Wales reiterate that Marler antics are 'not what we want in the game'
Wales assistant coach Neil Jenkins has underlined the importance of watertight discipline in Test rugby. The Guinness Six Nations, badly hit by the coronavirus outbreak that has seen three games postponed, will be adjourned – probably until next season – after this weekend’s clash between Wales and Scotland.
The remaining fixture still goes ahead as scheduled following a volatile fourth round of Six Nations action at Twickenham and Murrayfield. England prop Joe Marler courted major controversy after he grabbed Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones’ genitals during the first half of a game that England won 33-30.
Marler was subsequently cited by the independent match commissioner under World Rugby’s law relating to the “spirit of good sportsmanship.” The Harlequins forward faces a disciplinary hearing in Dublin on Thursday when he could hit with a lengthy ban.
Asked for his view on the Marler incident, Jenkins said: “From my perspective, the independent citing commissioner is dealing with that. It’s not what we want in the game, but it is what it is. They will deal with it in the right manner, and I’ve no doubt about that.”
Marler’s England team-mates Courtney Lawes and Manu Tuilagi will also appear before disciplinary chiefs in the Irish capital. Lawes was cited for a dangerous tackle on Jones, while Tuilagi received a red card following a high challenge on Wales wing George North.
And there was another flash-point during Sunday’s clash between Scotland and France, with Les Bleus prop Mohamed Haouas being sent off for punching Scottish flanker Jamie Ritchie. Jenkins, though, does not believe that weekend events reflected an overall decline in rugby’s standards as a sport.
“You have to understand when these Test matches are played there are 15 players on either side that are right on the edge,” he said. “You have to keep your discipline among it all as it can affect your team’s performance. Rugby is incredibly tense, physical and unforgiving, and Saturday was the same. The bigger picture is keeping your discipline.
“You can’t afford yellow and red cards. Their (France’s) prop got sent off on Sunday, and in the World Cup quarter-finals (Sebastien) Vahaamahina got sent off as well. We’ve been on the end of that ourselves, and it’s very difficult to play with 14 men for 10 minutes, let alone long periods. Discipline is a massive part of any sport, but especially at the highest level of Test rugby.”
Jenkins, meanwhile, hopes that Wales can select from strength for Scotland’s visit to Cardiff. Lock Jake Ball is sidelined after suffering a shoulder injury against England that will require surgery, while prop Dillon Lewis went off at half-time due to an ankle problem and full-back Leigh Halfpenny had stitches in a gashed knee.
“Jake Ball is out. He’s got a problem with his shoulder, so he will need an operation,” Jenkins said. “Leigh is sore. He’s got a nasty gash on his knee but he will be fine. He is a tough, old competitor. He will be ready to go Saturday.”
Wales’ run of three successive defeats is their worst in one Six Nations campaign since 2007. Scotland, though, have not won in Cardiff for 18 years, even though they will arrive following an impressive victory over France.
A stinging rebuke for Marler from the 2003 World Cup-winning boss https://t.co/LNtK27vISh
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 10, 2020
Jenkins added: “They are a tough and physical side, but they also play some good rugby and they have exciting backs who can light up any occasion at any time, especially with Stuart Hogg at full-back.
“We have to focus on ourselves and if we turn up and do the right things and play our game and take our chances, I’ve no doubt we will win (on) Saturday. Scotland will be coming off a good win, fancying their chances. They will be confident, especially as we’ve lost three. We need to be ready and we need to perform the way we can.”
– Press Association
WATCH: Joe Marler “nothing more than an egotistical narcissist” – ex-Wales skipper blasts England prop
Comments on RugbyPass
In the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
5 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
5 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to comments