By Worried of Whitton
December 26 2006

On December 27th, Quins travel back to Sixways to play Worcester Warriors, kick off at 20.00. This is certainly not the best date or time for a match and it is expected that there will be a limited number of travelling fans, which Worcester hope will given them some added advantage.

Those they do travel are likely to be very vocal. This is the first rematch of the season. As this is also the start of the pantomime season, or no it isn’t oh yes it is, this match and has all the signs of being a large banana skin for Quins to slip up.

I m worried about this match as Quins never seem to perform very well over the holiday season and I have an inkling that history will repeat itself again.  After their defeat at The Stoop in November,  despite the assistance of numerous senior water boys, Worcester carried out a restructure which saw their Australian coach Anthony Eddy depart and the Warriors  surprisingly win their first Premiership match 17-20 away at Saracens. This shows that although they may be down, they are, to quote from Eric Idle’s Spamalot “I’m not dead yet!”. Indeed in the ECC cup Worcester are fairing better than Harlequins as they are currently in a runners up qualifying position to move into the quarter finals of that competition.

Worcester are way to London Irish this week and that will give some indication as to whether their recent win was  chance or whether they have started to turn the corner. In many respects this is a “eight/ten pointer” in football parlance and of all the Christmas matches Harlequins must win this one and I m sure that Gomarsall will be doing all he can to ensue that happens. Round 11 of the Premiership has also produced the following matches;