Harlequins
Report: Worcester Warriors 15-17 Harlequins
By poorfour
September 25 2011
After the build-up, I approached this match with some apprehension. Despite Worcester’s lowly position in the Premiership tables alongside Saints and Tigers (how often do you get to say that? I’m tempted to say it again, just for the frisson of schadenfreude), COS had marked this week’s game out as a real test for the team.
I was also worried by some of the comments by Comeallwithiners in the build up to the game. This would be my first time at Sixways, but apparently our last visit had been a bad-tempered affair. The circumstances had changed, but would the tension between opposing fans remain? I hoped not. I’d chosen to sit in the Slick Stand for a better view, and not with the official Quins allocation behind the posts, so the whole poorfour family would be mixing it with the Worcester fans.
In the end, I needn’t have worried. The banter on the way into the stadium was good natured, helped no doubt by falling in with a family whose loyalties were divided between home and away. Once inside, the fans immediately around us gave us some entertaining chat, but it was a genuine pleasure sitting with them. A few yards away there was an immaculately suited gentleman with a Meerschaum pipe, perched on a glossy red electric cart, who kept up a constant stream of invective aimed at Quins and referee Chris White. Mostly it was just declaiming us as cheats, but by the end of the game the odd swearword had crept in. I couldn’t fault his passion, but I was glad not to be sitting closer.
He may have had a point about White, though. My untrained, Quins-tinted view from row 2 doesn’t qualify me to comment on the accuracy of his calls, but I think he could have done much more to let the game flow. The players didn’t help; it was a humid, overcast day with only a few spots of rain, but there was a deluge of handling errors from both sides. I would guess that over a quarter of the game was spent on scrums.
Perhaps they had all been inspired by last week’s thriller between Ireland and Australia. Certainly, until the last quarter of the match the story and even the scoreline had been almost identical. Plucky underdogs use a dominant scrum and astute kicking to take the game from much-fancied opposition, with no-one seriously threatening the tryline from either side.
I’d speculated before the match that this might be the case. Last season, the most disappointing Quins performances came against opposition who could keep us out of their own half, and punish any indiscipline in defence. Quins made most of the running in the away games at Leicester and Sarries, but both sides contained our running threat and 36 and Fazlet took the points on offer.
Worcester offered the same mix. They were totally committed in defence; their pack was gnarly and clearly benefitted from having two recent ex-Quins who knew our weaknesses; and if Andy Goode was never much of a threat with ball in hand, his kicking was pinpoint and his distribution fizzed with purpose.
The pattern of the match was set in the first few exchanges. Quins attacked the Worcester line from the kickoff, but Worcester defended with equal ferocity and eventually forced a penalty for holding on. Quins forced a turnover, nearly made a decisive break but ended up flinging the ball from side to side and being forced into touch. Worcester won another penalty following the lineout, and Goode took the points.
The first of the many scrums in the match followed a forward pass from Worcester at the restart. Quins secured a free kick from that one. They got one again from the next, chose to reset, and gave a free kick to Worcester. At this point my notes say, “Does Chris White know what’s going on?” I was never subsequently sure, but Worcester definitely got the upper hand. Lambert usually got the blame, but it looked to me as if the Worcester tight head was binding on the arm and getting away with it.
NEv eventually found touch from a penalty inside the Worcester 22. His drop goal attempt from the resulting lineout and maul was charged down, but White was playing penalty advantage and he levelled at 3-3. It was the last time Quins would trouble the scorers for some time. Worcester, on the other hand, were back on the attack straight after the restart and quickly won another penalty. 6-3.
Neither side was making much headway with ball in hand. Both defences were soundly organised and the Worcester tackling was particularly strong; Garvey and Benjamin were able to make good yards on the wing, Worcester’s midfield lacked penetration and turned the ball over too often. It also began to look like it wasn’t going to be Quins’ day. They were frequently driven back in the tackle, promising breaks ended in knock ons and when Nick or Mike kicked or chipped on, it was usually returned by Goode with the kind of interest you don’t get from your bank anymore.
White continued to award what the BBC describes as “a flurry of penalties for various minor infringements”, but there was only one more score in the half, Goode kicking a penalty from 5 yards into his own half. For Quins, the only other point worth mentioning was Seb Stegmann, coming on for a limping Monye after his own two years of injury hell. Welcome back, Seb, and stay healthy.
9-3 at half time became 12-3 shortly thereafter as Worcester won a penalty from a scrum on Quins’ 22. Then Worcester made their most effective attack of the afternoon, securing ball from a Quins defensive lineout and driving over the tryline only to be held up. Goode kicked a drop goal from the resulting scrum, apparently assisted in flight by a Harlequins hand.
As Richard Hill pointed out in the press conference, there should have been no way back for Quins at 15-3 down. Yet the tide had begun to turn. Worcester had substituted Douglas for Taumoepeau at tighthead, and Kvesic for Horstmann, who went off with a leg injury. Quins, with Brooker on for Gray, began to win the scrums again. One of these resulted in a penalty, NEv kicked to the Worcester half, Robson took the lineout and Sam Smith found a hole in midfield and weaved his way through the Worcester defence to score under the posts. Smith has scored a try in every game I’ve seen him start, but this was possibly his most important. A moment of brilliance was needed and he supplied it. NEv added the extras: 15-10 and game on, with a little over 10 minutes to go.
Quins were on the front foot and were soon camped out on Worcester’s try line. A rolling maul and repeated forward efforts didn’t quite breach it, an attempted backs move got driven back and worked forwards again, but Worcester were clearly under pressure. Karl Dickson took a quick tap penalty and was tackled by a player who had clearly not retreated, but all Quins got was a scrum. And another. And another. By this time, Ceri Jones had come on for Matt Mullan and Quins were clearly in the ascendant. Scenting blood, Quins kept calling for scrums and eventually openside Jake Abbott infringed once too often and White saw Yellow. A penalty try followed, and Quins were two points ahead with two minutes to go. Worcester might have snatched a penalty with a strong attack from the restart, but eventually gave one away themselves and Quins secured enough territory to make the win safe.
Should they have done better? Before the match I would have said yes. Afterwards, I am not so sure. Quins’ natural style of play is vulnerable to a team who defend well and control where the game is played, and Worcester had that in spades. And yet the team somehow found not one, but two different ways to breach the opposing tryline and eke out a win. There’s plenty of room for improvement, but this squad – missing about half its number to RWC and injuries – has more weapons than any previous Quins squad I’ve seen, and more consistency and composure in using them. The Mailman has grumbled on Come On You Warriors that "Quins have started the season well, but they have been a mid-table side for much of the last few years. They certainly aren't elite." Well, maybe not, but I am beginning to think that this year they could be.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon25/09/2011 06:51
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Knowing what the Brian Moore 'Scrum Time' was for this match would be interesting
Then there were a few where their tight head was driving in at an angle, trying to force Joe up, and Lambert was getting pinged.
Very enjoyable review as well!
I was in a box above you and that is pretty much as I saw it.
I thought the first 3/4 of the game was poor from both teams in terms of handling and skills; so I was resigned to a game bereft of tries from either team.
That said Sam Smith's try was a beauty to watch from up high as he stood up the fullback and glided past him. Even the Wuss supporters I was with applauded once they had recovered.
A bright. multi-coloured future beckons for young Mr. Smith and it was so nice to see him back himself instead of trying to chip it...
One thing that I wish we could pinch from the football reports is the player ratings system. It seems that every game played with a roundball has such a review, whilst in rugby it's just internationals.
Quote:Quinky Kin
Can anyone tell me who played well/badly. I'm not in the UK so was unable to pick up a commentary.
One thing that I wish we could pinch from the football reports is the player ratings system. It seems that every game played with a roundball has such a review, whilst in rugby it's just internationals.
I signed up for the "Premiership Rugby TV" - special offer promoted on this web site and from South Africa watched the full game this afternoon and the same a week ago. I think that it takes a day to get on their site but if you are away - its brilliant. Same for if you are home and can't get to the away matches.
For example - I understand the comments about Chris White - and no I am not a fan. It let Worcs play the game they wanted and not allowed Quins any free flowing play. It is the same every time he refs us. So what I am saying is that Mr White was contributory in the way that we were allowed to play/played.
I thought that Mike Brown was (again) outstanding. he nearly scored a magnificent try. Nev was spectacular in jhis management and Olly and george in the second row were outstanding. But the MotMfor me was Chris Robshaw. His work rate, tackles, carries are unbelievable. It is no wonder that Wallace and yorke are doing so well with that sort of inspiration alongside.
i also liked the way that the niggles didn't get to the team. they just played and got on with it. there is a great "mid-set" being developed.
On balance a deserved win as all the Wuss points came from penalties.
MOTM for me is more difficult - I dont think anyone had an outstanding game, as many of the usual heros made mistakes - NEv dropping the ball; CR putting ASBO under pressure to kick to touch etc. KD at SH also had a very busy day, but MOTM should be for the team effort to pull themselves out of the dark, so CR's captaincy should be highlit, but it was a team effort.
I saw a couple of the players after, looked pretty subdued.
I didn't see the bright side until about 15mins after the final whistle.
Most of the fans were great, one came over after the match and chatted for 10 minutes, saying how the atmosphere at last match there was unpleasant, unfortunate and unrepresentative... real gent. He'd played for Worcs in the amateur days.
There was one 'cheat' whinger going on all the time, especially when one of our guys were down!... i didnt bother to acknowledge him, he went on to moan about the Worcs supporters... so just an a**e then.
GO GO UGO
PINKWIN
Lots of industry from the whole team, but the ones who seemed to make a real impact were Smith, Dickson, Fairbrother, Gray, Robson, Robshaw.
I'm not sure I like the whole scores out of ten thing for rugby. It's much more of a team game than football and a poor team performance is more often a question of the opposition finding a hole in their style of play for which, collectively, they have no response. When the team plays well, everyone looks good. When they play poorly, too often an individual who looks good was chasing glory rather than doing their job.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to bleat about it all over the internet"
half I confess my attention strayed to the wedding reception
being held on the "Scrum Bar" balcony!! Is that usual fare for
Sixways?
Quote:stoop to conquer
Great report. During the slightly duller moments in the first
half I confess my attention strayed to the wedding reception
being held on the "Scrum Bar" balcony!! Is that usual fare for
Sixways?
The Wuss fan next to me was quite amused by it. Though as I said to him at the time, if she'll let you hold the wedding there, she's a keeper.
[www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk]
[www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk]
[www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk]
