Harlequins prop Joe Marler has missed Autumn Nations Cup Tests against Georgia and Ireland so far due to injury, but is back in contention to feature against Wales at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday, England forwards coach Matt Proudfoot confirmed on Wednesday.
Wednesday 25 November 2020 14:42, UK
England are weighing up the value of Joe Marler's scrummaging expertise as they look to secure their place in the Autumn Nations Cup final by toppling Wales.
Alongside Mako Vunipola and Ellis Genge, Marler is one of three loosehead props in contention for a place in the starting XV to be named by Eddie Jones on Thursday morning.
A knee injury prevented Marler from taking part in the Six Nations title-clinching victory over Italy last month and the wins against Georgia and Ireland that have placed a tournament decider against France on the horizon.
If the ballast he brings to the scrum is chosen, Saturday's Twickenham showdown would be his first England appearance since grabbing the genitals of Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones in March, an offence that resulted in a 10-week ban.
"Joe's back in contention. He's a vital cog in our box this week and if he's selected we'll look to have him involved the best we can," forwards coach Proudfoot - who was part of South Africa's 2019 World Cup-winning coaching ticket - said.
"Joe's a really mature, experienced player. Wales really look to get in between you, break your set-piece apart, and a player with that experience holds it together, keeps your plan in place.
"From his personal skill set, he's really good defensively, brings a nice edge defensively. And then his ability to attack the opposition tighthead is one of his strengths.
"We understand that Wales have a really experienced front row and a really experienced pack. The way they scrummed against Georgia last weekend really impressed me."
Jones must also cull one from a back-row contingent of Billy Vunipola, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl and Jack Willis to finalise his side, unless he opts for a six-two split on the bench in which case Bristol back Max Malins is likely to lose out.
Wales ended a run of six Test defeats by dispatching Georgia 18-0, temporarily relieving some of the pressure on head coach Wayne Pivac.
Even at Parc y Scarlets, they are heavy underdogs to defeat an England side that bullied Ireland into submission, but Proudfoot denies they are vulnerable as Pivac struggles to make his mark since replacing Warren Gatland.
"I've been involved in a national setup where it's a new management style and it takes time. They have their own style," Proudfoot added.
"What impressed me was just how dominant they were against Georgia. You look at a team's last performance, look at what they are doing right.
"When that starts to click, the team gets confidence. With the experience they have in their group, they won't take long to bed down and move forward."
While Wales are in the doldrums England look ominously powerful, especially up front with their pack heavily influencing Test matches.
"We are really competitive at the moment. We are really trying to push forward with our playing style and that requires a really robust, dominant pack," Proudfoot said.
"We are starting to forge that mentality but every opposition challenges you in a different way.
"This week is going to be a really different challenge as our focus is on what Wales did to Georgia. They were just as dominant. It's going to be a really tough challenge for us."
