Thursday 2 February 2017 17:29, UK
Joe Marler credits drinking two pints of milk each day for the remarkable recovery from a fractured leg that will see him defy medical expectations by starting England's Six Nations clash with France.
Marler completed Harlequins' defeat at Worcester on New Year's Day despite breaking a bone in his lower leg and having initially been diagnosed with a mere calf injury, he was picked to play Sale a week later.
The extent of the damage became clear during the warm-up, however, and he was ruled out for up to five weeks, effectively ending his involvement in the opening two rounds of the Six Nations.
But having consumed over six gallons of milk to accelerate his recovery, he has proved he is ready for the start of England's Grand Slam defence at Twickenham on Saturday.
"I rehabbed the c**p out of it to be honest and drank lots of milk. And that's it, my body has taken care of the rest," Marler said.
"It's actually a historical thing because there's lots of calcium in milk, so that helps with the bones. And teeth. That's not a new thing, it's been around for thousands of years.
"Your mum always says milk is really good for you and you don't really believe it until you really need it because you've got a broken leg, so I just drank loads of it.
"I drank two pints a day and it's something I'll keep doing because it's really tasty.
"I always thought green top was good for you because it's reduced fat, but they gave me licence to have blue top and the odd day I'd have that gold top stuff, the one with like 1,000 calories in one pint.
"Maybe I won't carry on with that but blue top, it's been really good for me. I'm not putting it all on that, I'm putting it on [England physio] Phil Pask as well, but it's helped."
Marler, who was unable to use a hyperbaric chamber to speed up recovery due to his claustrophobia, laughed off Eddie Jones' repeated claim that living by the sea in Brighton was the key to his rapid rehabilitation.
"Eddie comes out with some stuff, doesn't he? I don't actually live that near the sea, I'm 20 minutes inland. You get a couple of seagulls, but nothing major," Marler said.
"The sea air? I don't know the facts on that but if Eddie's saying it, then I'll agree as he's the boss."
