Harlequins

V

Titans

National Division 1

11th March 2006

The Stoop

Kick Off 3.00pm

TEAM NEWS

It not very often you can say this, but Andre Bester has made only TWO changes for this weeks game away at Champions elect Harlequins. 

Both changes are in the forwards and sees Neil Hanna returning at hooker in place of Nigel Conroy and in the second row, Louis McGowan returns in place of Gareth McComb.

Looking ahead to Rotherham’s most difficult game of the season, Head Coach Andre Bester said, “Of course we believe we can win, if you don’t believe you can win, then you shouldn’t even turn up! We are not going there with the intent of keeping the score low; we are going with a positive attitude.

"The game will start at 0-0 and both sides will have fifteen guys, but it’s important that we do the simple things very well to give ourselves a chance of winning the match. To do that, you need to be bold and you need to believe in what you’re doing.

"Of course Harlequins is a big challenge and they have done the simple things very well this season. They look very well after their first phase ball, they kick very well in the right areas of the pitch and on occasions they have played some stunning rugby.

"Their line out is a big asset for them, it is undoubtedly the best in the division and one of the best in the Country – including the Premiership. They have a high percentage of stealing opposition ball and our application needs to be spot on if we are going to compete in that area.

"But listen, life is about challenges and life without a challenge is one that’s not worth living. But I believe in these young players, they’ve worked very hard this week and they will give their all on Saturday.”

Earth Titans: 15 Errie Claassens, 14 Gillan Carruthers, 13 WP Strauss, 12 Lodewyk  Strauss, 11  John Holtby, 10 Mike  Whitehead, 9 Joe Bedford, 1 Jarleth Carey, 2 Neil Hanna, 3 Adam Hopcroft, 4 Jannie Bornman, 5 Gareth McComb, 6 Hendre Fourie, 7 Neil Cochrane (Capt), 8 Scott Donald

Replacements

16 Morne Jonker, 17 Tom Allen, 18 Nigel  Conroy, 19 Sam Walsh, 20 Jamie Kilbane, 21 Louie McGowan, 22 Chris Hala’Ufia

.

Harlequins Squad TBA

FORM GUIDE

There’s no doubt, Harlequins are the form side, the Londoners have lost just once all season, that being away at Exeter two weeks ago. The men from TW2 have dispatched all-comers at The Stoop, with no one getting closer than 15 points to them and only one side picking up a bonus point.

Whereas Rotherham’s form of late has been patchy, winning just two of their last five. However last weeks first half performance away at Newbury showed good signs of improvement.

One positive for Rotherham going into the game, is no one expects them to win. There will be no pressure on the players this week to get a result and hopefully for Roth, this will allow them to cut the shackles and play some fast-flowing rugby.

Expect Roth to be aggressive in the contact area and to play an “In your face” style of rugby. Quick tap-pens will be on the menu as will quick ball for the backs. Whether Harlequins allow this to happen or not will be very intriguing.

The teams have met on five previous league occasions with Quins claiming victory every time. A thirteen point deficit back in 2000 is the nearest Roth has ever got to Quins.

Prediction time, heart usually rules the head, but on this occasion the latter will prevail. I expect Roth to put in an excellent performance and to get nearer to Quins than any other team has done this season at The Stoop. But Quins ability in the line out coupled with Roth’s inconsistency at that set piece will in my opinion prove to be the decisive factor.

Roth Admin Prediction: Quins by 8

Other Nat 1 fixtures this weekend

Doncaster v London Welsh

Nottingham v Exeter

Otley v Plymouth Albion

Pertemps Bees v Bedford

Sedgley Park v Cornish Pirates

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