The tough examinations that helped Marler graduate from the school of hard knocks

By Chris Foy

PUBLISHED: 17:45 EST, 6 November 2012 | UPDATED: 17:45 EST, 6 November 2012

Joe Marler will resume his work at the sharp end of Test rugby on Saturday armed with the benefit of two valuable lessons — harsh ordeals which were three years, 8,000 miles and worlds apart.

The making of the 22-year-old Harlequins prop has been founded in no small part on these twin traumas which taught him so much.

The first occurred back in 2009.

Marler was on loan at Esher, playing in National League One. Blackheath came to Moseley Road and the rookie loosehead endured all manner of scrummaging indignities at the hands of an older and wiser opponent.

Learning curve: Joe Marler points to two different incidents that have helped to shape his tender career

Desmond Brett is now 39 and still plays for the London club. On that occasion he unwittingly helped to equip a rising prospect for the challenges ahead.

‘There were a lot of tough experiences while I was on loan,’ said Marler, as he prepared to start in the first QBE International against Fiji at Twickenham. ‘There were a couple of times when I had my head shoved up my a**e.

‘The one I remember was against Blackheath at home. I was up against this massive bloke, Des Brett. He had this massive black beard. He gave me a horrendous schooling. I just remember thinking, “I don’t know what to do, I can’t do anything about this”. It’s experiences like that which make you want to learn quickly or you will keep getting pushed all over the place.’

The advent of dual registration has allowed young players from Aviva Premiership clubs to learn the hard way.

Marler believes that, particularly for props — who have so many technical tricks to hone in the scrum — these opportunities are priceless.

Hairy moments: Marler had to learn his trade fast

England have had the payback with the rapid emergence of a new generation of Test-class front-row forwards — from Dan Cole to Alex Corbisiero to Marler and now Mako Vunipola of Saracens.

‘The best way for a prop to learn is by playing so in the years when I was loaned out, I played in some horrible, horrible games against some old, old men,’ he said. ‘Coley was loaned out and (Tom) Youngsy was at Nottingham for a couple of seasons.

‘Playing is the best way to learn and they are developing guys younger and younger, faster and faster,’ added Marler. ‘Dual  registration, especially for a front-row player, is key. At the age of 17, 18, 19, a prop won’t be ready for the Premiership — to cope with the scrums. To learn at National Two, National One, Championship level, where the scrums are tough, is great experience.’

Fast forward to June 16 this year and the next major lesson for Marler occurred in the furnace of a full-blooded encounter with the Springboks, in the glare of global scrutiny at the fabled Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

A young England team were subjected to a relentless onslaught in a first quarter of unremitting horrors, as South Africa swept into a commanding lead with three early tries, only for the tourists to rally in stirring fashion.

For the man wearing the visitors’ No 1 shirt that day, in only his second international, it was a major eye-opener.

‘Ah, the famous 20 minutes,’ he said, when asked about that  brutal spell. ‘Personally and as a group, that first 20 minutes in Johannesburg was a massive learning curve. I hadn’t experienced anything quite like that.

‘I was hanging (exhausted), absolutely hanging. I remember standing under the sticks when they had scored their second or third try and I was looking around, blowing hard, thinking, “Christ, unless we pull our fingers out we’re going to get 50 points put on us”.

‘The altitude factor didn’t help, but that was the benchmark of Test match intensity and we learned pretty quickly. It will be in everyone’s minds this month.’

Experience: Marler talks to England's forwards coach Graham Rowntree prior to the Fiji game

On Saturday, Marler has a prime opportunity to convince England’s coaches to retain him in the starting XV, even when Corbisiero — who is due to return from injury for London Irish this weekend — is available again. The tussle between that pair and the latest loosehead contender, Vunipola, promises to be an intriguing one.

‘Corbs is a very good player and we will fight tooth and nail for that position,’ said Marler. ‘It is important how I play this weekend, but I don’t think, “Corbs is coming back, I’d better push hard”, I think, “I’d better push hard because that is my job for the team”.’

Thank Brett and the Boks for helping Marler find his drive.