Sidelined: Joe Marler
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Joe Marler is unlikely to feature for England this weekend against South Africa at Twickenham due to a knee injury.
The Harlequins prop was withdrawn after 50 minutes against Australia and his injury could mean either a recall for Alex Corbisiero or a first start for Mako Vunipola.
Stuart Lancaster has admitted that England may consider changes to their starting XV after a lacklustre display in attack against the Wallabies.
"We will potentially freshen things up with one or two changes. We have players on the return - Alex played 75 minutes yesterday and Jonathan Joseph played," he said.
"Joe Marler has a grade one MCL so it is likely he won't be available for Saturday. He'd be out of the equation I think. Alex Corbisiero would come back into the equation for him.
"The selection for South Africa will be based on a variety of things. First and foremost the challenge of South Africa, their physicality and the performances they have been putting in on this tour."
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
unless we have a reasonable mathematical chance of getting that 4th place back off france then I'd start vunipola and keep corbisero on the bench where he can rest up before the 6 nations and a probable Lions campaign in Oz.
Posted 15:29 20th November 2012
Warrior7 says...
Sheridan isn't the answer, if he goes up against anyone short in the scrum he always gets destroyed.
Posted 13:03 20th November 2012
heathy says...
Unfortunately Marler did not have his best day. His scrummaging was below that of which he is capable and his open play was also suffering. If he was injured that could explain things. If not, he has some work to do. However, he is still a young lad and in propping terms, a very young lad.
The trouble is we now have this machine called Vunipola in the wings. Not quite ready yet but he soon will be. We also have Corbisiero and along with Sheridan (if he comes back) we have some good options at prop and all things considered, Marler will probably have to wait. All good stuff to learn from though and if he keeps working he will be okay.
Posted 12:31 20th November 2012
jonesy2 says...
ahhh the sweet sounds of justice. all you poms can eat some nice warm humble pie. all the rubbish you talk about your scrum (the most insignificant aspect of rugby) being good and australia's not. ben alexander has ended a guys career in one november night. you know, you should learn from this, england wouldnt take as many hammerings on the field if they werent so delusionally arrogant off it and made the teams they come up against want to teach them lessons.
Posted 12:19 20th November 2012
three6three6 says...
I am surprised to see that Morgan has not been picked at No.8. Thomas Waldrom has been farly ordinary at No.8 recently.
Posted 09:07 20th November 2012
latehit says...
Marler has had one bad game - yes he was shocking against Alexander but he will recover.
Posted 02:27 20th November 2012
dac247 says...
corbs starts.... so annoyed with englands detractors!!! better to lose whilst trying to grow with young players, attempting to play the right way. than win with up the jumper rugby, full of old players... the future will be brighter under lancaster... my only criticism... farrell and flood kinda the same... i would rather see a wildcard fly half on the bench ala cipriani or mainly burns... give them license with 20 to go...
Posted 01:31 20th November 2012
Chubbylugs says...
I wouldn't mind seeing Haskell start. Don't think it will happen, but would pick him Morgan and wood in the back row. We were seriously lacking penetration and a bit of aggression on Saturday. They aren't going to drop robshaw though
Posted 22:34 19th November 2012
Tesh says...
Seems to me it's unlikely Marler suddenly became a rubbish player overnight, nor was he 'found wanting at the highest level' (as i've seen written too often in the last 48 hours) given that he held his own on the South Africa Tour.
He took a knock early in the game, which may well have effected his overall play thereafter. I also remember him once getting a beating by the likes of Doran Jones, but he's improving all the time, more recently doing in Castrogiavanni, so there's little point in reading too much into this one game.
Posted 21:59 19th November 2012
TiggerLavros says...
Sound the clarion call now to the South of France - please come back Andy Sheridan and save us from the ignominy of being totally out-scrummaged by Australia! The shame.... a week after the French had destroyed them up front.
Please can you also bring S Armitage with you as well as we don't have any other 7's and we made David Pocock's deputy look world class on saturday.
Posted 21:38 19th November 2012
sirtidychris says...
Not sure how you can tell how much effort a hooker is putting into a scrum ? Especially either from the stadium or a tv screen....A few folks have been saying that robshaw wasn't pushing at all just binding to get away quick. Props always get the blame at the scrum but the 5 guys behind them have a massive impact as well, its funny Marler was doing fine against the saffas during the summer I wouldn't be surprised if it was either his knee or the guys behind that didn't help his cause. Anyway yes i agree about corbs, wood and morgan getting the nod against the saffas i'd have 'the hask' on the bench as well to offer some grunt.
Posted 21:32 19th November 2012
Demers says...
Big Ben, even though he's slow and ponderous, should come in at 8. Corbs in for sure. But it's still a lack of back row play that's holding us down. McCaw, Read, Hooper, Parisse, Oeudraogo, Nyanga, Picamoles, Louw, Alberts - we don't have anybody who can compete with these guys. And we're still missing firepower in the backs - can't depend on Tuilagi and ertsatz tries against the Boks.
Posted 21:06 19th November 2012
NHsaints says...
@Frooschman you're right, although that's a risk Lancaster and more importantly rowntree took when selecting youngs and marler (two very inexperienced players) together in the front row. We need Hartley and Corbs back Asap if we want to stand a chance against SA. Again very true, Wood was just a matter of time recovering, he was never in question for an england return and Morgan deserves more of a shot than Waldrom after 3 mediocre performances.
Posted 18:23 19th November 2012
APV1 says...
Corbs to start. Mako on the bench.
Posted 17:00 19th November 2012
Warrior7 says...
Mullan?
Posted 16:57 19th November 2012
Frooschman says...
Was Marler's failure in the tight on Saturday all of his own making? It looked to me that he got very little help from his hooker but having played all my life out on the wing what would I know! More important might be the make up of the back row. Robshaw will again get d!cked if he's left to do it all himself. Think Waldrom and Johnson need to make way for Morgan and Wood.
Posted 16:33 19th November 2012
1st58 says...
He should be dropped if he is fit.
Posted 15:58 19th November 2012