1
Watch: The awkward 'this is just a fraud' Joe Marler TV interview
Joe Marler was mischievously awkward in his post-match live TV interview on Friday night after he was awarded player of the match in Harlequins’ 19-13 Gallagher Premiership win over Bath. The out-of-favour England loosehead impressed at The Rec, making 14 carries and looking powerful in the scrum, and his resulting two minutes and 54 seconds interview with Sarra Elgan of BT Sport was pure gold.
ADVERTISEMENT
Marler called Bath obscene for kicking at the posts in their recent match against the Barbarians, reacted awkwardly to a query about tight jerseys, and then described Harlequins hooker Jack Walker as the king of Bath, adding that he was only given man of the match because he would definitely talk in the post-game interview unlike some of his colleagues.
He then got the interviewer’s name wrong, made mention of Saracens, and then queried Harlequins’ having their European away game next weekend… in South Africa.
The Harlequins interview was the latest high jinx from Marler, who had been in his element during November. He played for the Barbarians in their win over the All Blacks XV before swapping sides four days later and converting his own try with a drop kick against the Baa-Baas at The Stoop.
Unwanted by England in their recent four-game Autumn Nations Series, Friday night was Marler’s eighth start at loosehead in the nine-game league season so far completed by Harlequins. Here is how the TV interview unfolded:
Sarra Elgan: You must be satisfied after that.
Joe Marler: Sort of satisfied, I’m satisfied we have actually won it considering we did everything in our power to not win it in the second half.
Elgan: First half was good, though, some quick ball?
ADVERTISEMENT
Marler: Yeah, it was alright. We knew they had won three on the bounce before this one except for the Baa-Baas, but we don’t really count that because they were kicking for poles in that game which was obscene actually.
Elgan: We do count the drop goal by you, right?
Marler: Thank you… So they are a tough outfit, they are building nicely, they have got some good coaches and we were desperate for that win and I am glad we got it.
Elgan: I feel like we always big-up Quins’ attacking flair but we never give you guys the glory up front. The scrummaging was good tonight, especially in those tight jerseys you have been complaining about all week.
Marler: I haven’t been complaining about them. I was asked a question and I gave my answer. I don’t complain about them. I don’t know what this is.
ADVERTISEMENT
Elgan: The scrums were good tonight anyway?
Marler: The scrums were very good. Wilco Louw is a very, very good tighthead and Jack Walker coming back, the king of Bath as he calls himself, coming back to Bath. He did a real good job tonight and I feel actually a bit this is definitely a token thing, you lot.
Elgan: Why is it token?
Marler: I know your secrets.
Elgan: What’s the secret?
Marler: Because there were other players that were better tonight but they are not happy to talk on camera, so this is just a fraud basically.
Elgan: Okay, I am going to disagree.
Marler: Why is it Sarra and not Sarah?
Elgan: Because Sarra is my name.
Marler: Oh.
Elgan: Listen can we talk about rugby, please? Fourteen carries and it was a good scrum. That is why you have got the player of the match award. Anyway, third halfway through the season.
Marler: That’s not bad, we’re doing alright but we want to kind of chase Sarries down. We’d quite like to aim for that top two. It’s not good enough to be top four. We’d quite like a home semi, we want that semi.
Elgan: Can we talk about Europe next week quickly? Sharks away and then Racing.
Marler: It’s Europe and we’re going to Natal Sharks next week which is where?
Elgan: In South Africa.
Marler: South Africa.
Elgan: Are we done here now, Joe Marler?
Marler: I’m really looking forward to going to South Africa. We are going to go to LIV Village which is an incredible orphanage out there and I am really excited to go out there and meet some lovely people.
Elgan: All the very best next weekend. Always a pleasure.
Marler: Cheers.
Strap yourselves in, it's interview time with @JoeMarler! ?
Don't bother reading this Tweet, just enjoy the following two minutes and 54 seconds…
? @Sarraelgan #GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/7NArjZqS6D
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 2, 2022
Comments on RugbyPass
More useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
22 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
1 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
22 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to commentsWhere has our good friend Pecos gone!? Similar place to the Crusaders D, the abyss.
4 Go to commentsNice piece Nick. I haven’t seen much of the brumbies this year so will keep my powder dry on charlie, but clearly has the speed and footwork to be damaging in space. Similar to Samu, I’d worry about the size of our pack if the likes of Mcreight and Cale were in the b/row together. Maybe Cale could play a similar finisher role like Samu did for Rennie’s wallabies. Has Cale leapfrogged wilson in your eyes? He obviously has the lineout, but harry probably better (although not great) in the physical stuff and also has great hands in the loose. You’d have to say mcreight and valetini are shoe-ins at 7/8, so the question becomes who matches best with them at 6 and on the bench. I don’t know if he has a high enough ceiling, but id love to see wright given a shot based on how much bad luck he has had with injuries. He may also fit that no-nonsense graft/work rate irish approach…? If schmidt wants size and a 4/6 tweener then I’d probably pick Uru. On the bench I’d have no idea, Wilson if you want to give valetini a rest, and maybe hanigan/wright/uru as 6 replacements.
21 Go to commentsWho the heck is Billy Fulton?
13 Go to commentsCale has all the potential no doubt. So has Harry Wilson except for his dumb arse coach over the last few years who told him just to run at brick walls all the time. Valentini would be devastating at 6. As he was until some idiot thought oh yeah, move our best player to another position. Not mentioning any flightless or thank you names of course. I very much dislike claiming one player is the saviour, because injuries are so prevalent in the game these days as the players are bigger and faster, so the discussion should be who are at least the best two players in one position. For me it’s Harry Wilson and Cale at 8 at the moment with Valentini or Hooper from the Brumbies at 6. Great options. Seru Uru should be in the reserves too. A game changer.
21 Go to commentsScott Barrett is a card waiting to happen, Cane has been out with injury as well as playing in Japan, I think they’ll go with in-Japan-but-still-the-man Savea. Samisoni Taukeaho will be Captain after 2027, so he might get some Captain minutes against an Italy or Japan.
13 Go to commentsDissapointed that after 7 years Crusaders could not have found a coach that believed their system and improved on it. What was he expecting?
6 Go to comments