Harlequins
Preview - Harlequins v Wasps (AP)
By Quinten Poulsen
January 7 2011
Harlequins, and their old rivals and new best pals, Wasps, meet at The Stoop this Saturday with both teams in the midst of a good run of form. Quins have won 7 (plus 1 draw) from their last 10, while Wasps have won 8 from the same number.
No doubt that much of the talk this weekend between the rival fans in the bars around Twickenham and The Stoop will focus on this week's confirmation of the audacious bid to take the LV= Cup "global". That's correct – a game played in front of 5000 spectators in Abu Dhabi means that this competition is now "global". Sadly, that ridiculous hyperbole was not just reserved for the LV= Cup itself, as Lawrence Dallaglio chuntered on about Wasps becoming a "global" brand – whatever that means. One thing for sure is that Wasps will somehow make some much needed additional income from this fixture, or at least one would hope that increased revenue was a sure thing. Strangely, no details of how this will directly benefit Wasps have been forthcoming, although there has been plenty of speculation amongst fans on the forums – a big cash payment to sweeten moving the game; merchandising opportunities; courting a new club sponsor; who knows for sure? Whatever the reasons, they are more important than the consideration of the thousands of fans who would have attended this fixture at Adams Park. However, my cynicism is probably misplaced in view of the fact that this decision has the full support of LV=, the RFU and the IRB.
Anyway, back to this weekend's game! With the afore-mentioned form of the sides, both Wasps and Quins will approach this game with a large amount of confidence and a determination to further their top 4 league ambitions. Wasps have the advantage in that they already occupy 4th spot, but Harlequins are only 2 points behind in 6th place. This weekend's fixtures also include Leicester (1st) at home to Northampton (2nd) and Saracens (3rd) hosting London Irish (5th), so the top 6 could start to look quite congested depending on how results go.
After last Saturday's magnificent win at Franklins Gardens against all the odds, backing up an impressive and determined effort against Irish in The Big Game 3 the previous Monday, Quins couldn't really have had much better preparation for this encounter with their bitter rivals Wasps. The last time these two met at The Stoop was 2 seasons ago when Quins ran out 32-10 winners, with memorable tries that day from both Nick Evans and Joe Simpson, although this time round it will surely be a lot closer and I doubt we'll see a try resulting from a grubber kick bouncing off Van Gisbergen's head! What has been most impressive from Quins in their latest two wins has been the huge physical commitment in all contact areas, and this needs to continue; in fact it needs to be the norm. Our defence hasn't really been a problem much this season, but we have allowed teams to physically bully us on occasion, notably against Gloucester and Saracens. If Quins reproduce this recent hard-nosed physicality then home advantage should see us win, as in addition to Nick Evans's superb goal-kicking we have also scored a few tries recently from limited opportunities – not something Quins could be accused of earlier in the season. Being realistic though, I still see this game as being up for grabs in the final quarter, and hopefully a near sell-out crowd will help drive Quins to a vital and hard fought win.
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Stumbleupon07/01/2011 11:54
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The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit: and upon this charge,
Cry — God for Harry! England and Saint George
