Harlequins
Preview: Harlequins vs Sale
By Wyddy
October 24 2013
Just like Gloria Gaynor, I’m back, and yes I’ve got a sad look upon my face. It’s not been an easy few weeks either personally or for our beloved Quins, however am here to resume normal service on the Premiership Previews and humbly apologise for my absence.
Where to pick up? Well we’ll start with the humbling loss to Irish away from home, a few feared it from the lacklustre start to the season but to most it came as a very rude awakening. Had teams rumbled us? Without the big lumps can we not break the gainline? Was this just the sheer volume of injuries and key personnel out of form?
The Heineken Cup blew into town, on what looks more and more like its last hurrah, and the Scarlets paid us a visit, backed by a vociferous and impressive travelling support. The visitors scored a trio of tries, one of which showed a definitive paucity of tackling and effort, and were deserved winners in the first leg of the European competition. Few left the match with any credit, however Mike Brown stood head and shoulders above every other player and almost single handedly dragged us back into the game. However it was not to be as MilliVanilli, sorry – Paul Sackey stepped into touch with our last chance of the game.
After a thorough and unusual public dressing down, from an irate Conor O’Shea, who decried the inaccuracy and effort of most of the players, Quins travelled to Clermont. The Parc des Sport Marcel Michelin is the very epitomy of an unassailable fortress, Clermont holding a proud 64 wins in a row at their home ground (65 now). A right royal rogering was expected after further injuries were picked up in the aftermath of the Scarlets game. The first couple of minutes of the game saw Quins start brightly, however inaccuracy returned to plague our early attacking thrusts, and coupled with poor tackling again by Messrs Hopper and Sackey, we quickly leaked 3 tries. There were some intermittent flashes of what might be, but Quins were sinking and quickly, the feared humping becoming a significant possibility. However a sterling fight back was to greet us, a snaffled try by Williams after Englands no 15, Mike Brown had drawn three Clermont defenders in just before half time had Quins fans creeping back out from behind the sofa. Our own support being heard in that cauldron of a stadium was a source of immense pride. The second half Quins showed the determination and defiance that has been lacking from all too many games this season and arguably made a star studded Clermont team look second best. Excellent performances from the following players :
• Dave Ward, who came on for Rob Buchanan and looks set for an extended first team run, as he became an utter nuisance to everything Clermont tried to do.
• Will Collier, who enjoyed one of his better games at tight head and will be all the better for the experience, hopefully he has avoided the injury list.
• Luke Wallace, Chris Robshaw and Tom Guest left everything on the park as the back row subdued their illustrious hosts for 60 minutes of the game, the attrition looked like it might have accounted for Guest as well unfortunately.
• George Robson, struggled with the occasional lineout but was indomitable around the field – another broken nose?
• Charlie Walker and Joe Trayfoot came on from the bench and had a couple of decent breaks, Trayfoots rampage at the end finally bringing NEv in for the bonus point saving drop goal.
The feeling of pride from that performance, even though it was a loss, has buoyed the club. Conor seemed a lot happier and one can only hope that some of our walking wounded will be back for the game against a surprisingly high flying Sale side, who seem well marshalled and a lot closer than last season.
They’ve had an impressive start to the season racking up significant victories over Wasps, Bath and Gloucester. Key to their form has been the impressive form of Sale skipper, Dan Braid, who has led from the front, the former All Black open side has been devastating at the breakdown. He has been ably assisted by Mark Cueto, enjoying a twilight renaissance, Sam Tuitupou and Tom Arscott, not to mention the tabloid dreamboy, Danny Cipriani, who is finally gaining plaudits for his rugby and keeping his nose clean.
All in all a pack who mean some serious business could cause problems for a perceived light weight Quins pack. Up front they have the potential of Henry Thomas, who won his first 2 caps in the Argentina series earlier in the year, Tommy Taylor – awesome against Bath or Marc Jones and either the first Moldovan to play in the Premiership, Vadim Cobîlaş or the well travelled former RC Toulon prop, Eifion Lewis-Roberts. Certainly they seem better stocked at the current time than Quins with experienced operators at the coal face. Ostrikov and Kulemin, the Russian connection in Manchester could form the second row. With Braid, Paterson and a certain Mark Easter in the back row we should be in for some tasty collisions at the breakdown, especially with the likelihood of an Easter vs Easter contest!
In the backs Dwayne Peel has been restored and looks to be back to some form, and Cipriani is adding new strings to his bow – his tackle count in recent games has bettered the single tackle he made last year (the double decker bus) and if he shores up that are of his game, Sale will not have to hide him so much. Forsyth and Tuitupou will take to the centres and provide an experienced outlet, expect them to target the soft partnership of Hopper and Botica for Quins, both will have to perform significantly better in the tackle department to avoid a repeat of the opening 20 mins against Clermont. On the wings the aforementioned Cueto has run into some rude form, if he hasn’t been scoring Sale’s tries he’s been setting them up. Arscott and Miller could take the field together, with Arscott playing wing, both are experienced with the potential to damage teams and add to the feeling that this is a Sale side finding its own identity this season.
Quins as mentioned are devastated by a plethora of injuries. Injury news as ever is at a premium, however with Marler gone and Buchanan out for 3 months, up front will likely see Lambert, Ward and Collier (if fit) take to the field. Ward may be lightweight but he certainly showed his dynamic nature in Clermont and could become key for Quins if he can sort out his darts. In second row, George Robson will be looking around again wondering who’s going to come into help him hold up the house, likelihood being that Easter will move to 2nd row again if Tom Guest is fit to continue at No8. In the back row, in the absence of Robshaw, Luke Wallace is in with a shout of leading the team as he did in the LV Cup last year, he will be joined by Tom Guest (if fit) and one of Trayfoot, who had a stormer as a sub No8, or Jack Clifford – the much underplayed England U20 Captain.
At scrum half Danny Care has been surprisingly jettisoned from the England camp, and returns to Quins where he will, one assumes, take the No9 shirt. Expect to see a very fired up Care this weekend as he will undoubtedly be gunning to prove what a mistake Lancaster has made by selecting the out of form Ben Youngs over him. I doubt anyone can argue with the selection of Dickson Jnr given his current form. Nick Evans will continue at fly half after a much improved display against Clermont, kicking boots will have to be on as Quins must start making their time in the opposition half count.
In the centres, if Lowe and Casson are not due to return then Botica will continue at inside centre, a position which he has been exposed at so far this season, Hopper will partner him on the outside and will have hopefully remembered he is to tackle like last season not the season before. If it was down to me, after seeing the performance of Walker and Hopper together last week, I’d give it another go this week, Walker proved he’s no retiring violet even though he may not be the biggest of ball carriers, but Conor may decide to put him at full back.
Moving to the back three, there are rumours of Monye being fit for the weekend, and his return will be welcomed by all as he has been one of the stronger performers in Quins stuttering season. He’ll take his place on the wing and then dependent on where Walker plays we will see either Tom Williams (in scintillating form against Clermont and other teams this season) on the other wing or at full back. If Williams plays fullback expect Smith to come in on the wing.
To say the substitutes bench is going to be raw is an understatement. For a replacement hooker we will have to look at academy prospect, Harry Allen for his first bench spot. Sinckler and Marfo will be the replacement props, and Mayhew providing the cover at lock if not selected for first team duties. The back row cover, will be either Trayfoot or Clifford with Karl Dickson as scrum half replacement. The seriously (in my view) disappointing MilliVanilli will probably be on the bench, the man has not performed and is looking every year of his 33 years, did anyone else see him strut off last week? Hmmmm...
If Quins can reach the tempo and commitment that they showed in the second half last week they stand a good chance of turning around their terrible home form. Make no mistake though a game which Sale would have been coming to get a bonus point of they will now be coming to take all the spoils. The game is definitely afoot at the Stoop... it’s time to rouse our walking wounded and the stalwarts who take to the field on Saturday and start Game no 1 of our unbeaten home record...
“Clermont? Give us two and a half years and we’ll break your record...” – Quins fan, 20th October, 2am
COYQ!!!!!!!
Quins by 3pts
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Agree lets see Walker and Hopper together again. Chance for Luke to shine too with a big shift.
As to Sackey leaden against Wasps and the way he ambled on for the pre match warm up against Scarlets and strolled around sadly said it all. Contrast with the pre match warm up statement of intent from Mike Brown and the others.
Looking forward to that win at The Stoop.
Have to agree with your comments about MilliVanilli he really was dire last weekend, I actually thought he was waving at the opposition then someone pointed out he was attempting a tackle.
Quote:InsertQuinsPunHereQuote:Harley Quin
Thanks Wyddy, good read. Welcome back! :-)
Hmm... I thought you were being sarcastic as when I looked, I couldn't see the actual review. Did no-one else have that problem then?
Thanks for the review, Wyddy!
Isn't Mayhew a Prop though?
When he joined he didn't need to say that joining us fitted in with his business interests, even if it was a major reason for joining. whilst I don't really like the usual, dull spin, his comments didn't sound great
Its obvious sides will target him and Clermont did that last week, and its mainly down to his lousy tackle efforts,
If you're picking up the cash and being paid to play, put the effort in - can't imagine his attitude is well liked in the dressing room. I know we were desperate and it just hasn't worked.
Thanks for the above comments all, lets hope all of us can boost the boys in what is now gonna be a tough game...! Had this one marked down as a 5 pointer at the start, now I'd be happy with a squeaky win via a Casson wonder flop try.
COYQ!!!!
