Harlequins
The Good & The Bad: Quins v Sale (GP)
By Battering Ram Winger
May 10 2010
What a send off for Tani and Stretts! Well, a nice way to end the season too.
THE GOOD -
1). Big Old Win!
True, tempered by the fact that this was a mid-table team playing a team that scraped clear of relegation (see more below as usual!), but it's nice to have the season rounded off on such a high.
2). Louis Stevenson
Never mind that daft text MOTM rubbish, he was my MOTM by a mile, he was all over the pitch, doing all the graft required but also popping up in the loose carrying like a crazy giraffe. If he keeps up the improvement he's shown this season I fear the provinces may come knocking at his door.
3). JTH
One try showcasing his power, another showcasing the fear his power causes as he dragged Sale's defence aside to open the hole for Guest to charge into en route to our final try. Made his tackles, too. Hopefully he's going to be back in the form he showed last season in next season (?). But (see below as usual). However, there was one incident involving him that I think encapsulated Sale's shortcomings as a team, I felt. In the first half, there was a breakdown just outside Sale's 22 and we were a bit disorganised in defence. Three Sale forwards were standing in a pod and only had JTH defending. Now we, and presumably they, know that running over JTH is not easy so simply charging straight at him was the wrong thing to do, the man receiving the ball had options either side of him, he should have fixed JTH and slipped a pass for his colleagues to run into the space. But they charged him, JTH held on and the cavalry arrived. Too much of that heads down play has plagued English rugby of late.
4). The scrum, especially after the subs
Held pretty firm most of the time and I was pleased that the unfortunate loss of Percival wasn't as bad as it could have been and also was pleased with Marler and Frazier's contributions.
5). The send off
Nice touches for the leaving guys.
THE BAD
1). Still too many mistakes and stupidity
OK, Chris White seemed to have it in for us, but we didn't help ourselves, Mr Vallejos, nor did we learn from previous mistakes in attempting too many risky offloads that were 90/10 against. Sale are not a good team and unless we sharpen up next season, better teams will punish us far more than they managed.
2). The Lineouts
Ugh. Nuff said.
3). JTH
I'm hoping this is just inexperience, but he does make too many of said silly offloads and his decision making isn't great all the time. He is getting better and is a far better player than the raw kid we saw a few years back.
4). MOTM texts
Money for old rope!
But I was happy in the end. We started well, went off the boil (partly due to the yellow card, partly because that's what we always do) and finished strongly.
If anyone cares, my season Good/Bad will be composed when I have gathered what remains of my thoughts.
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Stumbleupon10/05/2010 22:19
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I fear what you say about the provinces calling - I've heard that Ulster have already checked out his (and Andress') availability at the end of their contracts. I really hope that they both stay, but the lure of the Irish jersey might be too strong.
Overall though, for me it's been disappointing season and I'm just really, really glad it's over!
I'm struggling to add much to your list. But perhaps...
GOOD
1) Strettle. Such a shame we couldn't keep him.
2) Marler & Johnston. We have been worried about the backup for Jones & Andress, but on this evidence we will have real options at prop next year.
3) Clegg. Still tries a little too hard when it's not on, but cool as you like with the boot and showing increasing maturity in game management with each match. Let's hope Tofty gives him a decent run in the JWC.
4) Lowe. Watching the highlights, he had a lot of work to do for his try - and made it look easy. He was also there in support of JTH's and TW's tries. If he can sharpen up his defence, he has a very bright future.
BAD
1) Continued vulnerability for long parts of the game.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:05:11:09:09:20 by Nicksb.
Quote:Lowe... If he can sharpen up his defence
I'm not sure what you mean, as his defence is very good indeed. He got stepped by Tait, but it was quite an easy step for most back-line players to make.
Quote:Quinten PoulsenQuote:Lowe... If he can sharpen up his defence
I'm not sure what you mean, as his defence is very good indeed. He got stepped by Tait, but it was quite an easy step for most back-line players to make.
Especially against a player like Tait whose "loss of pace" (TM tigeroo) is so bad he burned off Evans who was trying to catch him.
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis
I can't understand why you're critizing his defense. Yes he got stepped by Tait, but as did 3/4 Australian players in the 07 world cup final so I can't see the problem there. From I've seen Lowe puts brilliant tackles in all over hre field for the whole game.
Lowe is a star in the making. He had plenty to do for his try - he has an uncanny knack of finding space where there seems to be none. I like Gonzo but GL is a better player IMO, certainly potentially.
JTH seemed to have gained or regained a bit of pace. Good to see - he's a better player than he's been for much of the season and maybe his forced layoff took more of his sharpness off than we realised. He also made one monster tackle on someone more or less in front of us. We all felt it.. Won the ball too.
