be 13 moving forward.
Go to commentsRassie should be "miles ahead" of Razor, he's been involved with the Boks as full-time Director of Rugby since 2017. And the Boks should be ahead of the current ABs, they have kept all of their superstars.
Clearly, we are rebuilding from the floor up. But the one place that the Boks are not "miles ahead" is on the paddock. A brand new, relatively untested coaching team, with a new team still in the making, came close in Sth Africa.
Change takes time. Whatever this magic instant innovation potion is you allude to, it doesn't exist. Just ask Rassie. It's taken the Boks years to develop. I've no doubt Razor will get us there.
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