Joe Marler reveals conversation with New Zealand rugby coach after haka controversy: 'I stand by it'
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Joe Marler has opened up on his phone call with New Zealand coach Scott Robertson after the former England star recently criticised the haka.
Marler caused controversy by saying the traditional war dance should be banned, with the All Blacks left incensed by his words.
He has since opted to retire from international duty, with the 34-year-old bringing the curtain down on a career that saw him win 95 caps for his country.
After Marler's comments, Robertson came out and said the former England star could have articulated his words better.
Joe Marler has opened up on his phone call with New Zealand coach Scott Robertson after the former England star recently criticised the haka
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Now, speaking to the Daily Mail, the Harlequins star has revealed he spoke to Robertson on the phone as the row broke out.
He told the 50-year-old that he stood by his comments, despite the backlash he received.
Marler said: "I called Scott Robertson, the All Blacks coach, on the Thursday night before the game.
"I’d seen his interview on Sky Sports where he said I could have articulated it better.
"Scott was out for dinner but he picked up and I wanted to clear up some of the stuff.
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"He was like, 'Yeah, erm, mate', and I said, 'Look, I stand by it, I’d just like to see more teams going back at it, more drama, more entertainment in that 90-second window before the game.'
"It created a story because this fat old retired player had culturally offended a nation. It was on talkSPORT.
"Then you get people thinking, 'Maybe I’ll tune into this weekend to see what this haka is about'.
"It’s all fun and games. The sport needs to learn a bit more about selling itself.
"Look at boxing; some of the trash talking Tyson Fury comes out with is ridiculous but it’s also great, because everyone talks about it.
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"Eddie Hearn, love him or loathe him, knows how to sell a product."
Marler has also shed light on his decision to retire.
The ex-England star insists he simply couldn't keep putting his body through the ringer, having been left exhausted following a training week in Girona.
He continued: "I did the Girona training week – it’s lovely, Girona – but at the end of the last training session, knackered, I sat in the sun thinking, 'I can’t do this anymore'.
"The game’s passed me by now, I can’t keep up. It was sad to admit. How long can you flog a dead horse?
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Joe Marler recently called for the haka to be banned - angering New Zealand in the process
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"On the Sunday night, when I went back into camp, I’d sort of made my mind up. It wasn’t a kneejerk thing.
"My daughter Maggie was crying her eyes out about me leaving asking, 'Why do you have to keep going away?' and I was like 'Awh, it’s my job'. It’s my job but there’s always a choice.
"I had to go in and see Steve [Borthwick] in person. I’ve got too much respect for the bloke to just call him up.
"I arrived in the nick of time for the team meeting. I got in and everyone’s sat down with their notebooks in their new purple England kit. I was dressed in the same clothes I’m wearing now and Elliot Daly comes up to me and says, 'F*****g hell, what the hell do you look like, have you been out duck stalking?'
"I sat down as they planned out the New Zealand week at the end and I just said to Steve, 'Can I grab you for a minute?'
Joe Marler has retired from England duty after winning 95 caps for his country
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"We went down to the bar and spoke about it. He seemed shocked, gutted, but he understood that I’d given some thought to it.
"He came back with, 'Do you not want one more game? One more against South Africa, you and Dan Cole'. There was three per cent of me in that moment that thought, 'maybe', but I’d made up my mind.
"I went to the bedroom to see Coley and shouted up, 'Are you decent?'. I just hugged him and started crying in his arms.
"That was the outpouring of emotion, the weight of it was just gone. I knew it was the right choice but there was a sadness. That was it. I was out of camp that night, back home about midnight. Back to normality."
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