Mirror, mirror on the wall, Borthwick's the greatest of them all!

MARLER HAS COACH AND REFLECTS HES MADE PLAYING FOR ENGLAND A DREAM AGAIN RATHER THAN A CHORE

- ALEX SPINK

JOE MARLER says joining up with England has gone from a “chore” to a pleasure unde the stewardship of Steve Borhwick.

The Harlequins prop pulled out of a summer tour, then retired from Test rugby altogether, when Eddie Jones was in charge.

Under Martin Johnson, he tells a tale of his first England camp and the boss asking if he is going to get his haircut – “a red mohawk with a rat’s tail at the back” – before sending him home the next day.

In Le Touquet yesterday, Marler, very much the joker in England’s pack, stood in the middle of the pitch before training, playing the fool.

He screamed mock jibes at observers on the sidelines and had team-mates in stitches. If he had a care in the world, it was well hidden.