1
'Full petulant child' - Costly Joe Marler brainfade enrages fans
Harlequins prop Joe Marler has drawn sharp criticism following his side’s Investec Champions Cup loss to Toulouse after conceding a needless penalty late in the game.
ADVERTISEMENT
The veteran prop – who was sprung from the replacements bench late in the contest – was penalized for clouting Toulouse substitute Thomas Ramos around the head in the 77th minute, granting the home team a penalty as the contest neared its conclusion.
With the 33-year-old no stranger to such antics, patience seems to have worn thin even among Quins fans. Indeed the incident drew a plenty of annoyance on social media – much of which came from the English club’s fans who were infuriated at the Marler’s latest act of tomfoolery.
Fans and pundits alike slammed Marler for what was seen as a needless lapse in judgment and Twitter duly lit up with reactions. One user branded Marler “forever being a d***head” while another described the infraction as “the sort of thing you’d be pissed off at your mate in a 2xv game.”
Such a stupid penalty to concede.
Joe Marler. 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/Bwtyy5Mhnb
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) May 5, 2024
Yet another fan wrote: “Joe Marler going full petulant child in the final minutes. Amazes me when professionals are that stupid”, while another observed: “I like Joe Marler as a bloke, but I never want him to play for any team I support. What was he thinking there?”
There were many more in that vein.
Another fan defended Marler, writing: “Quins were never going to win this game at that point anyway. But I hope I don’t see Joe Marler getting abused after that. He’s not the only player to have ever done something petty like that.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Leinster fan account Harpin on Rugby – possibly hoping Quins and not Toulouse made it through to the final with the Irish province – chimed in a with an apposite GIF.
"That's stupid from Joe Marler"#TLSvHAR pic.twitter.com/eA8VTYL6eS
— Harpin' On Rugby (@HarpinOnRugby) May 5, 2024
Until that point Harlequins had fought valiantly in their semi-final clash, overcoming a 31-12 deficit to come within striking distance before ultimately succumbing to Toulouse.
The Gallagher Premiership side struck via tries from Marcus Smith, Cadan Murley, Will Evans and Tyrone Green. Toulouse won the day however through scores by Antoine Dupont, Matthis Lebel, Peato Mauvaka and Thibaud Flament.
ADVERTISEMENT
Toulouse’s resilience shone through when winger Juan Cruz Mallia crossed the line in the 69th minute, effectively ending Harlequins’ hopes of a comeback. Quins had plenty of moments, notably closing the gap to within five points after an hour, but it wasn’t enough.
In the final minutes Marler’s error stood out as a significant setback but it probably didn’t change the course of the game. Thge home side also capitalized on Jack Walker’s yellow card and while Marler’s penalty was not solely responsible for the defeat, the timing of his error didn’t help matters.
Comments on RugbyPass
Adding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
2 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
2 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to comments