Marler and Cole: Adam Jones rates the duo
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Wales front-rower Adam Jones has jumped to the defence of England's under-fire Test props, Joe Marler and Dan Cole.
Both Marler and Cole were heavily penalised in the scrums by Australian referee Steve Walsh during Wales 30-3 victory in the Six Nations decider in Cardiff last weekend.
And despite being criticised in some quarters, the young duo have found an unlikely ally in Wales rival Jones.
"People have come out and said that Marler was shocking, but he's good," Jones told the ERC website. "I'd never played against him before and he's a better prop than I thought he was.
"He's only 22 and he's excellent - both loose-heads were - and Dan Cole is only 25.
"They are only going to get better, and I'm pretty sure that come the World Cup England are going to be formidable opposition."
Comments
loosehead79 says...
I think the England front row of Marler, Youngs and Cole have the potential to develop into great scrummaging unit for the next eight to ten years but I also think there seems to be a bit of an imbalance in the pack. The second row and back row selections are too light weight. It's good to have these dynamic forwards roaming around the paddock in loose play but England are missing a Lock with a bit of ballast like Simon Shaw or Johnno when it comes down to the tight stuff. Maybe Ben Morgan can help address this from No.8. Fair play to Adam Jones on his comments, he's first rate prop and comes across as a top bloke.
Posted 16:11 23rd March 2013
Jhamer25 says...
Oh and coshie may I remind you how the scrums went last year in the six nations at twickenham. Becuase adam destroyed corbisiero then. They weren't much better back then with your starting looshead and was one of the reason why we beat you and went on to win the grand slam (again).
Adam will destroy any looshead england have to offer. I'm sorry but it's true
Posted 15:02 20th March 2013
Jhamer25 says...
Armchairgeneral are you an idiot.
Read my post again, i said that the media over hyped about cole and marler not that adam said they are overhyped. Adam isn't like that it's just the media turn it ugly when they praise the players and then criticise them when they put a foot wrong. The media treat players terribly cause before cole played thye made him out to be one of the best in the world. He has a hard time they give him so much stick it's unbeliable. I know they don't deserve the stick cause o knew they weren't going to do good nt he scrums agaisnt us but the media has made people believe that they were world beaters.
And then you have a go at me about saying what i said to chubby who actually did make out adam to be a bad person.
get your facts right.
Posted 14:53 20th March 2013
three6three6 says...
The cornerstone of any forward pack is the tight head prop. The scrummaging result is also about how the 8 forwards work together. Dan Cole is a reasonable scrummaging prop and Marler is very young and inexperienced particularly at this level. Both of these players will become better players with more experience.... As for the Lions? Well that is for the selectors to decide upon... It is just as well that the Lions are touring Australia rather than New Zealand.
Posted 14:34 20th March 2013
Coshie78 says...
Let's not forget that Marler and Mako are 2nd choice as well.
No matter who was the ref Jones was going to have the upper hand against Marler and Vunipola. However, I'm pretty sure it would've been far more even versus Corbisiero who is a far better scrummager than either of them.
I hope he regains fitness for the Argentina tour, it is a pity he is likely to miss the Lions as would be pushing for a start with Healy in my opinion had he played in the 6N.
Posted 10:59 20th March 2013
cliffguy says...
I agree with ArmchairGeneral - people trying to read a bit too much into this. AJ is a very straightforward bloke, big, honest and courteous. I think he just wants to put the record straight and stop ignorant people banging on.
On another topic, if Sheridan is so good, why no place in the England squad? Might he be a Lion? Wouldn't be a bit surprised; the Ozzies are terrified of him! A front row of Sheridan, Hibbard (maybe), AJ would have them spending most of the week in the toilet.
Posted 10:54 20th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
@Jahammer25: "But he is right marler and cole are in ther early 20's and have been hyped up to be more than they are by the media." Don't twist his good words into your spiteful ones. AJ is a gent and would not say they are overhyped. He's simply saying they're good and don't deserve the stick. Ugly turning of words and your criticism of chubbylugs can also be pointed at yourself.
Posted 10:30 20th March 2013
irishzimbabwean says...
Heathy and jhamer25 - quite right. Adam Jones is renowned in Welsh/British rugby circles as a class act and old school. Any comments here on this page which go against that knowledge should be treated with the disdain they deserve.
Heathy - give Adam until 50 mins to make the Aussie loosehead totally uncomfortable, then bring on Cole for the last 30?
Posted 07:28 20th March 2013
uglea says...
Perhaps he likes playing them as he knowns how to beat them?
Posted 22:52 19th March 2013
Jhamer25 says...
Oh and Chubbylugs your pathetic mate
Posted 20:31 19th March 2013
Jhamer25 says...
See what a great bloke, smashes his opponent, ask or seeks for no praise an then compliments the oppostition who lets be honest got a very hard time.
Some idiots can blmae the ref or honest descent people can face the fact and admit we had the upper hand. They won ony 25% of their scrums with Wales winning 75% of Englands scrums, now all that can't be down to the ref so stop making excuses.
But he is right marler and cole are in ther early 20's and have been hyped up to be more than they are by the media.
Then when it shows they beat them up and leave them to dry.
I actually feel sorry for them as it's not fair how the media treat them.
Posted 20:29 19th March 2013
rugbydaft says...
You do not win by 27 points by being lucky or few calls at scrum time
Posted 19:28 19th March 2013
JamieTheProp says...
The front row union looking out for each other - it has always been thus!
And there is a lot of nonsense talked on here by people who have never played front row at any level - so good to see one of the best scrummagers in world rugby talking sense!
Doesn't change the fact that Wales dominated the scrums on Saturday - and I can understand Walsh giving the dominant scrum the 50/50 decisions - as it should be!
Jenkins and Jones were awesome. Helped by the engine room - hopefully England can learn that lesson!
Posted 19:13 19th March 2013
Heathy says...
Adam Jones didn't have to do this but such is the calibre of the bloke, he spoke out as he knows when there is a certain amount of bulls**t being said. Marker and Cole ARE good props. They are also, in prop terms, very young and will only get better. To do that, you need the odd schooling from the masters. Jones is a master scrummager and in that regard, one of the worlds best. However, he knows and we know that it hasn't been plain sailing and he has had his critiques and his nightmare games too. Even at the start of the championship both he and Gethin didn't look too hot. Their was a lack of form but good pros as they are, they worked it back. These guys will be very good in time. Cole isn't the Adam Jones class of scrummager but he is far better round the park. He is a lot fitter. Personally, Adam Jones would be my Lions tight head starter for sure with Dan Cole to come on around 20 mins for the rest of the game as the pace could be too much for Adam to last the full 80. No bad thing as Jones wears them down and Coles athleticism finishes off. Perfect. In fairness to Marler I would have not only Jenkins but Sheridan and Healy ahead at this time. He's young though so his time will come. Anyway, well said Adam, you remain a true gent and a great prop.
Posted 18:37 19th March 2013
NHsaints says...
I do think this is genuine, although I'm not sure who exactly has criticised Cole...he's probably the best all round tighthead in Britain clearly Jones is a bit more Solid in the scrum and Euan Murray (if he played sundays) is a class ahead of everyone in terms of scrummaging. But Cole can carry, steal ball, scrummage and tackle exceptionally so for that I'd still have him starting the first Lions test.
Posted 18:32 19th March 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
bit of a hyped up news story, really. how about asking him about the ref and his scummaging style? All credit to him, he was given the opportunity and he made hay while the sun shone.
The biggest deal about the wales england match is that I knew we were going to lose as soon as I saw Croft , Ashton and Goode's names in the startinbg 15. Its was probably the absolutely worst selection of lancaster's career. we know england will be much changed for the argentine tour so we're going to have to wait until november to see if S.L. has taken the lessons on board, but don;t worry, we have long memoeries and will be quick to verbally smack him around the ear'ole with Wales vs England references if he continues to pick plodding back lines and light weight glory hunter loose forwards.
Posted 18:24 19th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Jeez talk about reading too much into something. Jones has noted England front row got a lot of stick despite being good opponents. End of. Good bloke.
Posted 18:18 19th March 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
"under fire" only from Welsh people on these threads - two very strong and very young props who have earned their stripes already and were outthought rather than outplayed by a very experienced welsh front row
Posted 17:43 19th March 2013
astrospange says...
Be afraid Jonesy, be afraid!
Posted 17:20 19th March 2013
Frooschman says...
I wonder what hurt worse, the spanking at scrum time or this pat on the head?
Posted 16:29 19th March 2013