Joe Marler has revealed that the drinking two pints of “full cream” milk every day was the secret behind his remarkable recovery from a broken leg in less than three weeks to take his place in the England team to face France.

Marler had been expected to miss England’s first two Six Nations matches, against France and Wales in Cardiff, after a scan on Jan 9 confirmed that the 26 year-old had suffered a hairline fracture to his leg during Harlequins’s victory over Worcester on New Year’s Day.

Marler however had other ideas, and with Mako Vunipola already ruled out with a knee injury, says he dramatically increased his consumption of milk – consuming over six gallons in total - to aid his recovery that was masterminded by England’s senior physiotherapist Phil Pask.

“Your mum or whoever 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, apparently, so I just drank loads of that,” said Marler. “I’m not putting it all on that, I’m putting it on Pask as well but yeah, it’s helped, I think.

“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.