1
Marler's availability is silver lining as Harlequins change 5 for first match since Gustard exit
Harlequins skipper Stephan Lewies has hailed the prospect of having England cry-off Joe Marler starting for the London club in Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Wasps, their first outing since last week’s departure with immediate effect of director of rugby Paul Gustard.
ADVERTISEMENT
Loosehead Marler had been included in the original England squad of 28 for the Guinness Six Nations when it was announced last Friday. By the following Monday, though, he declared himself unavailable due to the restrictions which meant too long a time away from his family because of the tight controls England are under in their bio-secure camp.
The decision by Marler was openly accepted by England boss Eddie Jones, who stressed this didn’t mean the end of the prop’s Test career. And it has also been welcomed by Harlequins, who will now unexpectedly get the services of Marler at a time in the season when they thought he would be off-limits to them.
“That is massive for us having Joe there, another senior player adding value on the pitch, having a cool head,” enthused Lewies at a Harlequins media conference. “He helps me a lot on and off the field, so it is a big one for us having him there.”
The South African second row’s inclusion in the team to play at The Ricoh is one of the five changes to the XV form the team that drew with London Irish on January 10, a contest at The Stoop that turned out to be Gustard’s final game in charge as he soon quit for a three-year assistant’s role at Benetton in Italy.
The England coach has been speaking 2?? days after the loosehead's latest 'unavailable' decision
https://t.co/9KkVMoPcsa— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 27, 2021
“It has been a lot of emotions for us the last week or so but as players, we are in a blessed situation. If you compare us to the rest of the world, people in lockdown and sitting in their homes, we’re very blessed that we can go out and play with our mates.
“We just use that as motivation to work hard, concentrate on our job and not get distracted by all the things going on behind the scenes. I was surprised a little bit (by Gustard leaving). Some people had more info than others at different times. For a lot of us, it was a surprise.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Lewies, who had been out injured, comes into the team for Glen Young, as does the recently suspended Andre Esterhuizen for James Lang. Aaron Morris for Cadan Murley, Danny Care for Scott Steele and Archie White for Tom Lawday are the other Harlequins changes for the trip to Wasps where a huge focus will be put on improving their defence.
“It’s a massive focus for us. Our discipline has been letting us down this season massively. That is probably our biggest work on. Without discipline, giving people entry into our 22. We’re giving quality opposition opportunity to drive at us from five metres out seven or eight times a game whereas we only get one twice that opportunity so that is going to hurt you.
“Our discipline in defence has been a big work on but also in attack, we have such exciting players, if we can only keep a bit more possession and actually put pressure on other teams we would have to defend less and that would sort out some of the problems.”
HARLEQUINS (vs Wasps, Sunday)
1. Joe Marler (208 club appearances), 2. Scott Baldwin (25), 3. Wilco Louw (11), 4. Matt Symons (47), 5. Stephan Lewies (21) – capt, 6. Archie White (32), 7. Will Evans (28), 8. Alex Dombrandt (59); 9. Danny Care (289), 10. Marcus Smith (93); 11. Aaron Morris (54), 12. Andre Esterhuizen (8), 13. Joe Marchant (96), 14. Louis Lynagh (4), 15. Mike Brown (340). Reps: 16. Elia Elia (59), 17. Jordan Els (8), 18. Simon Kerrod (33), 19. Glen Young (27), 20. Richard de Carpentier (1), 21. Martin Landajo (22), 22. James Lang (73), 23. Tyrone Green (3).
ADVERTISEMENT
"It wasn't, 'We have to go and find someone because this is pear-shaped'. Not at all"
– Story of how an ex-solicitor has wound up running the rule over Harlequins incredibly starts with Billy Millard taking his daughters to their playground#GallagherPremhttps://t.co/zve4SR7GJW
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 28, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
20 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
9 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
78 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
20 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
9 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
20 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
20 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
20 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
2 Go to comments