While Joe Marler’s England career has prospered partly due to Alex Corbisiero’s long-standing injury woes, the Harlequins prop has the quality to make an impact on the biggest stage, according to World Cup winner Jason Leonard.

A series of knee and shoulder injuries to Corbisiero in recent years has seen Marler establish himself as England’s first-choice loosehead, with the 25-year-old having won 32 caps since his 2012 debut.

The most recent of those proved to be a game to forget for Marler and the rest of the England front row as they were dominated at times in a 25-20 defeat to France in Paris last weekend.

Yet Leonard is confident both Marler and the rest of England’s current props will soon be back to their best, especially with the likes of Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole and Davey Wilson all pushing each other for selection.

And the England great is backing Marler to emulate another of his own achievements by using the World Cup to advance his case for a place on the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

“For the pack and the front row the France defeat was very much just a blip – look at Joe Marler, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole they’re all very good players,” said Leonard.

“Those three as a collective that’s probably been their worst game but two of those guys are Lions and Joe Marler I’ve got no doubt will be Lion when the next tour comes around.

“The past couple of season we’ve seen a lot of Joe because Corbisiero has been injured, but Joe has always impressed me, I think his ball-carrying is great, his scrimmaging is good, his defence has been fantastic.

Surrey Comet:

Head over heels: Harlequins and England prop Joe Marler 

“He can definitely step up and do the job – he’s got over 30 caps for England and I can’t remember him having a bad day at the office apart from last weekend.

“England has got a great pack and I actually think England have got two great packs if you look at it, you can play two sides against each other.

“But it’s a case of which one is on form going into a world cup, that’s what they’ve got to find now.

I’m pretty sure they can turn it around.”

England kick off this year’s tournament against Fiji at Twickenham on September 18 and face a tough challenge in Pool A with Australia and Wales lying in wait before a final group game against Uruguay.

After a promising triumph over France on home turf, the performance of England’s pack was an undoubted cause for concern last time out.

Yet having also lost a hard-fought warm-up game in Marseille prior to the 2003 tournament, Leonard insists England will come back stronger for their final warm-up game against Ireland on September 5.

And should England top their pool, the former international is certain the host nation can draw on fervent home support to make a run to the World Cup final.

“With the defeat England have just experienced at the weekend, that’s what these warm-up games are for,” added Leonard.

“You’d rather lose a game now than lose a quarter-final.

Surrey Comet:

Matt Dawson and Jason Leonard

“We lost in Marseille in 2003 and it was a good leveller, it keeps your feet firmly on the ground and I think that will happen with the players from this weekend.

“If England top the group I think they will go through to the semi or the final because that path is a benefit to the home nation.

“You’d put money on them in front of a very loud Twickenham crowd, that’s got to be worth nine or 12 points to the home team.

“Before 2003 we spent seven years of preparation going through to the final and we lost big games along the way as well.

“So sometimes what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, they’ll learn from this France defeat and be a better team for it.”

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