By PerryGo
March 4 2003

How fitting was it that Quins’ first match after the tragic death of Nicky Duncombe should be at Bristol’s ground, known as The Memorial Stadium? Thanks to all the supporters who observed an impeccable minute’s silence before the game. And what a game it was…

The match began as if the team were still deeply traumatized. Bristol were sharper, stronger in the pack and taking full advantage of a string of penalties conceded by Quins together with some alarming defensive lapses from the visitors. The points were being rattled up at well over a point a minute and we were quietly doing the maths as to the implications for the full eighty minutes... Just as well that we didn't know then how much time Spreadbury would add at the end!

What can you say about the character the team showed in fighting back from 41-17 down to just 48-41 at the end? Fantastic under all the circumstances. OK, so we didn't play very well at all for huge swathes of the match, there were some bad errors and we have a lot of tightening up to do after the video is analyzed. But, looking at the big picture, it was an outstanding effort. This is a time to take the positives.

Coming away with two precious bonus points was just brilliant and who would not have settled for that before the game - and especially at the end of the first quarter when humiliation beckoned? Remember too that we were not exactly coming off a high, either, after the non-performance against Sale at the Stoop in the previous match.

New Kids on the Block

Let's start by looking at the new players - Billy Fulton at scrum half, Mel Deane at centre and Ceri Jones at prop.

Well, from what I saw on Sunday these are three excellent signings.

Fulton looks to have a really good pass, that goes like a rocket (his team mates are going to have to get used to that…) and seems sharp around the fringes. The quick accurate pass is something that, Duncombe aside, we've been desperately lacking. I was impressed at the way he seemed ready to boss the forwards around, as a good scrum half needs to at times, even though he'd hardly had time to learn their names. He was also alert to the potential for 'tap and go' opportunities and not afraid to take them. Let's hope this doesn't get stifled under a more conservative game plan.

Deane looked to be the beneficiary of one of Prof's famous 'positives' in his profile. Either that or he was wearing stack heels when Prof measured him. 5' 10"? 14 stone? Really? Having said that, the phrase 'pocket battleship' springs to mind. The strength of his running, quality of his handling and good all-round contribution made for a fine debut I thought. It was good to see him placed in the thick of things at inside centre with Shaggy outside him, and also to see the backs not afraid to try running a couple of moves. At last we have some competition for the other centre spot and a much-needed alternative to poor Bill Satala, who, with Chris Bell and Nick Greenstock seemingly on the way back to fitness, we may not see play again this season, if ever.

And finally, Ceri Jones, who came on late in the game. I can't tell you much about what a prop is supposed to do, but what I saw seemed pretty good. A promising start.

Well done to the management - cracking selections, at short notice too.

Tactical Changes

At least, I assume they were tactical changes. The starting line-up on Sunday featured a new 'back five' in the pack, of Codling, Evans, Tiatia, Vos and Sherriff, with Diprose and Davison demoted to the bench. Without inside information I can't say whether this selection was tactical - or just reflective of some fitness or niggling injury questions maybe? - but it might have been an attempt to play a faster, lighter pack with more ball players, including a genuine openside. I seem to remember someone suggesting that, not so long ago…

If so, then it has to be said the jury is still out on its effectiveness!

It's hard to judge based on the first half performance, seeing as how the whole team looked so disjointed, but Bristol certainly seemed to outplay us as well as 'outmuscle' us in the pack. When Diprose and Davison came on for Sherriff and Evans, things improved greatly, but it might be too soon to draw firm conclusions on selection. Why do I say that?

Firstly, they were coming on fresh. Secondly, to what extent was the first half performance affected by the players' sense of trauma? Thirdly, there were two new players out there in Fulton and Deane and two or three newish starters (Cardinali, Sherriff and Evans). It takes time to settle.

For example, who is supposed to be guarding the narrow side at an opposition lineout? These days, it seems, the blindside winger comes across to defend in the number ten slot and the hooker joins the lineout, so does that mean the front lifter (Cardinali, I think) has those defensive responsibilities or is it the scrum half's job? Either way, maybe it was a mix-up of responsibilities caused by unfamiliarity. There's only so much you can cover in two training sessions..!

Maybe the thinking was to use the replacements as impact players. Davison has tended to be replaced fairly regularly at around the 60 minute mark when he starts, so perhaps the idea was to try reversing the roles, which could make sense. One noticeable thing is the way Diprose increases our options at the tail of the lineout - he is very effective there, I feel, and the quality of some of his tackling (and turning the player) is just breathtaking. The downside is, he's not that quick, but I thought he played well after coming on.

Committed Performances

Special mention should go to Ace Tiatia and Tani Fuga as leading contenders for Most Committed Player. Time and again they hurtled themselves into the opposition on Sunday - great stuff. And Ace managed to avoid the sin-bin too.

Talking of which, I was convinced that the late tackle (technically an early tackle…) that got someone sin-binned was committed by Billy Fulton (as reported by Robshew) - but unless I'm confused, wasn't Mel Deane the one to go to the bin? The fact I'm unsure lends some weight - or at least, some height - to my point about Mel's vital statistics. After all, scrum half Fulton is (allegedly) 5' 9" and 14½ stone, making him almost the same size as our new centre!

It would be wrong not to say a brief 'thank you' to Paul Burke while we're at it. A first class display of kicking, and he was unlucky with the drop-goal effort that came back off a post. Not to mention slotting over a difficult 45 metre penalty under enormous pressure at the end. The odd missed tackle is forgiven..!

And finally, a word of understanding and sympathy for poor Nathan Williams. He was, you'll recall, in Lanzarote with Nick Duncombe when he got ill. How traumatic must that have been? He had a bit of a nightmare on Sunday but it was right to play him, right to stick with him even though he was clearly struggling and right to let him continue to take the kicks to touch. He's a quality player and one bad game under the circumstances can't be blamed. I was so pleased for him, scoring that late try - and wasn't it well taken?

Onwards and Upwards

There is every reason to be confident for the remainder of the season, thanks to a spirited display in the second half on Sunday. Sure there's stuff to work on, but there's also players coming back from injury and another two weeks to integrate and tighten things up with the new players who have just joined.

I confidently predict we will break our away form hoodoo and beat London Irish at the Madejski, which should secure our safety from the threat of relegation.

Just remember, you read it here first…