Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Why Joe Marler retirement hint may leave England career in agonising spot

(Photo by Ian Kington/AFP via Getty Images)

Making England’s Autumn Nations Series will surely be the target for Joe Marler, who is still recovering from a broken foot suffered against the All Blacks in July.

ADVERTISEMENT

Should he make Steve Borthwick’s squad, which he would likely do if fully fit, he has a chance to add four more caps to his haul, which would leave him with a tally of 99 caps at the end of November.

The only problem for the 34-year-old is that he has hinted that his international career may come to an end after England’s quartet of matches against the All Blacks, Australia, South Africa and Japan.

Video Spacer

Rassie Erasmus on how Tony Brown made them respect the All Blacks

Video Spacer

Rassie Erasmus on how Tony Brown made them respect the All Blacks

Joining Dan Cole and Ben Youngs on the For the Love of Rugby podcast recently, the Harlequins loosehead explained how his wife wants him to “stop in December”. While his front-row companion Cole suggested Borthwick could fashion a way for the 95-cap veteran to reach his century, Marler was less convinced.

“I never did [have an ambition to make 100 caps],” he said.

Fixture
Gallagher Premiership
Sale
12 - 11
Full-time
Harlequins
All Stats and Data

“I always wanted 27, because Tim Payne got 26 [he actually won 22]. That was always my barometer. I went, ‘right, he’s got 26, I want to get 27’. And then when I got 27, I was like, done. And that’s why I retired 18 times. But I guess now it’s closer, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it. But then, I’ve not really been one for milestones ever. I just enjoy playing.”

Youngs added: “But you are that close now, so you might as well do it.”

“Yeah, Daisy tells me that I have to stop in December,” Marler said. “So it means if I did make the Autumn squads and play in all four games, I’d end on 99. Well, I guess it’s probably fitting.”

Cole said: “You’d have to bring up Steve, and be like, ‘Steve, can you just play the Barbarians or something, make it a capped game for me?’ And then just have a one-off game just for you.

ADVERTISEMENT

Marler replied: “I’m not sure Steve’s that sentimental where he’d go, ‘Just roll you out for one game, one minute off the bench, just to get your 100.'”

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

4 Comments
f
fl 56 days ago

With Genge, Rodd, Baxter, Obano, and Opoku-Fordjour, I'm not convinced Marler merits a spot in the squad this autumn.

B
Bull Shark 57 days ago

Is Daisy aware that if Joe retires, he’ll be home more often?

f
fl 56 days ago

I'm much less annoying when I'm around my partner, maybe marler is the same?

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING England player ratings vs New Zealand | Autumn Nations Series 2024 England player ratings vs New Zealand | Autumn Nations Series 2024
Search