The world of international rugby was rocked by the news of England prop Joe Marler’s sudden retirement from the national team. For his long-time teammate and close friend Dan Cole, the announcement came as less of a surprise, but the impact is no less significant. In an exclusive interview, the Leicester Tigers veteran shed light on Marler’s decision and shared his thoughts on England’s narrow defeat to the mighty All Blacks.
A Void Left Unfilled
As the first person Marler confided in about his retirement, Cole had a unique perspective on the situation. “He explained his reasons and all that, and I thought: ‘Who the fuck am I going to room with, Joe!? You’ve stitched me up here!'” Cole quipped, highlighting the close bond the two props shared both on and off the pitch.
While George Ford will inherit Marler’s bed, it’s young Sale prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour who steps into his shoes in the England squad. Cole acknowledged the changing of the guard, admitting he questions his own place at the highest level almost daily at age 37. Borthwick’s decision to call up the highly-rated Opoku-Fordjour is a clear sign of the new direction England rugby is taking.
The Versatile Young Gun
Opoku-Fordjour’s ability to play on both sides of the scrum sets him apart from his peers. England see him as a loosehead, while Sale has utilized him as a tighthead, though their stance has softened recently. Cole, having played in an era when one prop would cover both positions off the bench, encourages young front-rowers to keep their options open rather than specializing too early.
“I think actually having some basic understanding of how to play loosehead can help you play tighthead, because if I don’t like what is happening loosehead-wise, I can do that on the tighthead.”
– Dan Cole on the benefits of playing both prop positions
However, Cole also cautioned against throwing promising young talents like Opoku-Fordjour into the deep end too soon, highlighting the significant step up from Premiership to international rugby, especially against dominant scrummaging sides like South Africa.
Turning the Tide
Despite the agonizing last-minute defeat to New Zealand, Cole remains optimistic about England’s future under head coach Steve Borthwick. The veteran prop emphasized the importance of being in a position to compete until the final whistle, rather than being blown out of the water.
“However much it hurts to lose like that, I would much prefer to be in the position when it comes down to the final kick rather than be blown out by 20 points and not have a chance. At some point, those games will flip. I have confidence they will because we put a lot of training and effort and process into doing that.”
– Dan Cole on England’s narrow loss to the All Blacks
As England prepares to face Australia next weekend, Cole’s experience and leadership will be crucial in steadying the ship and guiding the team’s exciting young talents. While Marler’s presence will be sorely missed, both as a player and a character, Cole and his teammates are determined to honor his legacy by continuing to push England rugby forward into a new era of success.
The road ahead may be challenging, but with the likes of Dan Cole leading from the front and a new generation of versatile, talented players coming through the ranks, England rugby fans have every reason to believe that the tides will indeed turn in their favor. The future, though uncertain, is undeniably bright.
