Harlequins v Connacht and maybe a new record in sight?

Thought i'd create a thread for the first HC match of the season. Will get the team sheets up when they come out and hopefully get some chat and banter going about the match and the up coming tournament.

If there's any Connacht fans out there would be great to hear a bit about your team as I know very little about them.

As a point to note as well, if Harlequins do win this game then they'll set a new English club record for the longest winning streak at the start of a season.

Quins Team:
15 FB Mike Brown
14 W Seb Stegmann
13 C George Lowe
12 C Jordan Turner-Hall
11 W Sam Smith
10 FH Nick Evans
9 SH Karl Dickson
1 P Joe Marler
2 H Chris Brooker
3 P James Johnston
4 L Ollie Kohn
5 L George Robson
6 F Maurie Fa'asavalu
7 F Chris Robshaw
8 N8 Nick Easter

Connacht:
15 FB Gavin Duffy
14 W Brian Tuohy
13 C Eoin Griffin
12 C David McSharry
11 W Tiernan O'Halloran
10 FH Miah Nikora
9 SH Paul O'Donohoe
1 P Brett Wilkinson
2 H Adrian Flavin
3 P Rodney Ah You
4 L Michael Swift
5 L Mike McCarthy
6 F John Muldoon
7 F Ray Ofisa Treviranus
8 N8 George Naoupu

Sorry to be pedantic yappysnap but shouldn't the title say sight?

I am aggrieved because you haven't had to play us yet.

You should win comfortably.

You were in the same amlin pool last year, surely you know something about them?

Teams were announced yesterday

Ah you spotted the intentional mistake! One point to that man.

True we haven't had to play Saracens Beshocked but then we don't choose the fixtures, and who's to say we wouldn't have won anyhows? You guys looked pretty ropey when Wasps turned you over at the start of the season and i'd be interested to see how you'd go if a team put a couple of scores on you early.

I suppose we may know the answer after a few of these European weekends.

I don't want to assume anything about the match tonight. Being a Harlequins fan has taught me that we can throw away the most winnable matches.

greybeard wrote:You were in the same amlin pool last year, surely you know something about them?

Teams were announced yesterday

Nothing much that I can remember.

I'll post them up then, don't put yourself out.

Sorry, on a mobile, copying and pasting ain't easy!

Connacht are a decent enough side I think. Is it fair to say they've been used as a feeder province by the IRFU in recent times?

They've definitely improved a lot in the last few seasons and aren't Rabo whipping boys anymore thats for sure.

There aren't a lot of big names there but there's a few Irish fringe guys like Mike McCarthy, Muldoon, Jonny O'Connor and Gavin Duffy etc. there. Their pack was pretty impressive against the blues a few weeks ago and they used the rolling maul to good effect.

They can play some good attacking rugby too but I'm not sure how much serious firepower they have out wide but the winger O'Halloran is classy. Like most Irish sides they are aggressive and physical in defence and won't be easy to break down.

I'd imagine Harlequins will be big favourites but I don't think it will be an easy night for them.

JOC is out for a month. Gavin Duffy is a former quin.

Keep an eye on their no. Eight. A wrecking ball

Who is the defence coach Greybeard, is it Mike Forshaw? They are very organised in defence.

Who do you think will start at 10? Nikora(?) or O'Connor? I think Frank Murphy is a decent player as well. They seem to be building a good squad.

greybeard wrote:Sorry, on a mobile, copying and pasting ain't easy!

No worries, should have checked before posting!

Nikora got the nod, POD was selected ahead of Murphy?

Don't know the coaches apart from Elwood

roddersm wrote:Who is the defence coach Greybeard, is it Mike Forshaw? They are very organised in defence.

Who do you think will start at 10? Nikora(?) or O'Connor? I think Frank Murphy is a decent player as well. They seem to be building a good squad.

looks like Nikora is starting, is he any good?

Where has Mark McCrea gone? i thought he was doing quite well done there. He was certainly the most accomplished of the 3 ulstermen that went down there imo

Nikora was back up to keatley last year, and just back from injury. keatley is badly missed.

Standulstermen wrote:Where has Mark McCrea gone? i thought he was doing quite well done there. He was certainly the most accomplished of the 3 ulstermen that went down there imo

Playing in their A team this week.

They're developing some depth. Even Vainikolo didn't make the squad for tonight.

Looks a good open game so far. First blood to Quins

3-0

5 mins gone.

Holding on pretty soon after the kick off gives Connacht a chance to level things up.

Takes it


3-3

7 minutes gone.

Penalty for offside against Connaght, Quins get a chance to restore their lead.

6-3

10 mins gone.

Great try from Connacht, carved up the defensive line and finished by O'Halloran.

6-10


15 mins gone.

Quins shocked into action, after about 19 phases Smith places the ball over the line but it is a clear double movement... But the ref was playing advantage.


Penalty is knocked over

9-10

20 mins gone.

Connacht slowing the ball down a lot and the Ref seems to be getting fed up of it, they've given away another penalty, it's a long way out... Evans misses.

9-10

21 mins gone.

Why is an HC match in west London not a sell out?

ho ho ho...harlequins are in shock at the moment. Mike Brown whingeing as usual...Come on Connacht..show the other Irish provinces the way.

DOD wrote:ho ho ho...harlequins are in shock at the moment. Mike Brown whingeing as usual...Come on Connacht..show the other Irish provinces the way.

+1

Ref is a right homer as well...usual French ref.

Have to admit the Connacht jerseys look pretty good on tv.

DOD wrote:Ref is a right homer as well...usual French ref.

ref also looks like he is 16 years old.

Mike Brown hurt...probably tried to kick someone and hurt himself

DOD wrote:Mike Brown hurt...probably tried to kick someone and hurt himself

You just can't help it can you DOD?

Connacht doing fairly well. The Irish team are a goal up aswell. Don't know if Connacht can keep it up.

Connacht under pressure,they need to get to half time without conceding much more.

Did he just give a high tackle?

No idea what you mean Rava

No joking but did I see some blood?

DOD wrote:Did he just give a high tackle?

No idea what you mean Rava

??

Connacht will do well to keep this score down. A good start but they look knackered as the half went on. Plenty of positives though. Hopefullythey hang on to the likes of Griffin and O'Halloran.

Brown was whinging because it was a blatant shoulder charge. There's no way the ref is a homer, Connacht are killing the ball every chance they get, they've constantly got men on the wrong side and he missed a blantant block on Robshaw for the Connacht try.

Doesn't matter anyway, Quins are beginning to show their dominance and have stretched out to a 9 points lead. It's been a great effort from them, but Connacht look to be tiring from so much defending. It could be a long 2nd half for Connacht if Quins come out and play like they did in the 2nd quarter.

Yeah Quins seem to be breaking the gainline every time they take it up now,Connachts defence out wide looks solid but they're giving up a lot of ground around the fringes of the ruck.

just saw the half time stats. Connacht made 104 tackles in the first half! Harelquins only 33.

Quins' offloading is killing Connacht.

Cumbrian wrote:Brown was whinging because it was a blatant shoulder charge. There's no way the ref is a homer, Connacht are killing the ball every chance they get, they've constantly got men on the wrong side and he missed a blantant block on Robshaw for the Connacht try.

Doesn't matter anyway, Quins are beginning to show their dominance and have stretched out to a 9 points lead. It's been a great effort from them, but Connacht look to be tiring from so much defending. It could be a long 2nd half for Connacht if Quins come out and play like they did in the 2nd quarter.

Yawn...

Just flashed up as 94-48, but they did get the score wrong before so I wouldn't put too much stock in it.

Connacht have come out with a gameplan tonight, it hasn't come off entirely as such, but I'm pleased to see they're thinking a bit more clinically than usual.

Robshaw, Evans and Brown have all had a bit of attention and aside from the first one it hasn't had the desired result, but it does show a level of ambition beyond just having a bash.

Quins way too strong up front though, and I expect a 15-20 point winning margin,.

I'll look forward to the Sportsground game.

DOD wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Brown was whinging because it was a blatant shoulder charge. There's no way the ref is a homer, Connacht are killing the ball every chance they get, they've constantly got men on the wrong side and he missed a blantant block on Robshaw for the Connacht try.

Doesn't matter anyway, Quins are beginning to show their dominance and have stretched out to a 9 points lead. It's been a great effort from them, but Connacht look to be tiring from so much defending. It could be a long 2nd half for Connacht if Quins come out and play like they did in the 2nd quarter.

Yawn...

Bigger Yawn.

The yawns have it. Now... Back to the rugby.

Very naive defending for that Quins run.

Yeah Greybeard...why dont you stick to the rugby....I wouldnt bother with these types of sites...too much bother alltogether.

Why did he bring O'Connor on????

Quota?

I thought Nikora was playing very well. Not sure about O'Donohoe. Touch of the Paul Marshalls about him for my money

Get in!!!!!!

Whatever about the discussion of Irelands next centres both of Connachts have been very impressive.