Well played, Joe Marler.
While the rest of the rugby world focused on the World Cup quarter-finals, the England prop and the rest of his chastened team-mates were back in domestic action over the weekend.
Marler was back in a Harlequins jersey but his mind was very much still on the previous few weeks’Â events at Twickenham, or at least that’s what he would like referee Luke Pearce to think.
Pearce called Marler over to speak to him about a late tackle and Marler immediately used his World Cup heartbreak in an attempt to elicit pity from the official.
“It’s just the energy levels, the frustration,” Marler began.
“You’ve got to maintain discipline,” replied Pearce, only for Marler to respond: “But you didn’t get kicked out of the World Cup, mate, I did!”
Great stuff all round.
