LONG READ Return of 'car-crusher' Martin gives England a unique weapon

The most significant occurrence in English rugby last weekend was not Fin Smith’s late try to defeat Exeter, nor another five-try spectacular from Noah Caluori but a relatively anonymous 20-minute cameo at Welford Road.

George Martin’s return in the least exacting of circumstances with Leicester cruising against the league’s bottom side Newcastle was safe rather than spectacular but after 14 months out fireworks were not top of the agenda. It was enough simply to see the 24-year-old lace up his size 15s, pop on his scrum cap and take the field again.

 

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The period on the sidelines while Martin waited for a shoulder nerve to repair itself has been long and frustrating for the player first and foremost – but also for England. Martin’s uncompromising skillset is pretty much unique currently as an English engine room demolition man and Steve Borthwick is a big fan.

The game may evolve but enforcers never go out of fashion. If a country is lucky enough to have one they are precious cargo. The fact Martin was one of the 25 players handed an enhanced elite player squad contract by the England head coach in August when Borthwick knew he would play no part in the autumn Tests tells you how highly he is valued.

It is true Borthwick might not have expected Martin’s absence to drag on beyond the Six Nations as well but the post-surgery recovery time from a nerve injury is notoriously difficult to predict. You can’t simply sew two nerve endings together. The initial hope he might be back in January faded away, leaving England to press on in hugely underwhelming fashion without him.

Ollie Chessum and Alex Coles are decent-quality alternatives to partner Maro Itoje but cut from a different second-row cloth.

Would it have made any difference to England’s Six Nations campaign had Martin been available? It certainly would not have done them any harm.

Ollie Chessum and Alex Coles are decent-quality alternatives to partner Maro Itoje but cut from a different second-row cloth. The Martin Johnson comparisons, which inevitably surfaced when he was given his England debut as a teenager by Eddie Jones in the 2021 Six Nations, are onerous. Car crushers with the tactical acumen of a Johnson come along once in a blue moon but Martin can certainly do the hydraulic compactor thing.

Ask Franco Mostert, crumpled like a street entertainer’s squeezebox in the 2023 World Cup semi-final as he drove for the England line. The destructive tackle on the Springboks second row which forced him to spill the ball showed what sort of impact he can have – even if it was borderline in terms of a wrap.

“That’s his point of difference,” said Leicester director of rugby Geoff Parling.

Sadly for Tigers fans, they will only get to enjoy the thumping physicality for a few more precious weeks.  Martin – one of the Tigers’ own having come through the club’s academy – is moving on at the end of the season to Saracens.

The two clubs meet this weekend, a fixture which will offer the 6ft 6ins, 19st 7lb forward the opportunity to introduce himself to some of his new teammates in his own inimitable fashion. Safe to say, Saracens will be looking forward to the prospect rather less than the training run which passed as a competitive professional match against an invisible Sale on Sunday.

It is an impressive piece of recruitment from Sarries albeit one which requires some fingers to be crossed given Martin’s injury record. In his seven seasons of professional rugby he has averaged 14 appearances per campaign.

For the last couple of months, he’s been brilliant in that non-23. He’s certainly been pushing everyone and competing hard in training. It’s great to see him back.

He would have accumulated more than 22 caps and gone on a Lions tour had he not been held back by a series of setbacks. Perhaps injury absences are an occupational hazard but Martin does seem to attract more than his fair share.

He has used his time out of the game, not only to improve his woodworking skills under the guidance of former England flanker turned furniture creator Tom Wood, but also to work on strengthening his body. Not so much in terms of power output – there has never been any shortage of that – but as a protection mechanism against future injury.

Physically, he looked mightily impressive at the weekend and the reports from Leicester are glowing following his return from his latest, and most serious, injury.

“He’s worked diligently,” said Parling.

“I think with anybody who is out, it’s always a blend of the physical and psychological.

“You need to see the odd wins in your rehab, lifting slightly more in the gym, doing something a bit more. As long as you see the progression, that’s more important than anything.

“For the last couple of months, he’s been brilliant in that non-23. He’s certainly been pushing everyone and competing hard in training. It’s great to see him back.”

Will mark two Martin be as pulverisingly effective as mark one?

“Well, we’ll find out, but I know he has prepped really well.”

It will take Martin some time to get back up to speed after so long out but England will be delighted to see him playing again. Their next game is against South Africa in Johannesburg, a mighty physical challenge which cries out for Martin’s particular uncompromising skillset.

If he can get into his stride in his remaining time with the Tigers, England should not be shy in including their hitman for the Nations Championship.

No less a luminary than Siya Kolisi has praised his hardness and his heart – two attributes which rate highly on any Springbok list of desirable qualities. The world champions are too good to concern themselves overly with any individual but they would probably prefer to face an England pack without a restored Martin in it in July.

England will not want to rush him back but by then, Martin should – touch wood – have a minimum half a dozen games under his belt, plus a couple more if Leicester’s season extends all the way to the Prem final.

If he can get into his stride in his remaining time with the Tigers, England should not be shy in including their hitman for the Nations Championship.

He has lost time to make up for – and a lot of pent-up frustration to get out of his system.