Harlequins
Preview: Harlequins vs Gloucester
By Wyddy
October 31 2012
So Gloucester are coming to town, on a high after beating Leicester in a thriller at Kingsholm. Freddie Burns, much spoken of in the media of late in reference to the No10 shirt for England, tore Leicester apart in the opening 10 minutes of that game. Leicester never really recovered and Gloucester recorded a notable scalp, silencing those critics who had said their early season momentum was unlikely to be kept up when facing the big boys.
Glaws are becoming a team it’s easy to like. They play a brand of expansive rugby, which, whilst not as focussed on the offloading game as Quins are, is similar in many aspects. They have a mobile, powerful group of forwards who are no pushovers, and their play goes through an expressive flyhalf in Burns. Whilst his kicking from the tee has never been much lauded this has improved significantly in the past season and a half to add another tool to Burns’ armory. Possibly more than anyone in the league he plays similarly to our own Nick Evans and also has the pace to burn through those gaps that open in the channels.
Another major plus for Gloucester this season has been Billy Twelvetrees at inside centre. Having watched him play for Glaws for the first time this season in the Leicester game, I was struck by how at home he seems. He is now first choice in a team which plays to his strengths, his burgeoning partnership with Burns is beginning to reap rewards. His performance last weekend against a strong Tigers line up was impressive, he broke the line on many occasions and with his size he can often defend loose ball as well as a flanker. What really stood out was his engine, he kept on at a high tempo all game, be it crash ball or defensive hits there was continuous intensity. Surely just a matter of time until England come a calling.
Speaking of England, Gloucester have another jewel in their side, plucked by England on odd occasions but either injured or spurned he was never given a chance to prove his talents at Test level. James Simpson-Daniel, Sinbad to some, was at his imperious best against Leicester. As soon as he got the ball you could see Leicester defenders stand off that extra half metre to try to gain more defensive options against a player whose low centre of gravity gives him a plethora of angles to pick from at speed. On one sublime run he broke through the Leicester ranks like a fat kid through a tuck shop, finishing it off by offloading to the equally rampant Fijian, Akapusi Qera, another of Gloucesters players who seems to be striking a rich vein of form.
Meanwhile Quins finished off London Irish with plenty of time to spare and a technically brilliant try full of elan. Ahem.
Irish fought hard and kept on coming back at Quins, pinching late points to leave Quins with it all to do in the last 8 minutes, however we seemed to ramp it up a gear and marched the ball 80 metres down the park. Not content with a drop goal in the last few minutes, the attack was spread across the line and out to Ugo who was superbly talked but just managed to pop the ball into play. The rest is controversial history, Casson dropping the ball backwards, kneeing it forwards and falling onto it the same way Big Daddy used to splash his opponents. Mike Browns reaction was to pull a full on Platoon moment. Nevertheless Quins gained from the TMO decision and whatever anyones feelings, the rules of the game were followed and an exceptionally lucky try awarded. Hard luck on Irish who had played well Garvey, Gibson and Joseph to the fore.
No sooner had Robshaws shiner started to turn colour and off he went to the England camp with a few of our best and brightest. Turner-Hall, Brown, Marler, Robshaw, Ugo, Care later to be joined by Robson had me fearing for our fortunes against a charged up Glaws side missing only Sharples and Morgan. However today Bomber Lancaster released back JTH, Robson and most surprisingly of all Mikey Brown. This gives us vital options for Saturdays game. With a front 3 that will be shorn of big Joe Marler, we can hope that Joe Gray is fit to return and show Lancaster how line out ball should be thrown. James Johnston will be looking to come back from a pretty brain dead performance against Irish. He was continuously called by sir on driving into their hooker at an angle and failed to adapt his game plan accordingly, now whilst he’s not in the team for his smarts and you have to be a few lamb chops short of a Welsh banquet to play at tighthead, he has to learn to play the refs better. Particularly given his recent deserved / underserved reputation from the beginning of last season.
Behind them will be Robson and Kohn, and more than likely a back row of Fa’asavalu, Guest and the leagues form No8, Nick Easter. For me this is a game screaming out for Wallace, and I hope I am wrong and that he gets his chance to start the game on Saturday. His floor skills will be a great boon, and his tackle rate will help to make up for Robshaws loss, you’ve also got to think at some point there has to have been a conversation with Conor where he was told his chance would come when Captain Chris was away with the national squad. If not then I would think we run the risk of losing a player of great potential, surely with his performances for the reserve squad as captain he’s earnt his chance? One fan near me would be chuffed to see a player he has persistently called “Old ‘airy mop” back in the first team.
Karl Dickson will step in at scrum half, and we are blessed to have such quality cover for Care. Sam Smith will replace Ugo on the wing, and dependent on Turner-Halls knee we will see either a JTH/Hopper midfield or stick with the Casson/Hopper axis from last week. Speaking of Hopper he has signed an extension to his contract, and lets hail this and look forward to more back of the hand offloads in games to come. There is an outside chance Nick Evans could be back to provide more experience to the side, Ben Botica having done a fine job in his absence would drop to the bench in the event NEv is considered fit enough to withstand the rigours of Morgan and Twelvetrees running down the channel at him.
I think you have to fancy Gloucester going into this game, they’re on a charge, their system seems to be working and the big difference for me is the intensity, they’ve got it, whereas our focus seems to be all over the place at the moment. Against Irish there were the usual minor errors, but these errors are breaking our flow, when they decide to put it together then it works, the 20 minute Olympian Rugby against Wasps, the 80 metre scramble up the pitch in those last minutes in Reading. However it’s just not clicking for Quins at the moment, a few have mentioned the impact of losing Lowe, he’s an intelligent player who offers a different sort of threat than Hopper. He’s also got a well established partnership with Turner-Hall, they compliment each other greatly. With Lowe surely only a couple of weeks off full fitness we will see just how much we have missed him when he gets himself match fit to return. For me it’s more than this. We have turned it on only in patches this season... why? Last season the impossible suddenly started becoming possible, however once attained is the lure ever as strong as it was the first time you triumphed? First time champions syndrome is fairly unavoidable, nothing’s ever going to match up to the first time, but the lads need to aspire to that buzzword of the 21st Century and create a legacy now. Somehow that legacy has to become as important to a player as their first championship in a clubs history.
Sorry to say it, but Gloucester by 7-10pts.
COME ON YOU QUINS!!!!
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Discussion started by ComeAllWithin.co.uk , 31/10/2012 18:32
ComeAllWithin.co.uk
31/10/2012 18:32
31/10/2012 18:32
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Agree this is a difficult one but disagree with the result Quins to edge it by 3!
Excellent Wyddy, good stuff.
Totally agree we have only played in fits and starts this season. for my money its just a few too many erors when we have the ball. but some other teams have imporved/worked us out a bit and recently we have been guilty of narrowing our attack when we look for that penetration though the middle that served us so well last year. i'd like to see us maintain and play with width more often. with NEV back this may sort itself (no criticsm of BB who's been fantastic).
So Qs but by less than 7 (in a cracking game, always is v Glaws).
Totally agree we have only played in fits and starts this season. for my money its just a few too many erors when we have the ball. but some other teams have imporved/worked us out a bit and recently we have been guilty of narrowing our attack when we look for that penetration though the middle that served us so well last year. i'd like to see us maintain and play with width more often. with NEV back this may sort itself (no criticsm of BB who's been fantastic).
So Qs but by less than 7 (in a cracking game, always is v Glaws).
Nick Champs V Chumps more like
If we can't beat Gloucester at home we gave no chance if retaining our championship. Yes it will be tough but fully expect those involved to step up
If we can't beat Gloucester at home we gave no chance if retaining our championship. Yes it will be tough but fully expect those involved to step up
I have a feeling this is going to be a big win for the Quins. Quins by 12-15 points.
Think this could be a tough game, Gloucs playing well and full of confidence. Going to take the plunge and agree with 1908 though, Gloucs might be a little over confident and I think Quins are due a big performance for a full 80 mins. Alot will depend on who plays (nev, gray, jth, brown)
More than ever then, the 16th Man in the Crowd need to do their stuff, loud and proud!!!!
COYQ!!!
The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit: and upon this charge,
Cry — God for Harry! England and Saint George
COYQ!!!
The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit: and upon this charge,
Cry — God for Harry! England and Saint George
Too close to call. I agree with Deadly, time for fortress stoop to sing out.
Glaws haven't travelled well in the past but seem to be improving.
That was agreat win against Tigers but it was at home and not sure Tigers are really on form at the moment.
Can't wait for saturday night.
That was agreat win against Tigers but it was at home and not sure Tigers are really on form at the moment.
Can't wait for saturday night.
Glaws only unbeaten team away from home in the Prem, here's hoping we put an end to that on the surge of good feeling from our NEv's signing of his contract!
A big thank you to all those people at the A game who cracked the obvious line!! It worked!
A big thank you to all those people at the A game who cracked the obvious line!! It worked!
Here is the Quins V Glaws Preview from a Cherry and White perspective - it's a bit of a long one...
Source: [gloucesterrugby.net]
Quins V Glaws Match Preview.
« on: October 30, 2012, 09:26:25 PM »
A much earlier match Preview than usual ; but with Halloween upon us and the positive vibes that are reverberating around the area after our momentous victory over Leicester Tigers, the anticipation of what is a real “ top of the table clash” is too much for me to leave this week match Preview until later in the week!.
The memory of our latest achievement is still very fresh, and it gives us another bench mark to build upon. Without going over the game plan from Saturday again; the one thing that really struck home above everything else is the closeness of the team and the willingness for everyone involved in the squad to put their bodies on the line to achieve what at times looked almost the unachievable. If there were any doubters still in town then they must surely have been near enough silenced. This team is set for even greater triumphs and next weekend is perhaps the greatest challenge of the season so far.
I have watched the Quins match against Irish(yes I admit to this) three times; albeit somewhat fast play through to replay the salient points. Irish were very unlucky and played the better rugby IMO. Certainly the Irish backs have given us some very pertinent clues as to how the Quins line can be penetrated and it took a very robust performance by Hopper in particular to counter the running lines that Irish threw at them.
The reason Irish lost this match overall was the depth of their line which was over focused on the attacking aspects of their game plan as opposed to an effective adjustment to a flatter defensive line. It gave too much time and space to Botica ball to hand and Hopper (who looks to be extremely dangerous in midfield) to find the gaps in the Irish defence.
Hopper has just signed a contract extension with Quins today and has been one of the find of the last season and is a player who we need to contain on Saturday. More on that subject later.
The game will start and finish up front on Saturday and that is where we have to win. We played the most balanced game of the season so far in League terms between forward and backs and this weekend coming it will be all about attrition. Quins will focus their efforts on the rolling maul. It is obvious to any DOR that Glaws have a weakness if anywhere this term in counteracting the maul once it starts to move in our direction.
Where we are going wrong is in peeling off both sides in marginal retreat and failing to drop behind the maul in the right body positions and in the right degree of unison. I have watched this carefully and from studying several replays this weekend. It seems to be a consistent weakness in our game this season and we have to find a solution to it before Saturday. If we can do this then we will stop them in their tracks; because I really do believe that it will be their obvious tactic, and without it we can IMO beat them hands down in every other aspect of the game.
ND prepared the boys for Tigers because we were without JH; and this led to the most successful line out series of the last two seasons in terms of creativity. It threw Leicester completely and whoever masterminded it deserves a lot of the accolades.
When the maul is formed, teams have worked out how to disrupt us. What we have to do is go back to basics and I hope that Hogg and Windo will spend a lot of time on this part of the forward defensive game this week. Quins will defend the rolling maul by crabbing. They bind tightly and shift the forward momentum of the opposition sideways. They have done this a few times this season and today was no exeption. Glaws do not need to play them at this game; in fact we need to be prepared to ruck more than Maul even with the bigger back row that we will have out next weekend assuming K makes another miraculous recovery.; by using 36 and Cowan in a particular to forage from their back three being hit hard from the high kick from Freddie burns.....and it needs to be high and not too deep into their defence.
The key is to retain possession when we win the ruck and drive forward , and to alternate the forward momentum and to keep a balanced option out wide to give us the element of surprise where we go right or left twice in succession, when in reality they will be expecting us to alternate things. IMO we need to be driving down the middle of the pitch as much as possible and I would like to see FB kicking some very high balls down the middle with our line actually hanging back to see what destruction this will cause to Brown if he is drawn forward and hit hard by Q and or K and Ben Morgan who I am pleased to say has be been released back to Glaws for this Saturday from the England set up.
Mike Brown is also being released back to Quins and if fit will start. I am not sure having said that that he is 100 percent after his injury on Saturday but if he plays we need to place it high and knock him as hard as possible and as early as possible. Whether he starts at 15 or not then we need to employ this tactic IMO.
If we can control the game at 10 and kick very high and not too far ahead then Brown( or his replacement) and his wingers will get sucked into a mid channel tunnel which we can exploit to the full.
I watched the Quins back three from Saturday again this evening. They are really very susceptible if drawn into the middle of the pitch; especially Brown, who took a couple of “good knocks” against Irish. He will not relish K or Q in particular chasing him down at speed; and with Jimmy needing to play as an extra flanker (without getting dragged into the thick of it too much) and 36 being the one who needs to get to the break down when we hit their back three first then we can cause them nightmares in the channel behind the forwards as long as we keep to that channel.
I really do believe this tactic would cause Quins a lot of problems. Once they twig onto this, then their Back Row forwards and Centre's will also be getting pulled away from the committing to the mauls; and this will give FB the opportunity to run a line in the same channel as opposed to the high kick. The support will be there for either tactic.Robsahw who has been appointed as England captain by Lancaster will almost certainly be rested this weekend even if his eye recovers in time after training with England this week. They will not risk the England Captain before the Fiji match; so things are looking even brighter for us in the Back Row contest!.
To counter the Quins rolling maul we need we need to be peeling off in numbers and hitting the front of the maul in numbers as well ; and hitting it centrally and with a lot more momentum than we are currently achieving. It has to be about co-ordination. At present we peel off and almost join the maul again at the side and without any coordinated momentum between the players.
For a pack of our mobility and physicality we have been made to look second rate this season in this area, and Saturday is the day for us to put this behind us. We may give a few meters to them but they will not have controlled momentum if everyone releases more quickly and hits the maul in unison in a central position. It will also force their ball carrier to either go to ground or to form the ruck again which if we have the regained momentum will cause them difficulties and totally disrupt their rolling maul.
On to the match itself. If last Saturdays game was an epic then this weekend’s match promises to be a total war of attrition for 50 minutes where the winner of the upfront battle and the back row battle will have the momentum for the last 30 minutes of the game which will IMO open right out into our backs hands if we play the right tactics. Our forwards need to;
a) Work on countering the rolling maul and b) Dominate the set piece. If the forward exchanges open out into a more expansive match then we will run then into the ground in no uncertain terms and this means they will want to keep it as tightly controlled as they can up front.
We have seen our front five take a few packs to pieces at times this season.
We gave Northampton a torrid time eventually at home in this area and we have been pretty solid against most opposition front fives this season until the Tigers match. For me Harden struggled again and this made things difficult for Woody who had to contend with an in form Cole who had the momentum because his loose head was giving RH total grief on the other side of the scrum on our put in.
IMO Knight really must be given a start against Quins. Marler is a very good ball carrier and he will be missed by Quins in this area .In the set piece his likely replacement can be totally disrupted by Knight and we will also have to get stuck into Buchanan.
If Harden is selected to start then we will not cause them problems in the first 50 minutes of the match on their put in; and IMO we might struggle to create a dominant platform on our own scrum. On the other hand if SK starts then he will (with a smaller hooker in Edmonds) get into the right position to get at Buchanan and to drive through their loose head. With Woody on the other side we can cause Quins a lot of problems and I hope that TW works with this three as a combination this week.
Wood can get the better of Johnston. Johnston’s technique is to try and scrummage inwards. The front three need to let his momentum be his own downfall and ultimately that of Quins on Saturday. By binding exceptionally tightly and by Woody timing his nudge with Knight then we can drive up through both of the Quins props and Knight will get straight between the Hooker and whoever replaces the injured Marler; who is going to be out for at least 4 weeks with a torn hamstring.Johnston is not flavour of the month with some referees at the moment and he will have to watch his P's and Q's this weekend. Woody owes him one as well!
This can happen at every Quins scrum and I do believe if we get the selection right, and work on this combination this week that Knight will be the man of the match. This is his chance to really catch the eye of the Saxons set up. It is also an opportunity for him to step up to another run of the Tight Head ladder as a match day starter; and he really should be given this opportunity on Saturday.
Harden and Murphy can come on later and finish them off; but for me it really has to be Woody and Knight at 1 and 3 against Quins.
In the Second Row we will be looking most likely at Will James; who as someone else said, was the unsung hero against Leicester. As I said in my review of Saturdays match I think WJ is having the best season so far at Glaws since joining us from Pirates. His work rate was awesome last week and he has shown an incredible work rate all season when he has been on the pitch. Some face up by WJ ( along with everyone else) to the front five of the Tigers; and to last the full 80 is no mean feat for any front 5 player; and this clearly illustrates that he is in superb physical condition.
JH is reported to be training with the Scottish set up this week assuming his rib injury has improved enough to allow this; and assuming this is the case and he won’t be available this weekend then it is most likely going to be a repeat of last week’s starting 8 as long as K recovers and Savage is 100 per percent fit. Quins will almost definitely be without Robson and I do believe if we show the same creativity as we did last week and also keep things simple at the front of the line out we can win 100 percent of our line outs against Quins who are not going to pose the same disruptive threats as Tigers did last Saturday.
Even if K is not recovered for the Quins match I do believe we have the edge over their back row; and Robshaw’s eye is still semi-closed according to reports; and although he is training with England this week he will most likely not be available for the match. Whether he is or not; I really fancy our chances of outplaying their Back Row; but we have to sort out the Rolling mauls once and for all as already suggested. If we can do this successfully (and I pretty sure a lot of time is being spent on this aspect of our game plan this week) then we can win the Back Row battle against Quins. I am hoping that FB does employ the high ball tactic down the middle of the pitch; and if Q and Co can get up quickly then we can dominate the game by intimidating them in defence under the very high ball.
We tackled like demons against Leicester and I do believe they are a stronger forward unit than Quins and IMO we have nothing at all to fear from them in the Back Row or Forward exchanges.
I believe we will win the forward battle this weekend and we then have to release the backs. I have said I think FB needs to kick high when he has the space and time to release out back row into their back three cover and we have to hit them hard in midfield as well. Hopper looks to be very dangerous and is getting more confident as the season develops. Having said that the defensive/attacking balance that we have with Tinds and 36 is proving to be very effective and I see us having the class and experience as well as the physical advantage in the Centre to punch the best holes we have done so far this season.
We need to run straight strong lines this weekend and look to cut back in again using the Back Row in support.
I am unsure at scrum half for this one; but with Care’s threat with ball in hand we will probably be better with Jimmy’s extra experience and physical presence to counter effect his ability to strike holes I am thinking Jimmy has to start this one; but I would expect Robson to play a part as well. There is a very good chance however that Karl Dickson will start for Quins this weekend and he doesn't link uom as well with Botica as care does IMO.
We do not have a lot to worry too much about Botica this weekend IMO. Brave words, I know; and yes, everyone has been raving over the New Zealander’s current form since he has been given the number 10 shirt; but I do think his game is very predictable and I don’t see him as the strongest fly-half in defensive terms.IMO Freddie has the class and skill to win this confrontation and between the Back Row and 36 we have the strength and speed to turn him inside out and if we pressurise the half backs then I don’t see him getting a lot of space and time to express himself in arguably his best role as a fine player with his tactical kicking.
The danger we pose at Centre can really be released against Quins. If available then I expect Trinder to be part of the squad and if we can cause damage to their back line on Saturday (and we will) then he should be on in the second half and be looking to make good yardage and to get the ball out to the two wingers who are most likely to be Sinbad and Monahan. Monahan is due a match and with Charlie being retained by England from reports then he will be raring to go not having had the opportunity to play last weekend. SM have been the find of the season along with K and his direct running will cause Quins a lot of problems in the second half in particular.
On the other wing then Sinbad is going to do what he has been doing all season. His class needs no discussion in this or any other Preview. We all know what he can do. I see the second half opening up at 50 minutes and if we play a tight and destructive game up front I believe we could get one of the best results in the clubs history in the Premiership away from home. I don’t see their back three being able to deal with the very high ball; and I don’t see them coping at half back with our back row or 36 who will have a Hurricane performance this weekend as will Knight who if selected will ( my prediction) be Man of the Match. If Shaun Knight isn’t selected to start, then I see 36 getting the award on Saturday.
I would expect Cook to get selected at 15 again. He has received a bit of criticism from a few on here and John Barnes for his yellow carding and for being slightly out of position. I don’t want to see this preview set this already extended discussion from another posting start off again! But IMO as I have stated on that thread RC did the right thing given the team’s position and the fact we were down to 14 men and defending our line against a potentially lethal attack from Tigers. He has adapted to the premiership at 15 as well as anybody could have expected.
Very few players (whatever their experience) have adapted at 15 position as well as he has at Premiership level, in such a short period. I have heard nothing about Johnny May and if he was fit I would expect him to be on the bench as a replacement at Wing and possibly Full Back. Whatever his current situation, with what appeared to me at the time, as a far more serious injury than was reported; he will be back as soon as possible and gives a huge extra scenario’s in the line including Centre where I predict he will eventually end up. There has been some conjecture about Jonny’s longer term position at Gloucester. For now at least, he is in the squad and I would anticipate him remaining there for the foreseeable future. He is absolute class whatever his long term plans may bring.
Returning to Cook then if selected expect him to be in excellent form on the counter attack this weekend and also I see him scoring from linkage play.
The Stoop is never an easy place to travel to and we have has very mixed fortunes there over the seasons. We go there on Saturday as the team in form in the league and play the current Champions with arguably the best chance of an away bonus point than we have had in a while; especially in that part of London!. With Robshaw and Robson almost definitely not starting, with Joe Marler definitely out of the Squad and a big question mark over the fitness of mike Brown; we have the best opportunity of those bonus points against a top 4 team than we have had for a long while and I really do see us standing the best chance we have had in ages of going top of the table this Saturday.
It is only Tuesday but with the dark evenings descending and Halloween almost upon us, the Autumnal splendours of an almost complete squad await us for the first time in a few seasons; and the cold chill of change is likely to hit most clubs harder than it is going to hit Glaws over the next month or so.
Now is the time to show how far Nigel and Co have brought the squad this season. With every player putting their hands up a position in the starting 15 (other than the couple of injuries and two likely International unavailable) we are in a very strong position going into the next few rounds of Premiership rugby.
November is promising to be a great Month for us if we keep our resolve and focus. A real belief is around the Club and a realistic sense of expectation is coming back to Kingsholm at long last. Whatever has happened over the last season or two (and let’s be honest so much has happened around the Club) we are now heading firmly in the right direction under the new management that we have.
Saturday is promising to be another important chapter in the team’s re-emergence as a major force in English rugby. I personally can’t wait for this one. To me it’s the most important test so far this season and I believe we can win it and win it well. Come on Glaws!!!!!!!...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:11:01:18:44:50 by Bolly-Quin.
Source: [gloucesterrugby.net]
Quins V Glaws Match Preview.
« on: October 30, 2012, 09:26:25 PM »
A much earlier match Preview than usual ; but with Halloween upon us and the positive vibes that are reverberating around the area after our momentous victory over Leicester Tigers, the anticipation of what is a real “ top of the table clash” is too much for me to leave this week match Preview until later in the week!.
The memory of our latest achievement is still very fresh, and it gives us another bench mark to build upon. Without going over the game plan from Saturday again; the one thing that really struck home above everything else is the closeness of the team and the willingness for everyone involved in the squad to put their bodies on the line to achieve what at times looked almost the unachievable. If there were any doubters still in town then they must surely have been near enough silenced. This team is set for even greater triumphs and next weekend is perhaps the greatest challenge of the season so far.
I have watched the Quins match against Irish(yes I admit to this) three times; albeit somewhat fast play through to replay the salient points. Irish were very unlucky and played the better rugby IMO. Certainly the Irish backs have given us some very pertinent clues as to how the Quins line can be penetrated and it took a very robust performance by Hopper in particular to counter the running lines that Irish threw at them.
The reason Irish lost this match overall was the depth of their line which was over focused on the attacking aspects of their game plan as opposed to an effective adjustment to a flatter defensive line. It gave too much time and space to Botica ball to hand and Hopper (who looks to be extremely dangerous in midfield) to find the gaps in the Irish defence.
Hopper has just signed a contract extension with Quins today and has been one of the find of the last season and is a player who we need to contain on Saturday. More on that subject later.
The game will start and finish up front on Saturday and that is where we have to win. We played the most balanced game of the season so far in League terms between forward and backs and this weekend coming it will be all about attrition. Quins will focus their efforts on the rolling maul. It is obvious to any DOR that Glaws have a weakness if anywhere this term in counteracting the maul once it starts to move in our direction.
Where we are going wrong is in peeling off both sides in marginal retreat and failing to drop behind the maul in the right body positions and in the right degree of unison. I have watched this carefully and from studying several replays this weekend. It seems to be a consistent weakness in our game this season and we have to find a solution to it before Saturday. If we can do this then we will stop them in their tracks; because I really do believe that it will be their obvious tactic, and without it we can IMO beat them hands down in every other aspect of the game.
ND prepared the boys for Tigers because we were without JH; and this led to the most successful line out series of the last two seasons in terms of creativity. It threw Leicester completely and whoever masterminded it deserves a lot of the accolades.
When the maul is formed, teams have worked out how to disrupt us. What we have to do is go back to basics and I hope that Hogg and Windo will spend a lot of time on this part of the forward defensive game this week. Quins will defend the rolling maul by crabbing. They bind tightly and shift the forward momentum of the opposition sideways. They have done this a few times this season and today was no exeption. Glaws do not need to play them at this game; in fact we need to be prepared to ruck more than Maul even with the bigger back row that we will have out next weekend assuming K makes another miraculous recovery.; by using 36 and Cowan in a particular to forage from their back three being hit hard from the high kick from Freddie burns.....and it needs to be high and not too deep into their defence.
The key is to retain possession when we win the ruck and drive forward , and to alternate the forward momentum and to keep a balanced option out wide to give us the element of surprise where we go right or left twice in succession, when in reality they will be expecting us to alternate things. IMO we need to be driving down the middle of the pitch as much as possible and I would like to see FB kicking some very high balls down the middle with our line actually hanging back to see what destruction this will cause to Brown if he is drawn forward and hit hard by Q and or K and Ben Morgan who I am pleased to say has be been released back to Glaws for this Saturday from the England set up.
Mike Brown is also being released back to Quins and if fit will start. I am not sure having said that that he is 100 percent after his injury on Saturday but if he plays we need to place it high and knock him as hard as possible and as early as possible. Whether he starts at 15 or not then we need to employ this tactic IMO.
If we can control the game at 10 and kick very high and not too far ahead then Brown( or his replacement) and his wingers will get sucked into a mid channel tunnel which we can exploit to the full.
I watched the Quins back three from Saturday again this evening. They are really very susceptible if drawn into the middle of the pitch; especially Brown, who took a couple of “good knocks” against Irish. He will not relish K or Q in particular chasing him down at speed; and with Jimmy needing to play as an extra flanker (without getting dragged into the thick of it too much) and 36 being the one who needs to get to the break down when we hit their back three first then we can cause them nightmares in the channel behind the forwards as long as we keep to that channel.
I really do believe this tactic would cause Quins a lot of problems. Once they twig onto this, then their Back Row forwards and Centre's will also be getting pulled away from the committing to the mauls; and this will give FB the opportunity to run a line in the same channel as opposed to the high kick. The support will be there for either tactic.Robsahw who has been appointed as England captain by Lancaster will almost certainly be rested this weekend even if his eye recovers in time after training with England this week. They will not risk the England Captain before the Fiji match; so things are looking even brighter for us in the Back Row contest!.
To counter the Quins rolling maul we need we need to be peeling off in numbers and hitting the front of the maul in numbers as well ; and hitting it centrally and with a lot more momentum than we are currently achieving. It has to be about co-ordination. At present we peel off and almost join the maul again at the side and without any coordinated momentum between the players.
For a pack of our mobility and physicality we have been made to look second rate this season in this area, and Saturday is the day for us to put this behind us. We may give a few meters to them but they will not have controlled momentum if everyone releases more quickly and hits the maul in unison in a central position. It will also force their ball carrier to either go to ground or to form the ruck again which if we have the regained momentum will cause them difficulties and totally disrupt their rolling maul.
On to the match itself. If last Saturdays game was an epic then this weekend’s match promises to be a total war of attrition for 50 minutes where the winner of the upfront battle and the back row battle will have the momentum for the last 30 minutes of the game which will IMO open right out into our backs hands if we play the right tactics. Our forwards need to;
a) Work on countering the rolling maul and b) Dominate the set piece. If the forward exchanges open out into a more expansive match then we will run then into the ground in no uncertain terms and this means they will want to keep it as tightly controlled as they can up front.
We have seen our front five take a few packs to pieces at times this season.
We gave Northampton a torrid time eventually at home in this area and we have been pretty solid against most opposition front fives this season until the Tigers match. For me Harden struggled again and this made things difficult for Woody who had to contend with an in form Cole who had the momentum because his loose head was giving RH total grief on the other side of the scrum on our put in.
IMO Knight really must be given a start against Quins. Marler is a very good ball carrier and he will be missed by Quins in this area .In the set piece his likely replacement can be totally disrupted by Knight and we will also have to get stuck into Buchanan.
If Harden is selected to start then we will not cause them problems in the first 50 minutes of the match on their put in; and IMO we might struggle to create a dominant platform on our own scrum. On the other hand if SK starts then he will (with a smaller hooker in Edmonds) get into the right position to get at Buchanan and to drive through their loose head. With Woody on the other side we can cause Quins a lot of problems and I hope that TW works with this three as a combination this week.
Wood can get the better of Johnston. Johnston’s technique is to try and scrummage inwards. The front three need to let his momentum be his own downfall and ultimately that of Quins on Saturday. By binding exceptionally tightly and by Woody timing his nudge with Knight then we can drive up through both of the Quins props and Knight will get straight between the Hooker and whoever replaces the injured Marler; who is going to be out for at least 4 weeks with a torn hamstring.Johnston is not flavour of the month with some referees at the moment and he will have to watch his P's and Q's this weekend. Woody owes him one as well!
This can happen at every Quins scrum and I do believe if we get the selection right, and work on this combination this week that Knight will be the man of the match. This is his chance to really catch the eye of the Saxons set up. It is also an opportunity for him to step up to another run of the Tight Head ladder as a match day starter; and he really should be given this opportunity on Saturday.
Harden and Murphy can come on later and finish them off; but for me it really has to be Woody and Knight at 1 and 3 against Quins.
In the Second Row we will be looking most likely at Will James; who as someone else said, was the unsung hero against Leicester. As I said in my review of Saturdays match I think WJ is having the best season so far at Glaws since joining us from Pirates. His work rate was awesome last week and he has shown an incredible work rate all season when he has been on the pitch. Some face up by WJ ( along with everyone else) to the front five of the Tigers; and to last the full 80 is no mean feat for any front 5 player; and this clearly illustrates that he is in superb physical condition.
JH is reported to be training with the Scottish set up this week assuming his rib injury has improved enough to allow this; and assuming this is the case and he won’t be available this weekend then it is most likely going to be a repeat of last week’s starting 8 as long as K recovers and Savage is 100 per percent fit. Quins will almost definitely be without Robson and I do believe if we show the same creativity as we did last week and also keep things simple at the front of the line out we can win 100 percent of our line outs against Quins who are not going to pose the same disruptive threats as Tigers did last Saturday.
Even if K is not recovered for the Quins match I do believe we have the edge over their back row; and Robshaw’s eye is still semi-closed according to reports; and although he is training with England this week he will most likely not be available for the match. Whether he is or not; I really fancy our chances of outplaying their Back Row; but we have to sort out the Rolling mauls once and for all as already suggested. If we can do this successfully (and I pretty sure a lot of time is being spent on this aspect of our game plan this week) then we can win the Back Row battle against Quins. I am hoping that FB does employ the high ball tactic down the middle of the pitch; and if Q and Co can get up quickly then we can dominate the game by intimidating them in defence under the very high ball.
We tackled like demons against Leicester and I do believe they are a stronger forward unit than Quins and IMO we have nothing at all to fear from them in the Back Row or Forward exchanges.
I believe we will win the forward battle this weekend and we then have to release the backs. I have said I think FB needs to kick high when he has the space and time to release out back row into their back three cover and we have to hit them hard in midfield as well. Hopper looks to be very dangerous and is getting more confident as the season develops. Having said that the defensive/attacking balance that we have with Tinds and 36 is proving to be very effective and I see us having the class and experience as well as the physical advantage in the Centre to punch the best holes we have done so far this season.
We need to run straight strong lines this weekend and look to cut back in again using the Back Row in support.
I am unsure at scrum half for this one; but with Care’s threat with ball in hand we will probably be better with Jimmy’s extra experience and physical presence to counter effect his ability to strike holes I am thinking Jimmy has to start this one; but I would expect Robson to play a part as well. There is a very good chance however that Karl Dickson will start for Quins this weekend and he doesn't link uom as well with Botica as care does IMO.
We do not have a lot to worry too much about Botica this weekend IMO. Brave words, I know; and yes, everyone has been raving over the New Zealander’s current form since he has been given the number 10 shirt; but I do think his game is very predictable and I don’t see him as the strongest fly-half in defensive terms.IMO Freddie has the class and skill to win this confrontation and between the Back Row and 36 we have the strength and speed to turn him inside out and if we pressurise the half backs then I don’t see him getting a lot of space and time to express himself in arguably his best role as a fine player with his tactical kicking.
The danger we pose at Centre can really be released against Quins. If available then I expect Trinder to be part of the squad and if we can cause damage to their back line on Saturday (and we will) then he should be on in the second half and be looking to make good yardage and to get the ball out to the two wingers who are most likely to be Sinbad and Monahan. Monahan is due a match and with Charlie being retained by England from reports then he will be raring to go not having had the opportunity to play last weekend. SM have been the find of the season along with K and his direct running will cause Quins a lot of problems in the second half in particular.
On the other wing then Sinbad is going to do what he has been doing all season. His class needs no discussion in this or any other Preview. We all know what he can do. I see the second half opening up at 50 minutes and if we play a tight and destructive game up front I believe we could get one of the best results in the clubs history in the Premiership away from home. I don’t see their back three being able to deal with the very high ball; and I don’t see them coping at half back with our back row or 36 who will have a Hurricane performance this weekend as will Knight who if selected will ( my prediction) be Man of the Match. If Shaun Knight isn’t selected to start, then I see 36 getting the award on Saturday.
I would expect Cook to get selected at 15 again. He has received a bit of criticism from a few on here and John Barnes for his yellow carding and for being slightly out of position. I don’t want to see this preview set this already extended discussion from another posting start off again! But IMO as I have stated on that thread RC did the right thing given the team’s position and the fact we were down to 14 men and defending our line against a potentially lethal attack from Tigers. He has adapted to the premiership at 15 as well as anybody could have expected.
Very few players (whatever their experience) have adapted at 15 position as well as he has at Premiership level, in such a short period. I have heard nothing about Johnny May and if he was fit I would expect him to be on the bench as a replacement at Wing and possibly Full Back. Whatever his current situation, with what appeared to me at the time, as a far more serious injury than was reported; he will be back as soon as possible and gives a huge extra scenario’s in the line including Centre where I predict he will eventually end up. There has been some conjecture about Jonny’s longer term position at Gloucester. For now at least, he is in the squad and I would anticipate him remaining there for the foreseeable future. He is absolute class whatever his long term plans may bring.
Returning to Cook then if selected expect him to be in excellent form on the counter attack this weekend and also I see him scoring from linkage play.
The Stoop is never an easy place to travel to and we have has very mixed fortunes there over the seasons. We go there on Saturday as the team in form in the league and play the current Champions with arguably the best chance of an away bonus point than we have had in a while; especially in that part of London!. With Robshaw and Robson almost definitely not starting, with Joe Marler definitely out of the Squad and a big question mark over the fitness of mike Brown; we have the best opportunity of those bonus points against a top 4 team than we have had for a long while and I really do see us standing the best chance we have had in ages of going top of the table this Saturday.
It is only Tuesday but with the dark evenings descending and Halloween almost upon us, the Autumnal splendours of an almost complete squad await us for the first time in a few seasons; and the cold chill of change is likely to hit most clubs harder than it is going to hit Glaws over the next month or so.
Now is the time to show how far Nigel and Co have brought the squad this season. With every player putting their hands up a position in the starting 15 (other than the couple of injuries and two likely International unavailable) we are in a very strong position going into the next few rounds of Premiership rugby.
November is promising to be a great Month for us if we keep our resolve and focus. A real belief is around the Club and a realistic sense of expectation is coming back to Kingsholm at long last. Whatever has happened over the last season or two (and let’s be honest so much has happened around the Club) we are now heading firmly in the right direction under the new management that we have.
Saturday is promising to be another important chapter in the team’s re-emergence as a major force in English rugby. I personally can’t wait for this one. To me it’s the most important test so far this season and I believe we can win it and win it well. Come on Glaws!!!!!!!...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:11:01:18:44:50 by Bolly-Quin.
Seems like they have this game sewn up. Thnk they might get a bit of a suprise!!!
But I do like this:-
Quins Away
You can tell they play in London,
‘Cos they don’t have ‘London’ in their name.
So we’re off to play in London
In the season’s biggest game.
So far.
We have often played in London,
On occasion we’ve been defeated.
So we must ensure in London,
That this theme is not repeated.
Oh Arr.
They’re the finest team in London,
So we have our work cut out to win.
They’re the only team in London.
Wasps and Irish packed it in.
Har, har.
So I’ll see you down in London.
Though to be precise it should be ‘up’
Shall we stoop to conquer London?
If we do, we’ll drain the cup.
And Bar.
Alfred Lord Tension (2012)
Source: [gloucesterrugby.net]
Quins Away
You can tell they play in London,
‘Cos they don’t have ‘London’ in their name.
So we’re off to play in London
In the season’s biggest game.
So far.
We have often played in London,
On occasion we’ve been defeated.
So we must ensure in London,
That this theme is not repeated.
Oh Arr.
They’re the finest team in London,
So we have our work cut out to win.
They’re the only team in London.
Wasps and Irish packed it in.
Har, har.
So I’ll see you down in London.
Though to be precise it should be ‘up’
Shall we stoop to conquer London?
If we do, we’ll drain the cup.
And Bar.
Alfred Lord Tension (2012)
Source: [gloucesterrugby.net]
Sorry, I drifted off after paragraph 57 where it was mentioned for the umpteenth time about lofting high balls.
Well, seems we've already been beaten in all areas. Brown is not good when under pressure, JJ can't scrummage, the back row are second best... perhaps we should just forget about even turning up?
Oh, and the MOTM has already been decided...
Well, seems we've already been beaten in all areas. Brown is not good when under pressure, JJ can't scrummage, the back row are second best... perhaps we should just forget about even turning up?
Oh, and the MOTM has already been decided...
Some gems in there - apparently John Barnes is a rugby pundit, Botica is 'predictable' (despite having only played a couple of matches), Rob Cook will score, and Glaws are superior in literally every position on the pitch.
Someone needs an editor, and a reality check. I like Glaws and they could well turn us over, but that was self-serving waffle.
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis
Someone needs an editor, and a reality check. I like Glaws and they could well turn us over, but that was self-serving waffle.
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis
Hmmmm... interesting i just wasted 5 minutes reading that gloucester preview... I admit they are playing well and are largely unaffected by call-ups in comparison to us but its all rubbish.
Its totally naive by the person to think it will be a walkover and highlighted areas which seem as areas of strength for us. If Browny is at fullback its going to take more than a couple of high balls to knock him down. JJ has given a number of penalties away i agree but he has also won a number of penalties, and IMO, against better scrummagers than wood.
Then to the funniest thing, apparently they can really get a upperhand in the backrow. Yes we have lost robshaw, with which we lose a certain amount of leadership, but we dont lose skill and quality. I presume, Wallace will get a chance and therefore will be raring to go after having little chance. Plus he is forgeting we have the form N8 in Europe with Easter.
Finally, he has forgotten one crucial point.... Quins play best when they are written off and seemingly will lose... think of Leicester away and in the final, plus the toulouse game last year. It is naive to think gloucester will have it easy on saturday. I am not saying we are definitely going to win but I expect it to at least be very, very close and hopefully go our way!!
COYQ!!!!
Its totally naive by the person to think it will be a walkover and highlighted areas which seem as areas of strength for us. If Browny is at fullback its going to take more than a couple of high balls to knock him down. JJ has given a number of penalties away i agree but he has also won a number of penalties, and IMO, against better scrummagers than wood.
Then to the funniest thing, apparently they can really get a upperhand in the backrow. Yes we have lost robshaw, with which we lose a certain amount of leadership, but we dont lose skill and quality. I presume, Wallace will get a chance and therefore will be raring to go after having little chance. Plus he is forgeting we have the form N8 in Europe with Easter.
Finally, he has forgotten one crucial point.... Quins play best when they are written off and seemingly will lose... think of Leicester away and in the final, plus the toulouse game last year. It is naive to think gloucester will have it easy on saturday. I am not saying we are definitely going to win but I expect it to at least be very, very close and hopefully go our way!!
COYQ!!!!
The same poster on shedweb has now declared NEv to be the next best 10 in the Premiership after Freddie Burns. He is not sharing the same reality as the rest of us.
The match will be a test of our squad, let's see how they do.
The match will be a test of our squad, let's see how they do.
Some harsh responses to that article. It may have been long and over analytical (and written in his Shed at the bottom of the garden,) but at least it gave some food for thought.
2 good teams and should be a cracking game but I do think over confidence from them.
Looking at Gloucs this year, apart from the leics game they have played one top 4 team (Saints) and lost, drew at worcs, beat a poor Irsh side away, beat wasps at home and needed a last min try to beat welsh. Now true they are wins and that is what matters but I do think this weekend will be their biggest test by some way. If they win then yes, good luck to them. They are an improving team and my tip for the side that could break the current top four but i wouldn't get carried away just yet.
Looking at Gloucs this year, apart from the leics game they have played one top 4 team (Saints) and lost, drew at worcs, beat a poor Irsh side away, beat wasps at home and needed a last min try to beat welsh. Now true they are wins and that is what matters but I do think this weekend will be their biggest test by some way. If they win then yes, good luck to them. They are an improving team and my tip for the side that could break the current top four but i wouldn't get carried away just yet.
Quote:Quins4life
Hmmmm... interesting i just wasted 5 minutes reading that gloucester preview...
If you read that in 5 minutes I'm impressed!!! Think I grew a beard whilst reading it
Nice to hear the oppos thoughts prior to the game. For me, he gave an insight into how Glaws fans think their team is going and their particular strengths and weaknesses. I doff my cap to anyone who puts finger to keyboard for previews, they're not the easiest thing to do, being done without the basis of a game to reflect on.
However I think their writer has gone overboard on a few things with cherry tinted glasses. Our back row will be competitive. If Wallace is selected he will be raring to go, and lets face it Mo and Easter are hardly fillers.
Interesting to see they have picked up on Hopper as a danger man, for me it is vital that JTH plays alongside him for defensive stability against Twelvetrees, although we do give up Cassons try scoring technical expertise...!
Can't see how the high ball will be a tool in the armoury for them if Asbo is fit. He's comfortable under the high ball and it will give him options.
All levelling out to be a humdinger...
However I think their writer has gone overboard on a few things with cherry tinted glasses. Our back row will be competitive. If Wallace is selected he will be raring to go, and lets face it Mo and Easter are hardly fillers.
Interesting to see they have picked up on Hopper as a danger man, for me it is vital that JTH plays alongside him for defensive stability against Twelvetrees, although we do give up Cassons try scoring technical expertise...!
Can't see how the high ball will be a tool in the armoury for them if Asbo is fit. He's comfortable under the high ball and it will give him options.
All levelling out to be a humdinger...
Quote:1908
Some harsh responses to that article. It may have been long and over analytical (and written in his Shed at the bottom of the garden,) but at least it gave some food for thought.
Once you start confidently predicting who will score tries, who will get MOTM, and who will be brilliant - and dismiss pretty much everyone from the opposition, particularly when they're the champions - you've gone from "preview" to "long-winded personal fantasy".
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis
One fan near me would be chuffed to see a player he has persistently called “Old ‘airy mop” back in the first team.
What, Apollo didn't catch on?
We generally stuff Gloucester in high-scoring thrillers. Nothing less will sufffice this weekend. I expect Glaws to gain 2 bonus points.
What, Apollo didn't catch on?
We generally stuff Gloucester in high-scoring thrillers. Nothing less will sufffice this weekend. I expect Glaws to gain 2 bonus points.
I'm interested to hear that they will outplay us in every facet of the game except the maul, and that Brown is a bit of a weed when it comes to being tackled.
Don't you mean "weak"?
Quote:the anticipation of what is a real “ top of the table clash” is too much for me to leave this week match Preview until later in the week
Don't you mean "weak"?
RR - who's Apollo!? I am talking of a white haired old geezer with a handle bar cowboy tache in FC!
No, "Apollo" was a name someone on here tried to attach to Luke Wallace.
Thank heavens it appears not to have stuck...
Thank heavens it appears not to have stuck...
I found that the comment that put the preview into perspective was the assertion that because Glaws had done well in the forwards against Leicester, they would also bully the Quins pack. Perhaps the author didn't see the Tigers v Quins match, but I seem to recall that our pack did quite well that day.
Still, it is good to see the level of analysis he's done. If Glaws are vulnerable to the rolling maul, I fully expect Quins to use it as a weapon. Our maul has been pretty potent in the last season or so, as Saints know to their cost. Young Mr Wallace has scored most of his tries from the back of them, as I recall.
I do believe that the squad depth is such that even with injuries and England call-ups Quins have enough to win this one, but they will need to put in a "Heineken" or "Welford Road" performance and not a "Wasps/Irish/Exeter" one. Pretty sure Conor will have made that clear, though.
Still, it is good to see the level of analysis he's done. If Glaws are vulnerable to the rolling maul, I fully expect Quins to use it as a weapon. Our maul has been pretty potent in the last season or so, as Saints know to their cost. Young Mr Wallace has scored most of his tries from the back of them, as I recall.
I do believe that the squad depth is such that even with injuries and England call-ups Quins have enough to win this one, but they will need to put in a "Heineken" or "Welford Road" performance and not a "Wasps/Irish/Exeter" one. Pretty sure Conor will have made that clear, though.
I do think that a lot of other teams fans seem to forget that we had a fairly productive afternoon at the Big Stoop last May.
Gloucester have been on great form this season but last season they only managed one more win the Worcester all season and didn't qualify for the HC - yet despite this they're stronger in every area?
Don't get me wrong I think we're in for a very tough game this weekend but I think as Champions we deserve a little more respect.
Gloucester have been on great form this season but last season they only managed one more win the Worcester all season and didn't qualify for the HC - yet despite this they're stronger in every area?
Don't get me wrong I think we're in for a very tough game this weekend but I think as Champions we deserve a little more respect.
That was the world cup. Obviously, given our position in the table.
Oh.
Oh.
I might not bother going now that I know that once Glaws stop our maul they will beat us in all other facets of the game. Even if I do go I'll leave after 50 mins as after that point they are apparently going to run us into the ground in no uncertain terms. Someone probably ought to tell lancaster that marler is out for 4 weeks too. worried about mike brown starting as he can't take a high ball.
unbelievable
thanks wyddy for your rather most objective preview
unbelievable
thanks wyddy for your rather most objective preview
Pin the Glaws preview up in the changing room to engender the Stade/Munster/Toulouse spirit....on second thoughts we want the boys awake.
To be fair to Glaws, they've brought in some good new players and traded up to a better DoR. They look like they're beginning to live up to their potential. We shouldn't underestimate them - but they shouldn't underestimate us.
Perhaps this is why Glaws fans refuse to use rugbynetwork. If they wrote stuff like this on there we might have a chance to have a bit of a debate - I'm certainly not registering on Shedweb (didn't they close for new registrations anyway?) just for a couple of games a season.
This is the best Glaws side for years and hopefully someone will show them this post before the game, they will either be asleep at ko or totally confused
It will be a close game and could go either way, my concerns would not be MB at the back but JJ particularly if Barnes gets it into his head that he is responsible every time Wood collapses on the loose head which he often does when under pressure. One things for sure Freddie will not have the same space as last week with Luke playing
Looking forward to it
It will be a close game and could go either way, my concerns would not be MB at the back but JJ particularly if Barnes gets it into his head that he is responsible every time Wood collapses on the loose head which he often does when under pressure. One things for sure Freddie will not have the same space as last week with Luke playing
Looking forward to it
I'd like to revise my prediction on the back of Wallace being included and NEv being fit to play, and the Glaws selection.
Quins by 3!!!
COYQ!!!
Quins by 3!!!
COYQ!!!
I predict the scoreline at the start of the game will not be the same as at the finish.
Phew. At least it's not going to be called off.
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis
Boom! Quins by 3pts. I really have to start putting money on these.
For me Hopper MotM, defensively he is unrecogniseable, great appreciation for him in block FC.
Dickson great showing, however was disappointed with Wallace, stood off the breakdown a great deal... get in there son!
For me Hopper MotM, defensively he is unrecogniseable, great appreciation for him in block FC.
Dickson great showing, however was disappointed with Wallace, stood off the breakdown a great deal... get in there son!
And didn't wait to catch the ball!
Agreed re Hopper, if he can continue to improve his defence he'll surely be knocking on the England door at some point.
Agreed re Hopper, if he can continue to improve his defence he'll surely be knocking on the England door at some point.
Wyddy - that's how he plays. Either he goes for the ball or he stands off. IIRC there was a good interview with him last year about this, if he doesn't think it's on he won't go in, so he can go for the next one instead.
At the time I thought he had a really quiet game but on replay I saw how much work he put in. And sweet jesus he has some gas!
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis
At the time I thought he had a really quiet game but on replay I saw how much work he put in. And sweet jesus he has some gas!
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis
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