Wynne Gray: Eddie Jones has work cut out with prop Joe Marler

England coach Eddie Jones. Photo / Getty Images.

Opinion

Eddie Jones worked wonders with England and turned Dylan Hartley from bad boy into his captain.

Now the coach for hire needs to turn his behavioural blowtorch on another front-rower after prop Joe Marler's repeat skirmish with the judiciary threatens to derail his chances of touring Australia in June.

In his return from a two game ban, Marler appeared to lash out with his boot at rival Arnaud Heguy's head during a weekend European Challenge Cup semifinal.

Marler was eventually banned in the protracted fallout for calling Wales prop Samson Lee "gypsy boy" and in his comeback game scuffled with Heguy after a ruck and then appeared to kick him in the head.

None of the match officials saw the incident but match commissioner Iain Goodall is investigating and has 48 hours to cite Marler.

Grenoble coach Bernard Jackman said Marler's bootwork "was just a daft thing to do" and Harlequins rugby director Conor O'Shea said Marler would be disappointed but "when you are a marked man you are a marked man."

Meanwhile Daniel Carter steered Racing 92 into the European Champions Cup after a 19-16 win against Leicester. The former All Black first five kicked 11 points and guided his side around the park in a rugged contest which sent Racing into Europe's premier club final against Saracens.

"It's an amazing achievement. This competition was a big part of the reason I wanted to come and play in France. We knew it would come down to the last minute because Leicester are a quality side, very fit," the 34-year-old Carter said.

"Winning the final would be a dream come true. It's been an amazing four and a half months, but that would top things off. Saracens are a quality side, the form side of the tournament, but I'm looking forward to it."