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Snubbed Joe Marler Tweets snarky reaction to Gatland's Lions squad
England loosehead Joe Marler was one of a number of players that have taken a pop at Warren Gatland’s controversial 37-man British and Irish Lions selection.
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Marler admitted this week to being gutted to have been left out of the squad after he failed to receive an email inquiring about his availability for the tour. Marler had not made himself available for Eddie Jones’ England during the Six Nations, which may have played against his selection.
And some alternative Lions selections played the ball into his court on Twitter.
The 30-year-old Tweeted: “Line Of Duty Finale vibe???” in reference to the popular BBC television series whose finale was roundly slammed at the weekend.
Line Of Duty Finale vibe???
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) May 6, 2021
He wasn’t the only blue tick rugby player to have a go at Gatland’s selection. 2009 Lions bolter and former Ireland winger Luke Fitzgerald Tweeted: “Some absolute baffling calls there”
Some absolute baffling calls there
— luke fitzgerald (@lukefitz11) May 6, 2021
Before posting: “I’m saving a ‘no Ringrose’ vent for later for those querying”
I’m saving a ‘no Ringrose’ vent for later for those querying https://t.co/lETbWIScB6
— luke fitzgerald (@lukefitz11) May 6, 2021
While all other home union captains feature – England’s Owen Farrell and Scotland’s Stuart Hogg are included as well as Alun Wyn Jones as tour captain – Ireland skipper Sexton is unable to force his way into the squad, as are Sinckler, Jonathan Davies, Sam Underhill and Josh Navidi.
Sexton finished the Six Nations strongly but has suffered ongoing concussion problems since.
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LIONS: The biggest omissions after some massive left-field selections made Warren Gatland's squad. #Lions #LionsRugby #Lions2021 https://t.co/BM1Pk6dCfW
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 6, 2021
Sinckler made his name on the 2017 tour to New Zealand and was viewed as odds-on to be in Test contention once more following a strong Six Nations, yet he is missing.
Davies was expected to travel to South Africa, especially after Wales team-mate George North was ruled out by a knee injury, but in a surprise move Aki and Harris are preferred.
Another of Wayne Pivac’s Six Nations champions in Navidi has failed to win a place in the ferociously competitive back row positions, but Jack Conan of Ireland and Scotland’s Hamish Watson are present.
Underhill missed the Six Nations because of a hip injury but his stopping power in defence was thought to be enough to secure his spot, while Billy Vunipola has paid the price for his poor form.
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Farrell, Dan Biggar and Finn Russell will compete for the fly-half jersey, but Danny Care has failed to make the cut as a bolter.
additional reporting Press Assocation
Comments on RugbyPass
Adding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
2 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
2 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
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