Goode kick

By Wasp12
February 5 2014

The return of domestic club action returns after 4 weeks of Europe and LV cup action. The game on Sunday is arguably the most important game to date with wasps only sitting 1 point behind Quins in the table. If the men in Black and Gold become victorious at the Stoop for the second year running they will be sitting in prime position to finish in the top 6 this season and will be pushing for a play-off place.

Both teams are going into the game off the back of heavy defeats last weekend in the LV Cup. However wasps form looks to favour them with only 1 defeat in the last 6 games, while Quins have slipped to defeat in 2 of their last 3 premiership games, but have won their last three home games. The last 3 encounters between these two teams have went right to the end with 2 points being the largest winning margin! The closest of them all was in fact on the 7^th of September at Twickenham when Wasps’ Goode steeped up to win the game for the men in black only to be denied by the upright!

The game this weekend is expected to continue in the same fashion and is set to be a cracker!

Going into the game on Sunday Quins will be without captain Robshaw, Scrum half Care, Prop Marler and Full back Brown. Wasps will be fairly unhindered however by 6 nations call ups, with only Launchbury missing as Matt Mullan has been released back to Wasps by England this week.

Quins will be expecting a sizeable pack this weekend to be picked by Dai Young with Mullan, Festuccia and Swainston packing up in the front row. The locks look to be Palmer and Myall who will look to control the lineout and be destructive in the loose. I think Young will go with a balanced back row to start with Johnson, Thompson and Haskell to start and he will be expecting the 3 men to stop Quins offloading game and slow down there ball.

The half back pairing will be Simpson and Goode, who will be looking to put the result earlier in the season behind him and kick wasps to victory!

In the backs with the return to fitness of Masi, expect him to occupy the 13 shirt alongside captain Bell. Daly will likely start at fullback, Quins will have to keep a close eye on him with his blistering pace and his monstrous boot! The wingmen will be filled by ex England u20’s wing Basset and Tongan Winger Helu.

Expect the Wasps game plan to be based around territory and moving Quins pack around. If Wasps back-row slow down there ball it will be a difficult day for Quins and wasps will hopefully come away with the win with Haskell, Johsnon and Masi leading the defensive efforts.

Quins will be stretched a little thinner this week and Conor O’Shea will be calling on his more experienced players to show the Quins faithful what they want and deliver a win in front of the home crowd.

The front row is expected to be occupied by Mark Lambert at loose head alongside England Saxon Dave Ward at hooker and Paul Doran-Jones who is finally starting to show some form for Quins. Wasps need to keep a close eye on Ward as he is very lively in the loose.

Conor O’Shea will look for experience in the second row with Robson, and Kennedy controlling the airways. In the back row Tom Guest should be fit to return at blindside alongside Luke Wallace and Nick Easter. O’shea will be hoping for another big performance from Easter and Wasps will need to keep a watchful eye on him!

In the backs Karl Dickson and Nick Evans will start at half backs, and if fit Matt Hopper (slight knock in the Saxons v Wolfhounds game) and Jordan Turner hall in the centres. Evans is lethal with the boot on his day so expect a great kicking dual between him and Goode. Whatever team has the best discipline will win this game so Wasps will need to keep penalties to a minimum if they are to win!

In the back 3 Sam smith will line up alongside Ugo Monye and Ollie Lindsay-Hague at full back.

This is set to be a powerful and passionate encounter, and given the forecast Wasps will look to find the corners and take the points when offer. COYW!!

Wasps by 3!! What’s your prediction?

Harlequins:15 Ollie Lindsay-Hague; 14 Sam Smith,  13 Tim Molenaar, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Ugo Monye; 10 Nick Evans, 9 Karl Dickson; 1 Mark Lambert, 2 Dave Ward, 3 Paul Doran, 4 Nick Kennedy, 5 George Robson, 6 Tom Guest, 7 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 8 Nick Easter

Bench: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Darryl Marfo, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Luke Wallace, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Ben Botica, 23 Tom Casson

Wasps: 15 Elliot Daly; 14 Will Helu, 13 Andrea Masi, 12 Chris Bell (Capt.), 11 James Short; 10 Andy Goode, 9 Joe Simpson, 1 Matt Mullan, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 4 Tom Palmer, 5 Kearnan Myall, 6 Ashley Johnson, 7 James Haskell, 8 Sam Jones

Bench: 16 Tom Lindsay, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 James Cannon, 20 Guy Thompson, 21 Brett Sheehan, 22 Joe Carlisle, 23 Charlie Hayter