By Worried of Whitton
March 8 2007

Harlequins are back at The Stoop this week as they take on the ex Londoners, Wasps, who now reside in the leafy Chilterns at High Wycombe. Kick off on 10 March is at 3. This is the 3rd match of four consecutive games which have pitched Quins against the top four premiership clubs in successive weeks

This match is a sell out as 12,700 supporters are expected at The Stoop on Saturday for what is billed as a London Derby.

Harlequins have five games left against the four sides immediately above them and the one side who currently sit below them. In their two previous matches playing the first and second placed clubs Quins have come away with one win and one loss but with a creditable 5 points. The home game against Wasps is set to be a classic game and a game on their current form that Quins can win and win in style collecting a winning bonus point. Indeed all Harlequins remaining home games should result in home wins, particularly as all three are likely to be played in front of sell out crowds.

 

The four “London Clubs” occupy positions 4 to 7 in the Premiership table, and Quins have still to play all three in the final weeks of the season. All four clubs are targeting a top six finish to qualify for the Heineken cup competition next season, and whilst this will be a great achievement I think many Quins supporters will be just as happy to finish above London Irish, in the table, as both sides have been swapping positions over the past few weeks, Our match on April 7^th will be crucial.

Wasps have had a mixed season to date. In previous years they have been slow starters, pacing themselves for a final flourish at the end of the season and taking “a title” in the Premiership playoffs. They currently lie in fourth place, with 47 points from their 17 matches, which includes nine bonus points, the second the highest bonus point total in the league. This masks the fact that Wasps have been absolutely woeful on the road this season, from eight matches they have lost six, drawn one at Worcester in January after what must have been a pulsating match at Sixways which resulted in a score of 3-3. Ironically the only away match they have won this season was in Twickenham, against Saracens, but even then the result was close with Wasps coming away with a 19-21 win. Their trip from Wycombe to Twickenham is likely to take its’ toll, with the visitors being tired after their long journey to “the Smoke”.

In the recent past there has been many a discussion arguing that Premiership matches played during the  Six Nations have favoured Quins as they have not had any players called up for National Duty. This is not true this year as we will be without No.8 Nick Easter and Winger Dave Strettle who once more put on their England Shirts through merit on Sunday, we wish them well. In addition Quins have “lost” Care, Jewell and possibly Turner Hall to the England U20 squad. Of course Wasps have been hit much harder by International call ups for England with Payne, Palmer, Worsley Rees and Lewsey. In addition Ibanez is with France and Reddan is in the Irish squad. Waldouck and Doherty are all with the England U20. In addition Wasps will also be without the concussed Phil Vickery, who was injured in Wasps 28-0 victory over Bristol last weekend. Other injured Wasps include, Erinle, Sackey and Cipriani.  

This obviously favours Harlequins on paper and more especially when coupled with poor Wasps away performance this season, BUT they have to play the team on the pitch and it will be down to who plays well on the day, and nothing should be taken for granted. Like Leicester last week, Wasps supporters realise that they do have a match on their hands this week and are aware that they could chalk up yet another away loss at the hands of a tenacious Quins. Harlequins supporters have seen their side improve and grow in stature over the past few months, a feat that others in the Rugby world have not taken heed of until Quins players started to get England call ups and suddenly Quins are back in the spotlight. Although the result against Leicester last week was disappointing, a bonus point from Welford Road has to be taken as a result. Unfortunately Quins could not capitalise on their first half possession against a starting line up that showed some complacency and arrogance in its selection, and Howard had to use his “get out of jail cards“ sitting on the bench, to counteract the stronger than anticipated Quins squad..

Harlequins still need 8 points from five games to be mathematically sure of premiership survival next year, and Quins should be able to reduce that to four possibly three with a solid performance on Saturday This figure will also be reduced if Worcester fail to pick up any points away at Sale on Friday night. Quins should regain their sixth position in the League on Saturday afternoon and keep it for another week. Bristol, who play London Irish on Sunday afternoon, will be out to avenge their two away defeats by Quins and Wasps, and will be determined to tale a home win.

Certainly with Volley and Abbott in the Harlequins line up, their will be some added incentive for a home win, although the teams have yet to be announced. For Wasps, local boy, Dallagio did not start last week, although he replaced Worsley in the second half. He can still be a danger whether he is playing or not. I recall on one occasion Mr. D was a “water boy” and was allowed to freely spread “the gospel according to St Lawrence”  hoping to influence decisions throughout the game.

With a sell out crowd at The Stoop it is all set for an exciting afternoon of Rugby, and acts as a fine curtain raiser to the Six Nations showdown across the road on Sunday. Another home win for Harlequins and another bonus point for Wasps.

Other fixtures this weekend:

 

Come on you Quins!