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Joe Marler withdrawn from the England training camp in Brighton

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Dan Mullan/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Seasoned loosehead Joe Marler has become the latest player to pull out of the England training camp in Brighton ahead of the February 5 start to the Guinness Six Nations away to Scotland. The RFU confirmed on Monday that George Ford and Elliot Daly had respectively replaced skipper Owen Farrell and Jonny May in the squad of 36 originally chosen last Tuesday to assemble at the start of this week. Nick Isiekwe was also called in as injury cover for Courtney Lawes, who is going through the return to play concussion protocol.

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Now the RFU have confirmed the withdrawal of a third player, Harlequins prop Marler, following a round of Covid testing that took place on Tuesday. The 31-year-old played against French side Castres in the Heineken Champions Cup last Friday in London before heading to Brighton and it is the second time in eleven weeks that he has now tested positive for the virus while on England duty. 

It was originally revealed on November 8, two days after he had played as a replacement versus Tonga in the Autumn Nations Series opener, that Marler had fallen foul of the virus and it required him to leave England camp and isolate at home before he was allowed to rejoin the squad less than 48 hours before the November 20 match versus South Africa where he provided bench back up to the starting Bevan Rodd.  

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Rob Kearney and Alfie Barbeary – A Lion and a Wasp

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Rob Kearney and Alfie Barbeary – A Lion and a Wasp

An RFU statement on Tuesday evening read: “Joe Marler has tested positive for Covid and has withdrawn from the England squad for this week’s training camp in Brighton. After returning a positive lateral flow test on Tuesday morning, he immediately went into isolation. A subsequent PCR test taken that morning confirmed the result.

“All of the other England players and staff have undergone daily lateral flow testing – all of which returned negative results. The squad will train in Brighton until Friday as they prepare for their opening game against Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday, February 5.”

No replacement has been called into the England squad on this occasion, unlike last time when the then uncapped Rodd was rushed down from Manchester and brought into the squad where he eventually started the match versus Australia after it emerged later that week that Ellis Genge has also tested positive for Covid.

Speaking on the eve of the November match against the Springboks, Marler explained how he managed to keep fit while in isolation. “About two years ago we had a big chicken pen built and unfortunately my dog died on the same night that a fox ravaged my four chickens that we had in there.

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“So I had this pen bit that I could do some running in and I have got a gym in my garage, so I just kept on top of that and then tucked into a bottle of red a day just to keep things going and I managed to make it back which I am really grateful for, the opportunity to come back in and to try and contribute in some way.”

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of 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.

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