Joe Marler returns for Harlequins against Ulster in Champions Cup
England prop Joe Marler has been named in the Harlequins squad for their Investec Champions Cup match against Ulster Rugby at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday.
Marler, who was selected for Steve Borthwick’s Six Nations squad, has successfully recovered from injury and starts at loosehead. The veteran prop hasn't played since injuring himself on December 30th against Gloucester. Joining him in the front row are Jack Walker at hooker and Will Collier at tighthead.
In addition to Marler’s return, Quins have made two other changes to their Starting XV. The pack sees Irne Herbst starting alongside George Hammond in the second-row. Chandler Cunningham-South steps in as blindside flanker, replacing the injured James Chisholm. The openside flanker position remains with Will Evans, and Alex Dombrandt, leading the team as captain, completes the back row at number eight.
The backline remains unchanged from their victory over Cardiff. The halfback pairing of Danny Care and Marcus Smith lines up with Andre Esterhuizen and Oscar Beard renewing their effective combination outside them in midfield. Cameron Anderson, Nick David and Tyrone Green make up the back three.
Meanwhile, Ulster Head Coach Dan McFarland has also announced his lineup. The team includes six players named in Ireland’s Six Nations squad by Head Coach Andy Farrell. Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Nick Timoney, Jacob Stockdale, and Stuart McCloskey are all set to play key roles in the match before joining the international training camp the following week.
HARLEQUINS: 1. Joe Marler 2. Jack Walker 3. Will Collier 4. Irne Herbst 5. George Hammond 6. Chandler Cunningham-South 7. Will Evans 8. Alex Dombrandt (Captain) 9. Danny Care 10. Marcus Smith 11. Cameron Anderson 12. Andre Esterhuizen 13. Oscar Beard 14. Nick David 15. Tyrone Green
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Sam Riley 17. Fin Baxter 18. Dillon Lewis 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Archie White 21. Will Porter 22. Lennox Anyanwu 23. Will Joseph
ULSTER: 15. Mike Lowry, 14. Rob Baloucoune, 13. James Hume, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 10. Billy Burns, 9. John Cooney; 1. Steven Kitshoff, 2. Tom Stewart, 3. Tom O’Toole, 4. Kieran Treadwell, 5. Iain Henderson (C), 6. Matty Rea, 7. David McCann, 8. Nick Timoney.
REPLACEMENTS: 16. John Andrew, 17. Andy Warwick, 18. Marty Moore, 19. Harry Sheridan, 20. Marcus Rea, 21. Nathan Doak, 22. Luke Marshall, 23. Will Addison.
Latest Comments
All of these media pundits always miss the obvious whenever they analyse what is ailing or assisting the game. Rugby always has contentious points for debate when picking apart individual games and finding fault with itself. All this focus and scrutiny on “speeding up the game”, “high ball in play” etc is all contextual to the fan. As a tv viewer, if you’re absorbed into a game, regardless if your team is playing or not, more ball in play time and action are all byproducts of the contest. A good contest subliminally affects your memory in selectively remembering all the good aspects. A poor contest and your brain has switched off because its a blowout and the result is never in doubt or it’s a real chore to watch and remain engaged throughout. The URC, Top 14 and English premiership are all competitions that feel like there’s real jeopardy each week. The dominance of Super rugby by NZ teams was unhealthy from a sustainable interest perspective. You can’t fault those teams or the players, but the lack of competitions won by SA and Australian teams long term was always going to test the faith and patience of die-hard and casual fans from those regions. SANZAR took their eye off the fans and fans voted with their feet and subscriptions. They were so concerned about expanding their product they forgot the golden rule about broadcasting live sport. Viewers tune in more when there’s an atmosphere and a true contest. You need to fill stadiums to create one, host unions need to do more to service ticket buyers, and this year proves the other, there’s more interest in Super rugby this year only because more games are competitive with less foregone conclusions. All these micro statistics bandied about, only interest the bean counters and trainspotters.
Go to commentsIt’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
Go to comments