The former England prop has made his feelings clear on Jones with a brutally honest assessment
Marler was banned for 10 weeks after grabbing Jones’ genitals in 2020
Joe Marler has claimed Alun Wyn Jones is “massively overrated”, six years on from being banned from rugby for grabbing the Wales legend’s genitals during a match.
Former England prop Marler was suspended for 10 weeks following the incident, which occurred during his side’s win over Wales in the 2020 Six Nations. In the middle of a scuffle that broke out between the two teams less than 10 minutes into the match at Twickenham, the loosehead was caught on camera making the grab at the Wales captain, sparking fury among rugby fans.
After the match, a stunned Jones described the England international, – who he represented the British & Irish Lions alongside in 2017 – as a “good bloke”, but insisted that rugby’s authorities should take appropriate action against him for the act.
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Months on from the incident, Marler revealed that he hadn’t spoken to Jones since and, while he admitted what he did was “inappropriate and wrong,” dismissed it as “a bit of a brain fart” and “a laugh”.
Now, he has made his feelings clear on the Welshman with a brutally honest assessment while picking his all-time Six Nations team with former teammate Danny Care.
Appearing on Care’s Hits Different podcast, the former Harlequins prop was tasked with picking the forwards for the team and quickly shot down the host’s suggestion for who should take a spot in the second row.
“I’d like to put Alun Wyn Jones in there,” said Care, to which Marler laughed and replied: “If you want. So overrated.”
Someone can then be heard off screen asking “really?”, with the Celebrity Traitors star adding: “It’s unbelievable. He had one year,” before laughing again.
Instead, the former England duo opted to pick Lions captains Maro Itoje and Paul O’Connell as their starting second rows.
Jones wasn’t the only big name in the firing line, however, with Marler also referring to legendary Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton as “garbage” before describing France star Thomas Ramos as “such a helmet on the pitch”.
He also questioned Care’s suggestions of Wales backs Gareth Davies and George North, although the latter was ultimately included in the pair’s all-time XV.
However, Jones aside, Marler had a lot more appreciation for Wales’ forwards, with three making it in to his ultimate Six Nations pack.
Including Richard Hibbard and Adam Jones in his front row, he said of the former: “He’s massive. He used to melt people, remember when he melted me in 2013?”.
In the back row, he selected Justin Tipuric at seven, adding that he would “100 per cent” take him in his team over former Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton.
“No question,” he said. “It was just unfortunate that he was competing with Warburton at the time, do you know what I mean? But he’s one of the most skilled… unbelievable.”
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