By Quins4life
December 24 2015

So it’s that time of year again. We are all full of our Christmas lunches and nursing Christmas hangovers, but we have a great remedy for this down at the Stoop. We get a festive trip to HQ to see our mighty Quins play. This year, it is the turn of Gloucester to take on the mantle of our opponents, at a ground where Quins have only lost one in the seven games. We are now very used to Twickenham stadium having played there in Big Games, Double Header and, of course, the Premiership Final. On the contrary Gloucester haven’t played at Twickenham since 2009 in the Anglo-welsh Cup, and haven’t won at Twickenham for over a decade. 

So a bit about this Gloucester side we will be facing on the 27th. Gloucester are very interesting side to say the least. They are probably the “biggest” club never to have won the Premiership title and over the last couple of years they have desperately recruited players to improve their squad. They had a big overhaul of their coaching staff a couple of season ago with David Humphrey, Nick Walshe and Laurie Fisher all coming in. On top of this they have bought in a number of foreign internationals to supplement their English internationals of Ben Morgan, Jonny May and Billy Twelvetrees. The likes of Richard Hibbard, James Hook, John Afoa and Greg Laidlaw are probably the biggest names to have decided Kingsholm should be where they play their trade. But for some reason or another, Gloucester have not found a winning formula in the Premiership having continually finished outside of the top 6 for the last couple of years. However they did have success in the Challenge Cup last after beating Edinburgh in the final down at the Stoop. 

This season once again there was a hope in Gloucester that they would kick on again this season and be challenging higher up in the table. However, so far this season this aim seems like it will be difficult for them with Gloucester sitting in 7th already. In addition to this, the strength of teams around them doesn’t help their cause. Gloucester have won three out of six in the league, whilst in Europe they are unbeaten. In terms of the league, Gloucester have not done anything too spectacular winning games probably they should win, whilst the games they have lost have been against teams they should be beaten by. Bearing this in mind, they have solid but nothing too extraordinary. 

Team selections 
So after a chance to rotate players in the Challenge Cup matches against Calvisano, I am expecting Quins to name the strongest team they have available. Starting with the front row, Marler and Ward are nailed on starters, and after Jones missing the past two weeks, it is likely that he will return with one of Sinckler or Collier taking the position on the bench. In the second row after Twomey’s injury, it leaves Matthews to continue his partnership with Horwill. With the backrow, the injuries probably make the decision on selection a lot easier. Robshaw and Easter will return to Twickenham for the first time since the World Cup whilst Clifford will probably star with Wallace picking up a knock in the first European tie. This could give Beau Robinson a bench spot, especially if Luamanu if still out injured. 

In the backline, I don’t think we will see any surprises. Care and Evans will be the half backs, whilst the back three will be Yarde, Visser and Brown. The only selection debate surround the 12 jersey and therefore Lowe’s partner. Personally I think Sloan has made a fantastic start to the season, but the arrival of Roberts will surely mean that he will miss out. Perhaps it is slightly unfair on Sloan but I am incredibly excited to see Roberts in the Premiership and even more so in the Quins jersey for what will be my first time seeing him. 


My Quins’ team predictions; Marler, Ward, Jones, Horwill, Matthews, Clifford, Robshaw, Easter; Care, Evans, Visser, Roberts, Lowe, Yarde, Brown. 

I have to say if I am correct with that team, I will be incredibly excited. What a side that is and we haven’t lost our English identity. I truly believe it is team that could beat anyone in Europe, not just in England, on its day and I think we should all be very excited for what could happen this season and in future seasons. Time to get excited. 

Gloucester team from their last match in the Premiership (Sale at home); McAllister, Hibbard, Afoa, Savage, Thrush. Moriarty, Kvesic, Kalamafoni; Heinz, Hook, May, Twelvetrees, Meakes, Sharples, Cook 

I expect a couple of changes to that team. I think they will bring in Wood to start at loosehead in the only change to their pack. Whilst in the backline Laidlaw will probably start at 9 and I think Trinder will probably have enough game time to start in place of Meakes. 


So on to the key details of the game itself. I think a quite telling factor is that when you look across the pitch, there aren’t many (if any!!) positions in which you would say Gloucester have an advantage, although I expect there to be some key battles. In the pack, the match up of Robshaw and Kvesic will get headlines for obvious England reasons but across the forwards we definitely have a dynamic advantage. Whilst this is true, we don’t lose any strength or power and you would expect our forward to get a good foothold at scrum time. For Quins, we need to sort out the dysfunctions of the lineout. It has been a shambles in recent weeks and we cannot afford to give away ball on our own lineout. I am in no doubt Gloucester will target this areas of the game. 

In the backline, Care vs Laidlaw will be intriguing with their different styles. I personally think Laidlaw is the most improved scrum half in World rugby and his goal kicking means we cannot afford to give away too many penalties in our own half. Yarde will probably be going up against May, which will provide Yarde with a great opportunity to show his England credentials once more against England wings incumbent. 

It will be interesting to see how Quins respond to two off and it may take 15-20 minutes to get into full flow. Gloucester have had two tougher games against Worcester in the Challenge Cup so should come into this game battle-hardened. However, I expect us to win the game and really make a statement of intent. Next up is Worcester away and Sarries at home which appear to be two tough games as Worcester at Sixways is looking like an increasingly harder proposition. With the weather improving and Quins seemingly in good form I expect a good win; maybe even a bonus point if we get some early tries. Anyway have good Christmas everyone and then a happy new year! 

My prediction; Quins 29 Gloucester 16