By The Analyst
August 5 2002

As threatened, another go with the crystal ball, this time on Quins, surely one of the most enigmatic sides over the last 5 years or so. Last year was especially a rollercoaster ride, with the now almost habitual cup defeat of T***rs entirely on merit but a played out a dismal league campaign. Again the Quins lived up to their reputation as a 'cup team' after seeing off L*****ter they push high flyers London Irish to the limit before losing a nailbiter of a semi at the Stoop.

The ZP meanwhile had turned into a nightmare and the team who looked a class act against in the cup were a dreary outfit, looking full of mistakes despite signs of ability in both the forwards and backs.

Perhaps Woody in the forwards and Will Greenwood in the backs were just too important for their loss to injury to be absorbed by the rest of the team. Garrick Morgan, having often been the focal point of the pack in past seasons, lost form dramatically. The backs never really dominated as they constantly relied heavily on the boot of Paul Burke, whose strength however was not in attack so they stuttered without Greenwood despite a fair amount of talent and speed.

However, the threat of relegation seemed to bring out an unsuspected streak of cussedness and determination in the Quins camp. The supporters at last really seemed to get behind their team, with greatly improved attendances and atmosphere at the Stoop as a result.


TRANSFERS
(I think) they have lost/shed messrs Ligairi, O'Neil, Mapletoft, Burrows, Morgan, Wilson and Olver. They have signed Andre Vos, Miall, Williams (a Super 12 Aussie fullback with a penchant for late nights) Gomez (a French prop?) Fitzgerald and Satala,recently on show in the Commonwealth Games 7s.

Some good young talent has come through, not least Alex Codling , a lock who came from nowhere to tour Argentina and return as a major success. Some of the other of last years young players will surely have matured further also.

Vos will surely be one of the major signings of recent times and an almost certain success ,French props demand respect, and Satala and Williams constitute a lot of strike power.


MANAGEMENT
John Kingston found the burden too great (and sadly has just been in hospital for brain surgery, hopefully successfully, we wish him well) so they turned to the guru of Saracens, Mark Evans. Evans is regarded as top of the personnel tree and a good coach, under whom last years revival started. Evans, it may be recalled was responsible for a lot of Sarries success at the start of the pro era, only to see his project hijacked by Nigel Waray's infatuation with the charismatic Francois Pienaar, with disastrous results. So a man to be taken seriously for sure.

PROSPECTS
They look much more of a real club this year, maybe a bit humbler and wiser, but with a stronger bond amongst the players and also between the team and the fans. This should make visits to the Stoop much tougher for away teams.

The signings bear the (pardon the pun) mark of Evans' personnel skills. Vos is ideal captaincy material and someone who will keep the forwards focussed and honest.

A good start could easily see them as a dark horse for a top 5 finish, and there is a real buzz around the supporters.