It was the end of an era at the Twickenham Stoop, as Harlequins fans watched on as Joe Marler played his final match for the club. Whilst it was a special day for the 95-capped England prop, it was one to forget for the rest of the men in the famous quarters. Bristol ran rampant in a barnstorming second half shut-out, and truly spoiled Marler’s retirement party with their six-try win in South West London.
Joe Marler’s post-match interview – England prop blown away by the fans upon his rugby farewell
JOE MARLER (to TNT Sports): “I’m blown away by the fans here. I’ve got so many fond memories, and it’s thanks to them and the boys I’ve played with. But god I’m ready. I was out there thinking, ‘I can’t do this’. That first ten minutes, I was thinking, ‘this is dark’.
“It’s been wonderful. The game has been so good to me considering I’ve been so bad to it. I’ve loved every minute of it. It’s been great. I guess it’s over now.”
“There’s loads of reasons. I couldn’t do it any more emotionally, physically, mentally. After the England announcement, this was inevitable. I’d much rather go out now rather than flog a dead horse for the next six months. I actually went out last week, I quit last week, but they said, ‘can you come back for one more game because Fin [Baxter] needs a rest. I said I’ll come back and say goodbye to the fans. The time is right when you know.
“There might be a game later on in the season that I might come back for. What am I doing next week? I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about that. I’m just going to take some time to sit and chill.
“The fans have been so good. I used to be rally uncomfortable with the fans. I didn’t get it. I was really rude to them a lot. I felt uncomfortable when people wanted a picture or were shouting my name. But then Covid happened, and the fans were gone, and it was soulless. It made me realise a big reason why I played was for the fans. The atmosphere and energy they bring – without them, the game is nothing. I’ve enjoyed my time. It’s been great.
“Joe is a very special person” – Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson shares thoughts on Marler’s exit
DANNY WILSON: “Joe is a very special person and a very special player and what happened cannot affect what has been an amazing career for an amazing man. He has made the decision relatively quickly and we have got to respect that and get on with it. Tonight does not take anything away from what is a special night for Joe.
“It is his decision and Joe would have thought it through like he did with the England decision. He knows if it is the right time and if it is he knows he has to step away once he has made that decision because you can’t go into games knowing my time is up. That is what he thought and it should be celebrated. He has had an amazing career of 200 and whatever games for this club plus 95 for his country – fantastic.”
Bristol Bears DoR Pat Lam continues to back Player of the Match Gabriel Ibitoye for an England debut
PAT LAM: “A special mention for him (Gabriel Ibitoye), because, you know, when I watched (Autumn) internationals and obviously, after the England games are the talk is about Mark Tele’a, (Joseph) Suaali’i these guys can create something out of nothing.
What’s frustrating whilst hearing it, is that England has a guy who could create stuff out of nothing. But people tend to look at (Tele’a and Suaali’i). He’s a good defender people, He can do all of that, but let’s start looking at what people can create. And, you know, you imagine him, what he could create on attack for for the guys around him. He’s just got it all. All he can do is keep doing that for us and keep knocking at the door (for England).
Pat Lam excited with what he saw from Bristol’s debutant Fijian back from Bill Mata
The travelling Bristolian fans got their first glimpse of Fijian back row Bill Mata, after a long wait to see their new signing in action. Mata arrived from Edinburgh in the Summer transfer window, but had to undergo hamstring surgery before making his maiden run out with the Bears.
PAT LAM: “He’s class player. You know, he was so fresh here, unbelievable preseason. And just, well, he’s never had a hamstring (injury) before, so he’s been chomping at the bit, being very patient, but getting here for him to play that this first game out since June, I think it was or July, he’s gonna get better and better. He now goes into playing internationals (with Fiji) playing in Ireland and France in the space of six days, having his experience and size and abilities helps our process as a team.”
Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson explains the disappointing second half as a ‘bombshell game’
DANNY WILSON: “It was the second-half performance that was really disappointing from us. The try we scored just before half-time into the three we conceded during the yellow card just after half-time killed us, it’s as simple as that. They racked the score up and we had to chase the game. Credit to the boys, they stuck in there and scored the try we needed for the bonus point, but that was a really disappointing period around half-time against a very dangerous team that played at real tempo.
“They controlled the speed of the game and weren’t able to slow them down during that period and the game got away from us. Bristol play a high speed brand. But I’m looking at the 20 minute period rather than the whole game and in that 20 minute period we got blown away. We’ve had bombshell games in the past and when we’ve had them we’ve bounced back the very next week. That’s what we need to focus on.”
