England prop Joe Marler has revealed he chatted to Alun Wyn Jones after he grabbed the Welshman's genitals in this year's Six Nations clash, and they are 'absolutely fine'.
However, presenter Piers Morgan felt Jones had reacted 'over the top' to the whole situation.
Morgan said to Marler: "I've known rugby players in my village for 40 years. This seemed to me, on the scale of things you all do to each other, about 0.001 on the Richter scale, and it became this enormous scandal - you had to be banned for 10 weeks.
"I found the whole thing completely baffling. Were you bemused that everyone threw their toys out of the pram about it?
"I didn't think there was anything wrong at all. I thought the reaction of Alun Wyn Jones, he's a 6ft 5ins monster, the idea that he felt in any way that this was offensive or whatever was ridiculous."
However, despite Piers point of view, Marler admitted that he regrets the incident.
"It was a bit of a brain-fart moment, really," Marler explained.
"Do I accept what I did was wrong? Not so much the action, but the time and the place of it. Because, between two friends, having a laugh, I completely got that wrong on that occasion."
JOIN THE RUCK:
7 things you didn’t know about Joe Marler
1. Starting out
Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees.
2. Not a one-club man?
After joining the Quins academy in 2008, the prop spent some time on loan to Esher and Worthing
3. Lions scorer
Despite failing to cross the whitewash in his 66 caps since making his England debut in 2012, he did score in one of his two appearances for the British & Irish Lions during the 2017 tour to New Zealand.
4. Nickname
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.”
5. Captain fantastic
Marler was captain for England at U18s level and represented the U20 squad throughout the Junior World Championship in summer 2009.
6. Pet ducks
He is obviously a fan of Friends, except he added his own twist to it by choosing two ducks instead of having a chicken.
7. Partner
Marler is happily married to long-term partner Daisy, with whom he has three children. Jasper, 5, and Maggie, 3, were joined by another new born just before the World Cup commenced.
