England MUST bend the rules to fast-track 6ft 8in enforcer based in France to replace the injured George Martin, writes CHRIS FOY One player ticks all the boxes to fill in George Martin's boots for England Join more than 140,000 Mail+ subscribers to get exclusive access to the best Six Nations coverage throughout the tournament from our world-class team By CHRIS FOY Published: 02:00 GMT, 3 March 2025 | Updated: 02:00 GMT, 3 March 2025 e-mail View comments When George Martin was ruled out of the Six Nations after another injury setback, England were left to lament the loss of his ultra-aggressive nature, at a time when like-for-like replacements are scarce. The withdrawal of the Leicester lock highlights the urgent need to find another forward enforcer. That may be a term associated with a by-gone age of lawlessness and violence, but there can be legitimate, modern-day incarnations of the role.
When fit and firing, Martin is the most imposing physical presence in the England pack; a big beast who hits and drives hard – very hard – to provide the national team with vital clout and edge. No wonder he picks up knocks along the way, because his remit involves selflessly inflicting and enduring harm in the line of duty . Glamorous, it is not.
Important, it most certainly is. The absolute essence of the 23-year-old’s value to the national team was evident in the semi-final of the last World Cup, when he produced a sledgehammer tackle on Franco Mostert of South Africa . This wa.
