By ADAM HATHAWAY
Steve Borthwick revealed he had to eyeball Joe Marler to persuade the prop to return to international rugby and mount a bid for a World Cup spot.
Borthwick caught up with players in groups around the country and went head-to-head with 79-capper Marler just after the Six Nations.
The 32-year-old Marler was in another period of voluntary Test exile having played his last England game, against France, in 2022 and looked set not to play again.
He had a spell out of the limelight in 2018 but came back to help Eddie Jones’ side to the World Cup final in Japan.
This time Marler ...
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