TRASH AND GRAB
Care accuses the Welsh of sour grapes as Marler row rages on
DANNY CARE says the Joe Marler testicle tampering case has been magnified by sour grapes from Wales.
England prop Marler appears before Six Nations disciplinary chiefs today facing a possible 12- week ban for grabbing Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones where it hurts the most.
Harlequins appear resigned to Marler being suspended and Care, above, believes a contributory factor was the reaction of Jones after England’s 33- 30 victory.
The England and Quins scrum- half said: “If Wales win that game I don’t think it’s as big an issue as it is.
“Alun Wyn Jones’s reaction after the game is probably a disappointed and angry and that is a way to take a bit of that anger out.”
Jones’ response was to ask: “What would you do in that situation? If I react I get a red card.”
Care said: “I’ve lost count of the number of people who have touched my genitals in a game of rugby. I don’t see it as a big deal.”
Quins boss Paul Gustard voiced his frustration that the case had attracted such attention on a weekend in which France prop Mohamed Haouas was sent off for a punch to the face and Manu Tuilagi for a no- arms shot to the head. Haouas was last night banned for three weeks and
Gustard said: “Joe Marler is a highprofile player. But the furore over this incident doesn’t seem to be mirrored in the same amount of media coverage about the French kid who could have broken someone’s jaw with a punch.”
At a time when the sporting calendar is being so badly hit by concern over the coronavirus, Quins are assuming Sunday’s Premiership Rugby Cup final against Sale will go ahead.
Meanwhile, Rhys Carre insists he has no regrets over his move to Saracens, even if it puts the brakes on his Test career.
The loosehead prop has enjoyed a rapid rise to the international stage after joining the European champions – before being embroiled in the salary cap storm which will see the club relegated at the end of the season.
Carre is set for his first start in the Six Nations against Scotland on Saturday. But even though he will be playing in England’s second tier next season, the 22- year- old claims he would not have done anything different.
The Principality Stadium clash is the only Six Nations fixture taking place this weekend amid the coronavirus
outbreak.