Marler, 22, was replaced by Mako Vunipola after just 44 minutes but he endured the same difficulties against Jones while 25-year-old Cole didn’t have much of a better time of it against Jenkins.

But 32-year-old Jones, who has 88 caps to his name, believes that England’s youthful crop of front rows have a bright future ahead of them, despite watching the Grand Slam and the RBS 6 Nations title slip through their fingers.

"It was a strange game, with a lot of scrum penalties,” said Jones.

"People have come out and said that Marler was shocking, but he's good.

"I'd never played against him before and he's a better prop than I thought he was.

"He's only 22 and he's excellent – both loose-heads were, and Dan Cole is only 25.

"They are only going to get better, and I'm pretty sure that come the World Cup England are going to be formidable opposition, but we're pleased with the way Saturday went."