England Rugby Player Joe Marler Suspended for Grabbing Player's Genitals
Mar 13, 2020
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 23: Joe Marler of England during the 2020 Guinness Six Nations match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus)
England rugby prop Joe Marler has been punished with a 10-week ban for grabbing Wales' Alun Wyn Jones' genitals.
The incident took place during Saturday's dramatic Six Nations battle at Twickenham, which England narrowly won 33-30.
Per BBC Sport, the shortest ban World Rugby issues for "grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals" is 12 weeks. However, the commission opted to impose a 10-week suspension after considering the case.
Marler's club, Harlequins, expressed their disappointment at the length of the ban. A statement read: "Whilst not in any way condoning Joe's actions last Saturday we are disappointed at the level of sanction applied, particularly when compared to other disciplinary decisions announced this week."
South Africa Beat England 32-12 in 2019 Rugby World Cup Final
Nov 2, 2019
South Africa's scrum-half Faf de Klerk (L) and South Africa's centre Lukhanyo Am (C) congratulate South Africa's wing Makazole Mapimpi after he scored a try during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup final match between England and South Africa at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama on November 2, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)
South Africa produced a stunning performance to clinch the 2019 Rugby World Cup on Saturday, comfortably beating England 32-12 in Yokohama, Japan.
The first half was a tetchy affair, with both sides making a number of mistakes in possession. However, South Africa's set-piece play saw them earn regular penalties, and four kicks from Handre Pollard put them 12-6 ahead at the interval, with Owen Farrell notching two for England.
After a couple more penalties each in the second half, South Africa made a decisive score through Makazole Mapimpi in the 66th minute, with his converted try moving the Springboks 25-12 in front.
With England chasing a late comeback, South Africa were then able to counter, with Cheslin Kolbe scoring their second try and sealing the contest:
Success for South Africa sees them draw level with New Zealand on three titles having previously won the tournament in 1995 and 2007.
The pattern of the first period was set early on, when England lost Kyle Sinckler following a heavy hit. His absence would prove detrimental to Eddie Jones' team in the scrum battles later in the match.
South Africa were the stronger side from the off, and after Pollard missed with his first attempt at goal, he found his range quickly.
He slotted four penalties between the posts, including one on the brink of half time, to give the Springboks a six-point advantage:
England came closest of the two sides to scoring a try in the first period, but they were held up by some stellar defensive play from South Africa, per Matthew Southcombe of the MailOnline:
Incredible defence from South Africa.
Stunning work from Willie Le Roux out wide to collar Watson and then Farrell.
Ridiculous advantage mind. Garces should have brought it back ages ago. #RWCFinal
England's task didn't get any easier after the restart, when another brutal scrum from South Africa resulted in another penalty, allowing them to extend their lead to nine.
Despite their struggles, England were able to keep knocking kicks over themselves, as a couple more from Farrell came either side of another from Pollard. With an hour gone, the Springboks had an 18-12 lead.
The decisive moment in the game came not long after, as South Africa produced a sweeping counter, finished brilliantly by Mapimpi:
England sought to rally in the final stages, but a combination of errors on their part and continued rock-solid defence from South Africa prevented them from building any late momentum.
Eventually, the Springboks capitalised on that desperation, with Kolbe producing a sensational finish to cap off a fine performance from his side.
The win is testament to head coach Rassie Erasmus, who has done a stellar job turning the South African team around since his arrival. He will be delighted with the manner in which his side executed their game plan on Saturday, as they were dominant against a strong opponent.
England Defeat New Zealand to Advance to 2019 Rugby World Cup Final
Oct 26, 2019
England's centre Manu Tuilagi (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between England and New Zealand at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama on October 26, 2019. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
England produced one of their greatest-ever performances to beat New Zealand 19-7 on Saturday at Yokohama's Nissan Stadium and book themselves a spot in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Japan.
Manu Tuilagi put his side ahead with a try inside two minutes, and England never relented despite late New Zealand pressure.
The all-conquering All Blacks, aiming to win a third consecutive World Cup, were never allowed on to the front foot by an immaculate England side, who responded brilliantly after Ardie Savea narrowed the scoreline in the 57th minute with New Zealand's only try of the match.
George Ford's four penalties made England's lead unassailable, and they will now wait for the result of Sunday's semi-final to see whether they face South Africa or Wales in the final.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, meanwhile, will bow out from his remarkable tenure after the bronze final following New Zealand's first World Cup loss since 2007. The 60-year-old announced in December he will step down as the side's manager at the conclusion of the tournament.
England came flying out of the blocks with a set of brilliant opening phases in Yokohama.
Just 98 seconds into proceedings, with New Zealand barely having touched the ball, Tuilagidrove over the line from two metres for the first try after superb work from KyleSincklerand CourtneyLawes:
In the 25th minute, SamUnderhillcrossed the try line under the posts after a brilliant delayed pass fromSinckler, but it was chalked off by theTMOdue to Tom Curry's obstruction.
George Ford added three points from a penalty before the break, though, to keep England in the ascendancy:
England's relentless pressure continued after the break, and BenYoungsfinished off a near-perfect drivinglineoutfor what looked to be England's second try six minutes into the second half.
Again, though, theTMOruled the score out, this time more controversially:
Another Ford penalty soon after made it 13-0, but Saveathen went over for a try just before the hour to put the All Blacks firmly back in contention.
For almost the first time in the whole match, England'slineoutbroke down, andSaveagratefully snatched the ball in space and got New Zealand on the board.
England's response was clinical as they immediately piled pressure on the All Black line with consecutive phases, and the defending world champions would have been relieved to escape with just Ford's third penalty of the match conceded.
New Zealand could not turn the momentum, though, with England defending brilliantly and consistently turning over the ball, strangling the life out of their opponents.
A fourth Ford penalty 11 minutes from time gave Eddie Jones' side a 12-point lead, and the All Blacks never looked like making a comeback against an impressively dominant England who will likely go into the final as favourites no matter their opponents.
George Ford Leads England to International Test Win vs. Argentina
Jun 17, 2017
England's fly-half George Ford (L) passes the ball during the Rugby Union test match against Argentina's Los Pumas at Brigadier General Estanislao Lopez stadium in Santa Fe, Argentina on June 17, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JUAN MABROMATA (Photo credit should read JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)
England won their second summer international test match in a row against Argentina, beating the Pumas 35-25 one week after securing a 38-34 win. Substitute Will Collier scored a late try to break a 25-25 deadlock as England eventually eased into a healthy winning margin.
Earlier, the visitors relied on a strong game from fly-half George Ford, who scored 15 points, while Piers Francis scored his maiden try on his England debut.
Ford's performance helped take England into an early lead, but the visitors were soon pegged back by the Pumas. Argentina were helped by the prolific form of their own gifted No. 10, Nicolas Sanchez.
The skipper's boot kicked the hosts into a slender advantage after Joaquin Tuculet had put Argentina's first try on the board.
At this point, BBC Sport was already anticipating another close-fought and narrow finish between these two:
This has the makings of another thriller.
Two quick penalties put Argentina into a 13-10 lead over England.
England appeared on the ropes, but Ford's smart kicking positioned them to regain the lead. They were back in front when first-time international Francis powered over.
Francis was congratulated on his maiden international try by his new club, the Northampton Saints:
Argentina tied the score when Pablo Matera went over, but Sanchez missed the conversion. The home side were level for just four minutes as Danny Care powered England back in front.
Three minutes later, the scores were level again when Emiliano Boffelli scored Argentina's third try.
England's fightback was keyed by typical power in the scrum. The visitors forced the issue until sub Collier crossed the line.
SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA - JUNE 10: Will Collier of England, Ellis Genge of England and Danny Care of England wave to the fans after the International Test match between Argentina and England at Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario on June 10, 2017 in San Juan, A
Ford soon chipped in with another penalty conversion to seal the victory.
Another dramatic win kept the excitement high on this summer tour, with Fissler highlighting the difference in intensity and entertainment between these friendlies and the British Lions Tour:
How about we forget the first Lions test next week and just play a third game against Argentina. Been two superb games. #ARGvENG
This has been more than just a warm-up for some of England's key players. It's also been a chance to gain vital test experience for new players such as Francis.
The domestic international rugby setup should be stronger for the lessons learned during these matches.
England Edge Argentina 38-34 in Summer Internationals Thriller
Jun 10, 2017
SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA - JUNE 10: Nathan Hughes of England breaks through past Pablo Matera of Argentina during the International Test match between Argentina and England at Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario on June 10, 2017 in San Juan, Argentina. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Argentina and England served up an epic encounter on Saturday, with the visitors narrowly beating the Pumas 38-34 in a summer international.
Juan Martin Hernandez had given the hosts the lead with a drop-goal with minutes left to play, but Denny Solomona answered in the dying seconds with a huge try.
George Ford scored a try and added four penalties and three conversions, while Marland Yarde and Jonny May also went over. For the Pumas, Nicolas Sanchez made one penalty and four conversions, and Joaquin Tuculet, Jeronimo De La Fuente, Emiliano Boffelli and Tomas Lavanini scored tries.
England's squad featured four debutants, including the 18-year-old Tom Curry. Per OptaJonny, he was the youngest to do so in a long time:
18 - Tom Curry (18y 360d) will become England's youngest player since J Wilkinson in 1998 (18y 314d) & the youngest forward since 1912. Star pic.twitter.com/Lz4dzBbped
The more experienced Pumas made a fast start and earned a penalty on Nathan Hughes at a scrum after two minutes. Sanchez hooked his effort wide, but the hosts kept up the pressure, and Sanchez more than made up for his miss with a great kick through the English line for Boffelli, who scored the first try.
Per BBC Sport's live blog of the match, former England coach Andy Robinson was impressed: "That's a really smart bit of play from Argentina. The chip from Sanchez is perfect for Boffelli to get in and score. Argentina look to move the ball to the right side and move Brown away from the sweeper role, which gave them space to score."
Ford sent his first kick from the tee booming down the middle, putting England on the board inside of 20 minutes. A second kick made it a 7-6 match, with Argentina failing to capitalise on the many turnovers of their opponents.
Just past the half-hour mark, Yarde was matched up against a prop and made quick work of his opponent, handing England their first lead. O2 Sports enjoyed the score:
Ford reduced the deficit to a single point with another penalty early in the second half, and May reclaimed the lead for the visitors with a stunning try, courtesy of a great kick through from Henry Slade.
Former international Jason Robinson was impressed:
The back-and-forth continued with two Argentinian tries in quick succession, from De la Fuente and Tuculet, but minutes after Sanchez missed a penalty, Ford added a try of his own before missing the conversion, leaving the match tied.
The Loose Head urged fans to tune in to watch the thriller:
Argentina v England is one hell of a game.
If you're in a position to watch the last 15m, I recommend it.
— Jeff Neville (The Loose Head) (@TheLooseH) June 10, 2017
The final minutes were cagey, but Hernandez gave the home fans reason to celebrate with a well-executed drop-goal just before the final whistle.
Argentina thought they had won it, but substitute Solomona scored a try at the death to win it for the visitors. Ford kicked the extras and cleared after a scrum past the hooter to cap off a memorable night for England.
England Grab 28-14 Win Over Barbarians in 2017 Old Mutual Wealth Cup
May 28, 2017
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 28: Nick Isiekwe of England runs in to score his side's second try during the Old Mutual Wealth Cup match between England and The Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium on May 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
England continued their fine run in international rugby on Sunday, beating Barbarians 28-14 at Twickenham Stadium in London.
Nathan Earle gave England the lead after a strong spell from Barbarians, and George Ford added to the lead with his boot. Nick Isiekwe scored England's second try after half-time, while Adam Ashley-Cooper got on the board for Barbarians. Joe Tekori added some late excitement, but a score from Danny Care secured the win.
England fielded a weakened team because of the British Lions' tour of New Zealand, with several top stars absent. Barbarians were led by the likes of Alex Goode and Timoci Nagusa, with the latter impressing early.
His surging run after just three minutes nearly broke the deadlock, with Jeremy Thrush preventing major damage after Chris Robshaw was left for dead.
Goode thought he had scored shortly after, but the try was correctly disallowed for a forward pass from Nagusa. BBC London Sports' Jamie Hill loved what he saw from the wing:
That's what the Barbarians are all about. Timoci Nagusa starts inside his in-goal area, nearly creates something truly astonishing
Earle attacked out of control and lost possession, as the back-and-forth continued in the early stages. Barbarians dominated possession, but Earle made up for his mistake by giving England the lead, taking a pass from Sam James and scoring after 17 minutes. Ford added the conversion.
Sam Underhill was denied a try shortly after for a knock-on from Earle, with the TMO instead leading to a Barbarians scrum.
The visitors kept playing sensational rugby at times, but England were far more efficient, and Ford missed the chance to add to the lead after Frans Steyn was caught offside.
He had more luck minutes later, kicking a penalty after Robbie Fruean took out Mike Brown away from the ball, with the latter requiring treatment.
Barbarians failed to take advantage of some late possession, and instead, Ford ended the half by adding to the lead with another penalty, per England Rugby:
40' ENG 13 - 0 BAR PEN | George Ford wraps up the first half with a well struck penalty.
Ashley-Cooper put Barbarians on the board early in the second half, finishing a lovely move despite a late tackle from Earle.
Ford added another penalty before the TMO was needed for another big call, as Jeremy Thrush had a try disallowed for losing the ball forward.
A yellow card for Mikheil Nariashvili gave England some breathing room, and the English scrum started to really take hold in the second half, wearing down Barbarians.
Isiekwe scored a try with 11 minutes to play, all but ending the match as a contest. Tekori's late try made things more interesting, but to the relief of Twickenham, Care added a late score to end the match.
The Lions will tour New Zealand to start the summer, taking on New Zealand Provincial Barbarians on June 3.
Ireland vs. England: Score and Reaction from 2017 Six Nations Round 5
Mar 18, 2017
Ireland's scrum-half Kieran Marmion (R) kicks the ball up-field during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on March 18, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Ireland defeated England 13-9 in the final match in the 2017 Six Nations on Saturday as the champions failed to land the grand slam in Dublin.
The hosts held a 10-3 advantage at half-time after Iain Henderson's try, with the Red Rose giving their worst first-half performance of this year's competition.
Eddie Jones tasted his first defeat as England's coach, with the Irish deserved winners on the day.
It was an indifferent start from both teams, but England appeared nervous with the task at hand.
Ireland's fly-half Johnny Sexton kicks during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on March 18, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Ge
The Irish drew first blood through Johnny Sexton's penalty, but Owen Farrell levelled the match after 17 minutes.
England produced feisty counter-rucking as they defended their territory, but it was Ireland who scored the only try of the encounter.
Henderson was the hero as he stretched over the line, allowing Sexton to find a successful conversion.
The hosts remained on top until half-time, but England appeared more focused at the start of the second half.
Farrell grabbed the first score of the half, kicking home a penalty to make it 10-6, but Ireland stayed firm and true with their tackling to limit England's passing game.
England Rugby hailed a milestone for their consistent centre:
IRE 10 - 6 ENG
50' PEN ENGLAND. Owen Farrell kicks a penalty to narrow the deficit - he has now scored 600 points for England 🌹 pic.twitter.com/coavCa9u4s
The hosts restored a seven-point lead on the hour mark with a Sexton penalty before the visitors drew within striking distance as the boot of Farrell made it 13-9, and the champions prepared themselves for a grandstand finish.
The English forwards began to exert increased pressure to nullify Ireland's superiority in possession, and the final 10 minutes developed into a war of attrition as the rain fell.
Ireland's lock Iain Henderson (R) is tackled by England's centre Owen Farrell during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on March 18, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS (Photo
Ireland stole a lineout through Peter O'Mahony late in the game, and the hosts looked after the ball to frustrate the English.
The game unravelled for Jones' men in the final moments, with a final knock-on greeted by a deafening roar from the home crowd as the hosts claimed the win to pop the grand-slam bubble for the champions.
Six Nations 2017: Dates, Times, TV and Live-Stream Info for Round 5 Fixtures
Mar 17, 2017
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Jonathan Joseph of England scores a try during the RBS 6 Nations match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium on March 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
England will have the chance to make history during Round 5 of the 2017 Six Nations tournament, as a win over Ireland would give the Red Rose a second consecutive Grand Slam and a record winning streak of 19 matches.
The team share the honours with New Zealand at 18 and are the favourites to win Saturday's match, having already locked up this year's Six Nations title.
Italy will try to win their first points of the tournament at Scotland, while France and Wales do battle in Paris.
Here's a look at the schedule for Round 5, complete with TV info and live-stream options:
Date
Time (GMT)
Match
TV Info
Live Stream
Saturday, March 18
12:30 p.m.
Scotland v Italy
BBC, ITV
BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub
Saturday, March 18
2:45 p.m.
France v Wales
BBC, ITV
BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub
Saturday, March 18
5 p.m.
England v Ireland
BBC, ITV
BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub
To access the BBC iPlayer, click here. For the ITV Hub, click here.
Preview
Ireland will have history on their side when they try to play spoilers at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
As reported by ESPN Rugby's John Griffiths, England have failed to win their final match during a Grand Slam bid on four occasions since the start of the Six Nations tournament in 2000. Twice, the defeat came in Dublin against the Irish.
Coach Eddie Jones knows his team will be in for a challenge, as he told BBC Radio 5 live:
"It's done and dusted. We've got to start preparing for Ireland"
Ireland came out flat against Wales in Round 4, losing 22-9 in Cardiff, and on paper, England couldn't be happier with the timing of this match. Once regarded as the Red Rose's top rivals for this year's title, Ireland appear to be trending downwards and don't carry any momentum into Saturday's match.
The hosts did receive an injury boost in midweek, as shared by RTE Rugby:
Greg Feek on @IrishRugby training this morning: Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray trained, pretty good, they got through it. #rterugby
Johnny Sexton remains a key player for Ireland, and it wasn't a coincidence Wales took control of their Round 4 matchup when the fly-half was sin-binned. He also spent time on the sidelines with a head injury but appears to be on track to face England.
Winning the battle with the boot will be key for Ireland, who tend to hold their own in the set pieces but lack the raw athleticism to keep up with England's pace out wide. In the open field, the visitors are close to unbeatable, and slowing down the play may be a smart tactic.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Jonathan Joseph of England scores a try during the RBS 6 Nations match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium on March 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Scotland's Six Nations campaign started promisingly but quickly fell apart with a defeat in Paris, and the hosts will hope to say goodbye to coach Vern Cotter with a win over lowly Italy in his final Six Nations match.
As shared by RTE Rugby, Cotter has already found his next project before he takes charge of Montpellier:
Scotland coach Vern Cotter will coach the Barbarians for the upcoming tour that will see them take on Ulster and England pic.twitter.com/kVudqfa0en
The Azzurri once again enter Round 5 in last place and are in real danger of repeating last year's winless tournament. Italy have shown life at times this campaign but have yet to put together 80 uninterrupted minutes of solid rugby, and that isn't likely to change against Scotland.
Wales and France will battle it out in Paris, where Les Bleus tend to be capable of so much more than on the road. A win would give either side second place if England complete their Grand Slam over Ireland.
Six Nations 2017: Updated Table, Results and Round 5 Fixtures
Mar 11, 2017
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Danny Care of England scores his sides seventh try during the RBS Six Nations match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium on March 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
England captured the 2017 Six Nations title with a display of ferocious scoring against Scotland at Twickenham, winning 61-21 to be declared champions on Saturday.
The Scots' defence was inadequate as coach Eddie Jones sent his men out to blitz their opponents, and the hosts' aggressive style paid dividends as they took the Calcutta Cup.
France overran Italy on a sunny day in Rome, collecting a 40-18 victory on their travels as they penetrated the try line.
Here are Saturday's results:
Home
Score
Away
Italy
18-40
France
England
61-21
Scotland
Here are the latest standings, confirming England retain the championship as they continue to hunt the Grand Slam, per ITV Rugby:
Here's how the @SixNationsRugby table looks with one round to go
England's hooker and captain Dylan Hartley holds the Calcutta Cup trophy as he poses with teammates atfter winning the Six Nations international rugby union match between England and Scotland at Twickenham stadium in south west London on March 11, 2017.
E
Jones has taken a young and hungry England squad and turned them into the biggest force in northern-hemisphere rugby in the space of 12 months.
The Red Rose smashed the Thistle with a fine attacking display as the visitors wilted against the challenge.
England were clearly motivated in the opening moments, slicing through their opponents with aggressive and direct rugby with the ball in hand.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Billy Vunipola of England (L) escpaes the challenge from Hamish Watson of Scotland (R) during the RBS Six Nations match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium on March 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun B
A flood of scoring followed kick-off, as Jonathan Joseph set the home side on their way with two well-executed tries before setting up Anthony Watson as England led 30-7 at the interval.
Joseph completed his hat-trick, as Billy Vunipola claimed England's fifth try of the match.
Gordon Reid's effort and two tries from Huw Jones gave Scotland slim hope, but Danny Care had the last word as England finished in style.
BBC Breaking News highlighted a milestone for the winners:
England beat Scotland 61-21 to retain Six Nations title and equal Rugby Union world record for consecutive test wins https://t.co/39I6eruUO3
France conceded the fastest try of the competition this term, after just 150 seconds, but fought back to win in style in Italy.
The French hit back with four tries to overwhelm the hosts, as Virimi Vakatawa, Gael Fickou, Louis Picamoles and recalled full-back Brice Dulin responded.
The Italians attempted to resurrect their controversial “no-ruck” tactic, but the French were a cut above as they played with freedom and typical panache.
England will win the Grand Slam if they defeat Ireland in the final round of games, but with a British and Irish Lions tour ahead, the hosts will want to impress against the back-to-back Six Nations champions.
