'He knows when to suck in the big ones': How Marler repaid Harlequins' VIP treatment
Harlequins general manager Billy Millard has paid homage to the influence wielded by England loosehead Joe Marler on last Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership semi-final result. Rather than take the bus to Bristol with the rest of the team on Friday, the London club arranged for the prop to instead be flown by helicopter to the Ashton Gate match on the Saturday following the birth of his fourth child.
Marler more than repaid the expense of his VIP trip to the game as he played the entire 80-minute match – something most unusual for a Premiership prop – and he then also lasted 14 minutes of the 20-minute extra-time period before eventually giving way to Santiago Garcia Botta who helped Harlequins see out their remarkable 43-36 victory.
The 30-year-old front-rower was picked up at Tonbridge School near his home in Kent on Saturday and was flown to North Bristol RFC where he was collected by player welfare officer Andy Sanger to successfully round off the trip organised by team head of operations Graeme Bowerbank.
After outlining that his wife’s latest pregnancy was the reason why he made himself unavailable to England in the recent Guinness Six Nations, Marler went on to play a vital role in the upswing in results at Harlequins who finished out the regular season in fourth place despite the head of rugby, Paul Gustard, quitting the club in January.
Unavailability for England resulted in Marler featuring in 17 of Harlequins’ last 18 Premiership matches (16 starts and a single run as a replacement) and the energetic fashion in which he put himself about the place at Ashton Gate immensely helped his team to overcome a 0-28 deficit and it epitomised his importance to the club.
"Little things he does around the camp make such a big difference"
– The story behind Joe Marler and his colourful Harlequins matchday attire #BRIvHARhttps://t.co/yShLjanUiz
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 17, 2021
“He is much loved,” said Millard when asked by RugbyPass to put into words the impact new-father Marler had on Saturday. “He has obviously had a new baba and that comes before anything. We gave him the time to be with his family and the club supported him through that. We had no doubt that he was going to come and deliver. He is an exceptional footballer and a man who cares deeply for the playing group and the club so there was no surprise there.
“We would have been asking him during the game how he was feeling and when he is done he’s done and if these boys are saying they have still got a bit in them, then we will listen to that. We have obviously got a lot of statistics and analysis and we know how long these guys can operate for and at what level, so that was all tracked and then in the occasion, you dig a bit deeper. He is an experienced campaigner who can pace himself. He knows when to go, knows when to suck in the big ones, and he did it really well.”
There will be no repeat VIP helicopter treatment for Marler next Saturday, though, as the Harlequins players and coaches will all walk to Twickenham from The Stoop for their final versus Exeter, a reprise of what the title-winning Conor O’Shea squad did nine years ago before they defeated Leicester in the decider.
'I never intended to be as honest as I was in that conversation'@scottbaldwin2 's gambling addiction started properly in Italy and went unnoticed for years, but his house of cards eventually collapsed, writes @heagneyl ???https://t.co/10PPbghSF0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 16, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to comments