By Worried of Whitton
November 15 2006

Round 8 of the Guinness Premiership this weekend sees Harlequins at home to bottom placed Worcester Warriors. Kick off at The Stoop on Friday November 17, 19.45. This match is the third of a critical run of three must win matches for Harlequins that have been targeted to revive their league season.

As the broad grin of every Quins supporters face shows, the last two matches have produced two wins, nine precious points, and rise up the table to ninth place in the Premiership.

The Premiership table is currently split into two close groupings The top five clubs appear to have broken away are all jostling for top spot with just three points between them. Saracens in sixth place are currently placed on the cusp between the top five and the next group of five clubs which includes Harlequins, who have just a four point difference between them. At the foot of the table, sit Worcester, Harlequins opponents this week on just three points. Worcester will be desperate for a result this weekend so as not to be cast adrift from the “mid table” pack above them. Without a win this season and indeed without a win in 17of their last 20 Premiership games this does not seem likely, against a resurgent Harlequins playing at home, looking for their fifth straight win in as many matches. Quins will also be looking to further improve their league position as the match fixtures this week have not been as kind to the teams immediately above and below Quins. Northampton are at home to Saracens, London Irish travel to Leicester, while Bath entertain Bristol in a West Country derby and Newcastle travel across the Pennines to Sale. Not wishing to sound arrogant or be complacent, but if the results go “our way”, could see Quins climb to seventh. We have to win, and win well. Harlequins also have the better points difference of all their neighbours. 

This match against Worcester will be our third big game in a row, if Quins are defeated, then they are dragged back in the relegation mix, a win and there is even more daylight between us and the bottom and with an away match against Sale next weekend we have to win. In our current state of euphoria  a loss is unthinkable, but it could happen The last time the two teams met at The Stoop on February 26th 2005 I had the honour of writing the match report under the title “Dire Straits play Twickenham” . Worcester took the spoils that day 9 -15 and the title referred to any absolutely dire game of rugby that was played that afternoon at The Stoop. In that report I wrote that the “New Era” had arrived two weeks ago, with 14 men against Gloucester and I was expecting a hard fought, open game but for Quins to come out on top, yet like everyone else, I came away from the match more disappointed than frustrated. I had expected so much more from this match but it became clear as the afternoon progressed that there was not going to be a lot to report. I thought to myself “is it me?” only to be relieved when the spectator next to me suggested that “boring” should sum up the first half.   

Ironically the word “boring” has been used in the reviews of Quins 14 -3 defeat of Newcastle at Kingston Park last Friday. Whilst the manner of the win may not have been pretty, Quins were canny in their play and their defence was tremendous as they held back the frustrated Falcons who tried so hard to break the dead lock in the second half. When was the last time we played out a “pointless” second half in a match? The match against Newcastle may prove to be the turning point of Quins season. The week before both Quins and Newcastle were reported as turning the corner as they both recorded fine wins against Northampton and Bristol respectively, however it was Quins who appear to have fully turned it and were able to progress up the table leaving The Falcons still trying to find their way around it

Part of me believes we will see a repeat if these tactics against Worcester, after racing away for a big first half lead with stout defence of the lead in the second half. In one account I‘ve read of Worcester’s season so far, it was reported that they play well in most areas but when they get to the 22 line, they run out of ideas on how to finish. Worcester have a fine squad of players, with a number of ex Quins and Shane Drahm who could influence the outcome of the game, but it seems that they have not gelled as a team this season. Worcester have a useful pack, but they may be without their skipper and Pat Sanderson who could be on England duty. They can also good in the line out as well as the scrum. After our last meeting, when Worcester appeared to have perfected a 10 man game, Mark Evans commented that “We were scrummed out of the match”.

Quins will face a very different Worcester this week, and Worcester will meet a very different Quins. After their 18-23 defeat by Northampton, last weekend, the Worcester chairman stated that “There’s no doubt we have the players and the resolve to dig ourselves out of the situation. We are a lot better team than our league position would indicate.” Whether or not this was a vote of confidence in head coach Andy Brian, it is hard to tell, but the barometer of opinion on the Worcester Supporters website suggests that they are already resigned to ND 1 rugby next season. Speculation suggests that the chairman is withdrawing his investment and in another blow to the Worcester morale, it is already rumoured, that their skipper Pat Sanderson, is due to join Leicester at the end of the season.

The team will need to build on their confidence from four straight wins against a demoralised Worcester side who are lacking in confidence. Their fortunes will change and their loosing run will come to an end, but Quins need to ensure this will not happen at their expense. I fully expect Jarvis to start ahead of Mehrtens, who is returning from injury, but I m sure he will he will play a part late in the game. Of course Quins have their not so secret weapon in Andy Gomarsall, and I’m sure he will want to thank Worcester for their help in “progressing his playing career”. I m really looking forward to seeing him play against his former club.

Quins may appear to be a little light in the centre with Duffy on International Duty with Ireland “A” and the possibility of an injured Turner Hall. We do have Mel Deane and Mc Mullen, available but what we d like to see is the return of Abbot and Luscombe, but this may not be as neither featured in this weeks “A” game against Bath. News of injuries is scarce; Monye too looked to have picked up a nasty injury against Newcastle and Strettle was substituted after another twinge. I expect to see a return of our super sub Keeeeeeeooogh, and possibly Tom Williams to run rings around the Worcester defence. The pack is likely to be unchanged from last week, although Skinner could well make a return this week.

This preview was written earlier this week, before any team news was published. Despite a cold and wet Friday night being forecast the Quins team will warm to their very strong and very vocal home support. When I wrote the Northampton preview two weeks ago I wrote “We need at least twelve points from these three matches, thirteen points are achievable” We already have nine under our belt, and a win will bring the thirteen, so I shall be greedy and demand fourteen points from these three games. As a final measure of the two teams performances over the past two weeks, Quins have improved their negative points difference by 26 points, ( from -49 to -23), whilst Worcester’s has got worse also by 26 points ( from -58 to  -84). It may not be an exciting game, Northampton had to work hard as the match drew to a close to keep Worcester from winning the game, after they had scored a converted try with just five minutes to go.

I predict another win for Harlequins by 12 points.