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Sat 23 Apr 2016 | 12:00
Joe Marler could be in trouble again after appearing to kick an opponent in the head

27
Comments

Joe Marler has hit the headlines again after he appeared to kick Grenoble hooker Arnaud Heguy in the head in Friday night's European Challenge Cup semi final. Marler will face another anxious wait to see if he will have to face yet another disciplinary hearing

Harlequins cruised to a 30-6 victory at The Stoop but this incident will overshadow the win, and leave the 25-year-old England prop with plenty to think about. It was his first game back after a two match ban for the Gypsy Boy insult incident that took place against Wales in the Six Nations.

The citing window is 48 hours from the end of the match, so we will find out soon enough if Marler will be in the dock again, putting his England tour of Australia in jeopardy.

Harlequins boss Conor O'Shea said that whatever Marler did, it wasn't worthy of a red card.

"Any test for a citing has to pass the red card test, and this does not pass that test. Should he do it? No. Is it a red card? No. It's disappointing to have to talk about it because I thought his scrummaging was excellent. But he is under the microscope.

"Things happen, we never condone it but if that is a red card there's a heck of a lot of things that happen on the pitch that are worse," added O'Shea.

credit: btsport/rugbyvids

Posted By: Grant Constable

27 Comments

  • danknapp
    3:34 PM 26/04/2016

    This is why I don't post under my rea-

    Ah shit.

  • drg
    9:00 AM 26/04/2016

    I was tempted.... But figured my wife might see the comment and clout me...

  • drg
    9:00 PM 25/04/2016

    Totally agree. I think perhaps there was a couple incidents which were more or less typical of any front row players greeting each other..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cZXpcQwZ-0

    I think the other one was Rob Vickers punching Marler but with no reaction.

    Either way I think it was fairly innocuous and really everything was somewhat understandable. Marler grabbed Ayerzas' head guard which was sort of unnecessary rucking, for which I can understand Ayerza grappling... then from there I think Marler has to be cleared of further wrong doing.

    I don't like seeing any players getting into these sort of funks, especially when they're all somewhat stupid petulant actions. (Not watering down the kick, but it wasn't the worst thing I've seen).

  • eddie-g
    6:33 PM 25/04/2016

    My memories were of younger Marler were of a great lad who didn't take himself too seriously, gave it his all and played the game in a great spirit. Question-mark was always if he was a good enough scrummager (still a question mark perhaps?)

    I can't recall, prior to this season, if he had past history of cynical play. This act of petulance seems to me a little out of character, even if you have a look at the other stuff he's gotten into trouble for, it's nothing like this. The "fore-arm smash" he was cited for was a nothingburger, and banter-gate, especially after World Rugby weighed in, was a circus which must have had an effect on him.

    But he needs to get his head straight, he's too good a player to damage his career with moments of foolishness like this.

  • tintin
    5:38 PM 25/04/2016

    Fully agree with the comment from veji1 . Professional players have to be an example for young players. No excuse.

  • drg
    5:22 PM 25/04/2016

    He seems stuck in a rut of idiocy. I'd agree with your comments about him rising, it was interesting to see, he was a great player going from strength to strength, but currently it's almost as if his attitude since pulling on an England shirt has changed, he's become more stupidly aggressive.

    Far cries from the boy with the silly sponsors shaved into his hair...

    He's been cited btw..

  • eddie-g
    3:12 PM 25/04/2016

    Total muppet behaviour.

    I mean, there's not a whole lot in this, but it is the thin end of the wedge in terms of players kicking each other - and given he aimed his flick at another bloke's head, he can't have any complaints when he gets banned.

    Really disappointing too, I enjoyed watching Marler as he rose through the ranks at Quins and became a top quality player, but he's letting himself down badly. And this is just such a stupid way to get yourself in trouble.

  • eddie-g
    3:04 PM 25/04/2016

    She is.

    Wait, what? Ignore that last comment.

  • katman
    7:56 AM 25/04/2016

    I swear Marler sometimes forgets that there are 16 live TV cameras and that the ref is miced up. What a wally.

  • colombes
    10:06 PM 24/04/2016

    Marler really needs to improve his banters, because Connor O'Shea bad jokes are stealing the show.

  • drg
    2:32 PM 24/04/2016

    Until the following morning when the police were investigated race crimes knocked on the door of the gypsy for making a traveller joke. The Frenchmans door for make a frog joke - apparently someone in the pub felt that had there been another Frenchman or Gypsy near by they could have been offended by the jokes and therefore it required serious intervention!

    Twitter accounts were suspended after the apologies were met with tirades of abuse from feminists who stated that IF either of the 3 had made a feminist joke then they would have been offended if they'd been in a pub.

    Of course there was a huge uproar from the teetotallers and the Muslims who were greatly offended that the pub served alcohol.

    Warren Gatland had to apologise for not knowing about the incident and therefore not making a comment for which he'd have to then later apologise for.

    A Kiwi was offended for not being invited. An Aussie was offended because if the said kiwi HAD been invited, then he'd have missed a chance to get a bit of banter in with his kiwi neighbour.... He also had to apologise after being offended as he used the word banter, which is unacceptable.

    The blokes in charge of the Oxford Dictionary had to apologise for putting banter in their dictionary.

    The non English speakers were offended due to the fact that the Oxford dictionary was written in English.

    The Americans started a war with someone.

    Cudmore drank some of his sinbin wine, then punched a poor irish bloke who made a crack about maple syrup.

    The irish bloke staggered around before kicking a fellow irish man in the head - just for laughs...

    Bakkies Botha ate someones baby....

    ...meanwhile Marler escaped somewhat unscathed...until he made a comment about the policemans choice of footwear... However Tuilagi came in to save the day by assaulting said police officer... they all escaped in Ciprianis car, however because of either alcohol or tears, Cips hit a taxi....

    An investigation into the whole episode is pending...

  • 10stonenumber10
    12:10 PM 24/04/2016

    Safe to say he was getting some verbals from Grenoble. Hell, i would be giving a fair amount of chat too. With the fine in place, Big Joe is probably on a similar hourly wage as myself at the moment.

    Did you hear the one about Marler, the gypsy, and the frenchman? They went to the pub, had 3 drinks, great conversation, and returned home without incident.

  • sjaaks
    9:19 AM 24/04/2016

    How about a fine for Conor O'Shea for blatantly ignoring a rule that leaves very little room for interpretation? Does he not understand that it is meant for the protection of players, inluding his own?

  • floh
    11:44 PM 23/04/2016

    They learned that from the brits. When the french reply they get a longer ban than the initial aggressor

  • danknapp
    10:48 PM 23/04/2016

    I reckon he recently got a Netflix subscription and wants to finish Breaking Bad off.

  • danknapp
    10:47 PM 23/04/2016

    If only my wife was as easily satisfied....

  • jimmy23
    10:18 PM 23/04/2016

    I must say Dan, you've been on red hot form as of late.

  • drg
    10:08 PM 23/04/2016

    Regardless of how ineffective it was, we've seen heads gently touching other heads and that equalling red cards for 'headbutting'.... so one can only assume the same thing should apply here, boot/shin to head = red...

    Maybe Marler is trying to get banned for something real this time instead of that pitiful ban to appease the beige cardigan wearing traveller rights representative do gooders...

    Actually, on that notion, how can people seek bans/public shaming etc and get involved in representing a community who solve things with a quick bare knuckle dust up and that be it... Does the average Samson really give a toss about the comment?

  • drg
    10:05 PM 23/04/2016

    The French are very non violent and peaceful players, they've never in the history of rugby resorted to any sort of violence, so it's natural that Arnaud appealed to the referee as this is the correct procedure and will eliminate him from being singled out as a representative of his nation for foul play...

  • danknapp
    10:01 PM 23/04/2016

    Have a like for the use of 'twonk'. I shall make a point using it to describe one of the U7s tomorrow morning.

  • danknapp
    9:59 PM 23/04/2016

    Hi Joe, nice to see you've started an account here.

  • jimmy23
    8:18 PM 23/04/2016

    Marler you twonk.

  • finedisregard
    6:57 PM 23/04/2016

    Looks bad. Still French hooker, your first response is to go crying to the ref? Come on

  • welshosprey
    5:42 PM 23/04/2016

    Who cares if it was just a shin, still cheap and sneaky. Marler is a complete mug.

  • 10stonenumber10
    5:41 PM 23/04/2016

    Looked more like he was flicking sh*t off his shoe. You get worse off your own team in a ruck.

    Still, any boot/leg to head contact is a big no-no. Slap him in the next ruck, open play bar stewardery is too obvious.

  • floh
    5:31 PM 23/04/2016

    Well then take an appointment with an optician in emergency or buy a Labrador

  • skid986
    4:41 PM 23/04/2016

    I'm not sure I even see contact there.

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