Wednesday 11 May 2016 09:51, UK
Harlequins prop Joe Marler feared his England career would suffer following his latest ban for a kicking offence on Grenoble hooker Arnaud Heguy.
The 25-year-old has revealed those concerns for his Test career led him to seek the help of sports psychologist Jeremy Snape.
Marler conceded he was relieved to receive a two-week ban that will see him return for Quins' European Challenge Cup final clash with Montpellier in Lyon on Friday night.
The England prop is delighted he will be available for the remainder of the campaign, including the tour of Australia.
"I didn't think I'd play again this season," said Marler, who has had several sessions with former England cricketer-turned sports psychologist Snape.
"I thought I'd be having the summer off as well, I thought I'd get a ban that would take me off the tour.
"I'm very lucky to be in a position to pull on the shirt for Quins again and even luckier that it's a final and a chance to get hands on a trophy. Very lucky.
"I'm raring to go, chomping at the bit to get out there and prove to myself more than anything that I am capable of playing a game of rugby on the edge without being [stupid] basically."
Marler, who was also banned for calling Wales' Samson Lee 'Gypsy boy' in the Six Nations, kicked out at Heguy in Quins' 30-6 Challenge Cup semi-final victory over Grenoble.
While Marler remains confident he is winning his own personal battle of wits, he fully accepts England coach Eddie Jones will not stand for any further disciplinary wrangles.
"The last couple of months just was the final nail really, to go, 'actually, stop pretending that I can keep dealing with it on my own'," said Marler.
Although he denied he had "a lot of problems", he added: "I'm saying there's stuff that needs addressing in and out of rugby that I'm getting hold of now. It is making me feel better and so hopefully I can continue on that.
"Eddie Jones has been in touch and he's been pretty firm. As well as being supportive it's more in a 'come on mate it is time to wind your neck in' way.
"You can only be supportive so many times can't you? If I go out on Friday night and kick someone else in the head then I don't think that he is going to be supportive any more. There is a limit to his support."
