Harlequins travelled to Bath and the Recreation Ground on Friday night for Round 12 of the Gallaher Premiership, looking to consolidate a spot in the top four ahead of a return to Champions Cup action in Durban next weekend.
Alex Dombrandt and Oscar Beard scored as Quins led 12-3 at the break.
Will Butt’s try brought Bath back to within two points, but Nick David stretched Quins’ advantage again.
Bath had two efforts held up on the line and were then denied a last-minute score in a dramatic finale as Quins saw out the game with 13 men.
Joe Marler Interview:
Reacting to the interview, one fan wrote: “It was like listening to a drunk person who thinks that they are hilarious after eight pints. Painful viewing.:
Another said: “Sometimes he can give quite a funny post match, but found that awkward and a bit rude,”
“Oh god, the tiring inevitability of his witty ‘bantz’. Spare us,” wrote a third.
However, a number of fans launched a staunch defence of the England prop.
One commented: “A lot of heat on here for marler? Rugby needs characters like joe,he is a breath of fresh air to the boring generic monotonous interviews we see. Do we want a marler interview everyweek granted probably not but when there is one relax and have a laugh with it. Keep going Joe!”
A second said: “My kids love Joe Marler as he plays well and is funny, the comments beneath this tweet again shows how out of touch so many people are
“Sorry, what did Joe Marler do wrong? Answered the questions, South Africa isn’t in Europe, commented on him “buying” his own shirt and is clearly picked for the interview because he will be entertaining. Ask the right questions.”
Joe Marler facts:
- Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees
- After joining the Quins academy in 2008, the prop spent some time on loan to Esher and Worthing
- He’s been nicknamed Croissant. In his own words, it’s because: “The boys think I have a nose that looks like a French pastry.”
- Marler was captain for England at U18s level and represented the U20 squad throughout the Junior World Championship in summer 2009
- He is also one of the hosts of The Joe Marler Show podcast with Tom Fordyce
Joe Marler Dream XV:
Marler’s cheeky selection features seven All Blacks legends in his team, with three from Ireland, two Welsh, two Australians and a Fijian nicknamed ‘The Bus’.
JOE MARLER: DREAM TEAM
FRONT-ROW
1. Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)
2. Rory Best (Ireland)
3. Carl Hayman (New Zealand)
SECOND-ROW
4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
5. Paul O’Connell (Ireland)
