I CAN’T help wondering after watching the Harlequins versus Bristol match what Joe Marler has to do before a serious punishment, sufficient to ensure the sort of behaviour he exhibited, never occurs again, is meted out.
He has been involved in claims of racist abuse, allegations of sexual assault and now verbal abuse insulting the mother of a player, she at that point receiving medical care.
At least two of those events could constitute a criminal offence in the real world.
Lord knows what else he has got away with. Having played 40 years ago where these sorts of things were ...