Marler’s red is a Six Nations blow
JOE MARLER is a major doubt to feature in the Six Nations, after the England prop was sent off in Harlequins’ heart-stopping defeat by Sale Sharks.
Quins were leading 22-17 at the AJ Bell Stadium before a moment of madness by Marler in the 58th minute changed the course of the contest.
Marler’s careless clear out of TJ Ioane, making contact with the Sale replacement flanker’s head with his shoulder at the ruck, left referee Matthew Carley with little option but to show the Quins loosehead prop a red card.
The 27-year-old will be cited for the incident and could face a lengthy ban. Marler has won 53 caps and was involved in England’s training camp in Brighton earlier this week but his participation in the championship is now in jeopardy. England face Italy in their Six Nations opener in Rome on February 4.
Quins’ director of rugby John Kingston said: ‘I’m not going to comment on whether I feel that was the right sanction for him or not. This is not an isolated punch, or a stamp, or a kick. It’s a clear out that’s not legal. He’s taking somebody out without his arms and dropped his shoulder into it.
‘It’s a physical game. An awful lot of people do that. He’ll be unbelievably disappointed and upset about the whole thing.’
Sale came firing out of the blocks and were 14-0 ahead, thanks to fine tries from wing Byron McGuigan and midfielder Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Quins came back fighting with tries from Alofa Alofa, Charlie Walker and Ross Chisholm giving them a 22-17 lead at the break.
Then came Marler’s meltdown as Sale fly half AJ MacGinty, who later left the field with a serious knee injury, fired over a penalty.
Amazingly, Jamie Roberts barged over to give the 14-man visitors hope and a bonus point but another try from Janse van Rensburg and a late Faf de Klerk penalty gave Sale a slender lead. There was still time for more drama but Roberts had a last-gasp try ruled out by the TMO.
MANU TUILAGI celebrated his 100th club appearance with a crucial try, as Leicester made heavy weather of beating basement side London Irish 19-15 at home. The centre’s flash of inspiration in the second half stopped the rot of six successive defeats — four in the Premiership.