Joe Marler picks all-time Six Nations XV, snubs 'garbage' Johnny Sexton

Tuesday, 03 February 2026 at 11:56

byRugby Rucker

Joe Marler and Danny Care rarely agree on anything — so asking them to pick a dream Six Nations XV was always going to cause chaos.

The England and Harlequins duo joined forces on the Hits Different podcast
to select the best team they’ve played with or against between 2009 and 2024, and the results were as entertaining as they were controversial.

Watch the Guinness Six Nations at your local Greene King sports pub.

From Marler branding Johnny Sexton “garbage” to Care being accused of “friendatism” for picking Owen Farrell, the pair didn’t hold back as they argued their way through rugby’s biggest names.

Here is the final XV they settled on.

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Back-three:

15 Rob Kearney

Care wanted a full-back who could “score some tries but be a rock at the back”, and that led him straight to Ireland’s Rob Kearney. Beating out names like Leigh Halfpenny and Thomas Ramos (who Marler once famously slapped in Europe), Kearney’s pedigree spoke for itself: four Six Nations titles and two Grand Slams.

14 George North

Marler wasn’t convinced, but Care forced George North into the side because of his ability for “scoring loads of tries”. Tommy Bowe missed out as Wales’ powerhouse winger got the nod.

11 Vincent Clerc

No debate here — Clerc was an automatic pick. One of France’s deadliest ever finishers, the winger’s Six Nations record and two Grand Slams made him impossible to ignore.

Centres

13 Jonathan Davies

It came down to Davies or Gaël Fickou, but the Welshman edged it. A Lions Test regular and four-time Six Nations winner, Davies’ class in midfield was undeniable.

12 Manu Tuilagi

Perhaps the easiest selection of the lot. Both Marler and Care spent years alongside Tuilagi with England, and his raw power and big-game presence made him a straight inclusion.

Halfbacks

10 Owen Farrell

This was where things got spicy. Care initially leaned towards Johnny Sexton, only for Marler to cut in with:

“Mate, he was garbage.”

That ended Sexton’s chances immediately. When Farrell’s name came up, Marler objected again, accusing Care of “friendatism” and calling Farrell “one of the worst tens I’ve played with”.

Care, though, had the final say — and Farrell, three-time Six Nations champion, took the shirt.

9 Antoine Dupont

Here, the duo were in full agreement:

“You can’t look that far past Dupont.”

Marler still found time to fire shots, claiming “Gibson-Park is terrible” and reducing Gareth Davies’ career highlight to “one try that World Cup in 2015”. Dupont, already with multiple Six Nations titles, was the standout choice.

Back Row

8 Sergio Parisse

Care argued Parisse carried Italian rugby for years, even if Marler couldn’t resist pointing out his “appalling win record”. Despite alternatives like Heaslip, Vunipola and Faletau, Parisse’s influence was too big to ignore.

7 Justin Tipuric

Tipuric was a unanimous pick — Care and Marler both giving him “100%”. Described as

“As skilful as any back,”

the Welshman beat out Sam Warburton for the openside role.

6 Courtney Lawes

Another straightforward inclusion. Their former England teammate’s physicality, leadership and defensive dominance earned him the blindside spot.

Second Row

5 Maro Itoje

Itoje was an easy call — a player both have shared the field with for years. Nearly at 100 England caps and already a multiple Six Nations winner, his reputation speaks for itself.

4 Paul O’Connell

Alun Wyn Jones was the alternative, but Marler wasn’t having it:

“So overrated, unbelievable, he had one year.”

Instead, Ireland’s iconic leader O’Connell got the nod — a cornerstone of Ireland’s rise and a former Player of the Championship.

Front Row

3 Adam Jones

It “had to be” the Welsh scrummaging great, especially given his coaching impact on the duo at Harlequins. A three-time Grand Slam winner, Jones remains one of the best tightheads ever.

2 Richard Hibbard

Marler’s memories sealed this one:

“Used to melt people.”

Jamie George and Rory Best were mentioned, but Hibbard’s destructive edge earned him the shirt.

1 Mako Vunipola

Marler joked about picking himself, but then settled on his England teammate, calling Mako:

“One of the best players I’ve ever played with.”

French options were floated, but Marler held firm.

Marler & Care’s Dream Six Nations XV

15 Kearney
14 North
13 Davies
12 Tuilagi
11 Clerc
10 Farrell
9 Dupont
8 Parisse
7 Tipuric
6 Lawes
5 Itoje
4 O’Connell
3 Adam Jones
2 Hibbard
1 Vunipola