By KevT
November 28 2003

NEC Harlequins take on Leeds Tykes on Saturday 29th November (kick off 3.00pm). This will be the third meeting between the clubs in the last five weeks. Quins won their league encounter at Headingley 30 –16 whilst Leeds were victorious in the Powergen Cup after a 6 – 16 win. Quins make two changes to the team that lost 10 –18 last week at Bath. Andy Dunne replaces the injured Paul Burke at Fly Half. Josh Taumalolo replaces Gavin Duffy at Full Back. Illness prevented Mike Worsley starting last week against Bath and he will play loose head prop instead of Ceri Jones. On the bench, Jason Leonard comes in for Laurent Gomez whilst Ace Tiatia replaces James Hayter. A shoulder injury has kept Will Greenwood out.

Wednesday was the first some time that some of the squad had met Will Greenwood and Jason Leonard as they returned from The World Cup in Sydney. Quins wing Simon Keogh said: “It was good to see the World Champions today. I hadn’t met the guys until yesterday.”

I asked Simon if he was enjoying playing the Premiership. “I’m really enjoying playing against World Class players week in week out. The standard is much higher than in the Celtic Leagues and I expect it to get higher following the return of all of the players from the Rugby World Cup. In the Celtic Leagues you sometimes get an easier match but in the Premiership every game is tough and every team is capable of beating every other team. It’s not that the games are faster or anything, it’s just that the teams are more competitive and there is strong competition with every game. I’m pleased to be in the team at the moment, although I haven’t scored for a couple of weeks. It’s been very easy to settle in though. I’m living with Andy Dunne and Ben Willis who were team mates at Leinster and there are six Irish Quins so it’s been like a home away from home.”

“It was disappointing to lose away at Bath last week. They are pretty strong up front and to be honest they played the wet conditions better than us. That’s two weeks running we have had a wet match so we’re looking hoping for something drier on Saturday. It’ll be difficult playing against Leeds on Saturday as we know each others moves so well having played against each other so often over the past few weeks. The difference this week is that we will be at home so we’re hoping that that will make all the difference.”

Leeds make seven changes to the team that beat Quins two weeks ago. The biggest change is in the centre where the more physical Tristan Davies starts in place of Liam Botham. South African international Andre Snyman starts for Leeds and will bring a more robust approach than Phil Christophers. Dan Scarborough plays instead of Matt Cardey at Full Back. In the front row, the more physical Gary Poweel will bolster the pack with Matt Holt moving from tight head to his more accustomed position at hooker. In the second row Phil Murphy comes in for ex Sarries player Stuart Hooper and in the back row Alix Popham comes in at number eight. Dan Hyde plays open side. Gavin Kerr, Tom Palmer and Alan Dickens are all unavailable due to injury. England World Cup player Mark Regan makes the bench.

Leeds Tykes coach Phil Davies spoke on the Leedsrugby.com website this week. “We were all disappointed with the performance last week at Northampton and we know that collectively we must improve this week. It was particularly disappointing after we looked to be getting back to our best the previous week against Quins at Headingley.”

“We have had a good week this week and the squad is now beginning to get back to full strength. Alix Popham and Aaron Persico will start in the back row together for the first time this week which will be a boost for us. I’m sure when every team planned their squad during the summer they looked at the season from this point on as being critical when everyone was back and we are no different. We have Alan Dickens, Tom Palmer and Gavin Kerr unavailable through long term injury but we now have competition for places in every position in the team. The players that have played during the World Cup have really pushed their claims for a regular place so there are some tough decisions to be made but that keeps the whole team at the top of their game.”

“Mark Regan rejoined us this week after winning the World Cup and we were delighted to see him back in Leeds. Although he was not part of the Final team, he, along with the rest of the England team, has sacrificed so much over the years to be in Sydney and we are immensely proud that he was representing the Tykes in Australia.”

“It will be strange to come up against Quins again so soon after our last two games against them. Saturday’s game will be the third game between us in six weeks so we know each other fairly well. Quins are an extremely tough side to break down, especially at home, and I’m sure there will be a great atmosphere there with Jason Leonard and Will Greenwood returning home as well. They have an extremely talented back row who can dictate a game if you give them the opportunity.”

Readers of this preview will be very familiar with the Leeds side following our matches over the last few weeks. Needless to say, they are a very committed side with a never say die attitude. Phil Davies has set his stall out with this selection. We can expect a physical and bruising encounter. The Leeds front row is much stronger with Gary Powell, a Wales ‘A’ international who joined Leeds from Cardiff last season at Tight Head. At second row, 23 year old Phil Murphy is one of the best of the next generation of second rows coming through. Alix Popham will add a physical presence in the back row at number eight whilst Hyde and Persico will compete for everything.

They are one of the top try scorers in the League and have a very quick back three in Scarborough, Rees and Albanese. Their centres (Davies and Snyman) are physical and are expected to shore up Leeds’ defence. Quins have dominated Leeds in the set piece, particularly in the scrum in the past couple of games and with Leeds choosing Gary Powell at tight head, I expect this to continue. Leeds have scored a lot of tries this season but have also conceded a lot. Last week’s 48 – 24 defeat by Northampton Saints saw Leeds concede six tries. Their selection is aimed at stemming this flow.

Their back row is excellent with in form New Zealand born Italy international flanker Aaron Persico leading the way. Welsh international Alex Popham also returns. They will compete for every scrap of possession which will make the battle in the tackle area crucial. The key for Quins maybe the driving play of their forwards and their ability to punch holes in the Tykes midfield through Mel Deane and Chris Bell. Quins defence will need to be tight to avoid giving space to the free scoring Leeds back three. Duncan Hodge also provides an attacking option at Fly Half. Dan Scarnborough has not been the safest under the high ball and Quins may choose to employ this tactic.

This will be a tough, physical encounter with little quarter given by either side. The teams are very familiar with each other so space may be at a premium. I expect home advantage to give Quins the edge but it will be tight.


NEC Harlequins: 15 Josh Taumalolo; 14 Simon Keogh; 13 Chris Bell; 12 Mel Deane; 11 Ugo Monye; 10 Andy Dunne; 9 Ben Willis; 1 Mike Worsley; 2 Tani Fuga; 3 Jon Dawson; 4 Bill Davison; 5 Jim Evans; 6 Pat Sanderson; 7 Andre Vos; 8 Tony Diprose

Replacements: 16 Ace Tiatia; 17 Ceri Jones; 18 Jason Leonard; 19 Karl Rudzki; 20 Roy Winters; 21 Rob Jewell; 22 Gavin Duffy


Leeds Tykes: 15. Dan Scarbrough; 14. David Rees; 13. Andre Snyman; 12. Tristan Davies; 11. Diego Albanese; 10. Gordon Ross; 9. Clive Stuart Smith; 1. Mike Shelley (c); 2. Matt Holt; 3. Gary Powell
4. Phil Murphy; 5. Scott Morgan ; 6. Aaron Persico; 7. Dan Hyde; 8. Alix Popham

Replacements; 16. Michael Cusack; 17. Mark Regan; 18. Stuart Hooper; 19. James Ponton; 20. Ryan Walker; 21. Phil Christophers; 22. Tim Walsh