Harlequins v Connacht and maybe a new record in sight?

First topic message reminder :

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

DOD wrote:

greybeard wrote:

DOD wrote:I like Quins. Been to the stoop for Munster and Connacht matches and always had a great time. I think they were unlucky with blood gate, because they got caught and many teams elsewhere breathed a sigh of relief that they didn't get caught first.

That has to be the most prepostorous statement ever...maybe you can give an example of teams that have attempted to fake a blood injury...

Also I would expect Duffy to be gutted he lost...

There were plenty of reports when it happened that Quins weren't alone. It's a shame their fans, who I have always been welcomed and well treated by, had to suffer as a result.

Well as you say yourself this thread could get hijacked by pointless commentary on something not related...however...which clubs and when? I think you are being naive at worst and possibly biased at best. Quins cheated in a way that is beyond the whole history of rugby. No one is having a go at the fans but Quins should have been banned from HC competition...

PJ - maybe teams you support...

Not Welsh teams then, just my teams? Bath, Connacht and England? Seriously, you'll have to do better than that.

PJHolybloke wrote:DOD, ALL teams have done it and they ALL still do it, if a player gets subbed at half-time it's always a "tactical" substitution.

Ever wondered why?

Last time I checked making a substitution is legal. In fact a team can make many of them... Times have moved on from when the doctor needed to make the decision Although apparently Quins forgot that as have a couple of premiership teams when it came to uncontested scrums...

Seems like it happens a lot there in England...

Morgannwg wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Connacht cant be too disappointed with that result, a losing bonus point at the home of the Aviva Premierships top club. Considering Connacht are ninth in the Rabo and have only won three games this season they did well.

They didn't get the LBP. Sadly. But it is a good sign for Ireland rugby to see such an under-resourced team punch above their weight. They will get their backing from the IRFU eventually.

Apologies but my maths really is poor. My teacher at school used to tell me I would be a great mathematician if only i could add and subtract...!

Still not a bad day for Connacht. This should give them good confidence for the rest of the pool stages.

Cumbrian wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:DOD, ALL teams have done it and they ALL still do it, if a player gets subbed at half-time it's always a "tactical" substitution.
Ever wondered why?

Mate, his chipolata gets bigger with every person he draws an argument from, I wouldn't bother.

Just read that Cumbrian, I'll take that advice.

DOD wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:DOD, ALL teams have done it and they ALL still do it, if a player gets subbed at half-time it's always a "tactical" substitution.

Ever wondered why?

Last time I checked making a substitution is legal. In fact a team can make many of them... Times have moved on from when the doctor needed to make the decision Although apparently Quins forgot that as have a couple of premiership teams when it came to uncontested scrums...

Seems like it happens a lot there in England...

A player subbed for tactical reasons can re-enter the field of play to replace an injured player, an injured player can only re-enter the field of play as a replacement for a blood injury.

Like I said, you're excused.

PJHolybloke wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:DOD, ALL teams have done it and they ALL still do it, if a player gets subbed at half-time it's always a "tactical" substitution.
Ever wondered why?

Mate, his chipolata gets bigger with every person he draws an argument from, I wouldn't bother.

Just read that Cumbrian, I'll take that advice.

You do that lads...maybe then you wont waste your time boring us with your comments.

DOD wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:DOD, ALL teams have done it and they ALL still do it, if a player gets subbed at half-time it's always a "tactical" substitution.
Ever wondered why?

Mate, his chipolata gets bigger with every person he draws an argument from, I wouldn't bother.

Just read that Cumbrian, I'll take that advice.

You do that lads...maybe then you wont waste your time boring us with your comments.

Do you want a cocktail stick and some cheese? Maybe a bit of pickle? I can accommodate, I really can.

DOD wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:DOD, ALL teams have done it and they ALL still do it, if a player gets subbed at half-time it's always a "tactical" substitution.
Ever wondered why?

Mate, his chipolata gets bigger with every person he draws an argument from, I wouldn't bother.

Just read that Cumbrian, I'll take that advice.

You do that lads...maybe then you wont waste your time boring us with your comments.

Who's "us"?

Got a little friend?

Rock on lads...

DOD wrote:Rock on lads...

Where as you'll be in your palatial mansion with lots of naked ladies eh? You're just as much a part of this as we are skivvy.

Night lads...

DOD wrote:Night lads...

And to you sir.

Well done Connacht you boys played really well and it was bloody bervy there at times! And unlike on here the fans i met last night all seemed quality, i'll be cheering for you boys next week against Toulouse.

As to the actual match, I don't think we'll see Quins play that poorly again for a while, that has to have been our worst match this season encapsulated by the frankly pants performance of Easter.

I was a bit gutted by the off the ball stuff in the first half from Connacht missed by the ref and their gang tackles coupled with then laying all over the ball. But the boys dug in and did enough to get the win and deny Connacht anything can they do the same when we come calling?

And congrats Joe Marler on picking up MoM, was a colossal performance in the loose.

With the way Chris Robshaw played yesterday surely he must be in the England team for the 6ns, and i also think watching the game last night that Nick Easter showed that he has still got what it takes.

Danny Care still needs to get some game time, looked a bit hessitant a couple of times. Joe Marlor played well, very well infact.

Well played to Quins for grinding out the win Conacht put up a good fight right till the end.

Have to say Harlequins have a big ask now. They were touted previous to last night as being contenders to win this group. On the form of last nights game they will be lucky to get anything against Toulouse.

Connacht must fancy themselves to beat Quins and Gloucester at home, may even squeeze an away result, LBP maybe or a draw at Kingsholm.

I guess Quins are more focused on the premiership than the HEC...?

This has opened the door for Glos to target a BP win against Connacht. Could be the difference.

maestegmafia wrote:Have to say Harlequins have a big ask now. They were touted previous to last night as being contenders to win this group. On the form of last nights game they will be lucky to get anything against Toulouse.

Connacht must fancy themselves to beat Quins and Gloucester at home, may even squeeze an away result, LBP maybe or a draw at Kingsholm.

I guess Quins are more focused on the premiership than the HEC...?

One game in and you think that one game is going to decide the outcome of the group ?

i did watch the game, and i must admit i dont watch a lot of club rugby, mainly watch international rugby. But i did think it was a good game and did enjoy it. Connacht put up a good fight, but im not sure Harlequins will win it, but im happy to be proved wrong.

Its refreshing in the same week that we found out BOD wasnt going to make the 6N that a young irish centre performed well at 13.

He still has some way to go but thats a great HEC start for Griffin.

just watching the game now, i'm pretty surprised with the amount of stuff connacht is getting away with. Numerous illegal tackles with swinging arms or shoulders.

There was an element of that i agree nathan but there wasnt really anything massive. McCarthy diminished his performance a wee bit for me by a couple of late hits that werent at all necessary.

I thought the ref lost control of the breakdown to be honest and both teams were off their feet and on the wrong side more often than not. that being said i thought the final score was just about deserved with Connacht deserving a LBP but narrowly missing.

I dont think Garces is a great ref but i guess in this game the result was representative of the game.

No fights or anything like that broke out among the players, so I don't think there was any real malice or niggle in the game. POD's shoulder charge was was the worst offence, but apart from that the players just got on with it.

Mike McCarthy must be putting pressure on O'Callaghan for an Ireland start. He was great last night and I actually don't mind seeing him give a bit of a tickle to Evans (as long as it isn't caught by the ref). Name another lock that would have beaten a full pace Sam Smith to the ball in the second half. Dan Tuohy will need a big performance today to even get close to McCarthy's showing last night, and O'Callaghan too. Where the hell did Elwood find McSharry? I seem to remember him playing second fiddle on the U20s a few seasons ago, but McSharry-Griffin is a midfield pairing with so much potential.

Standulstermen wrote:There was an element of that i agree nathan but there wasnt really anything massive. McCarthy diminished his performance a wee bit for me by a couple of late hits that werent at all necessary.

I thought the ref lost control of the breakdown to be honest and both teams were off their feet and on the wrong side more often than not. that being said i thought the final score was just about deserved with Connacht deserving a LBP but narrowly missing.

I dont think Garces is a great ref but i guess in this game the result was representative of the game.

I agree there wasn't anything massive, just surprised they weren't pulled up for it. Completely agree with you regarding the final score though.

England rugby fan wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Have to say Harlequins have a big ask now. They were touted previous to last night as being contenders to win this group. On the form of last nights game they will be lucky to get anything against Toulouse.

Connacht must fancy themselves to beat Quins and Gloucester at home, may even squeeze an away result, LBP maybe or a draw at Kingsholm.

I guess Quins are more focused on the premiership than the HEC...?

One game in and you think that one game is going to decide the outcome of the group ?

It might be the first game in the group, but in a home game between supposedly the best team in England and the weakest of the four Irish teams denuded of three of their best players pre-season, Quins would have been aiming for a winning bonus point - not getting that BP may come back to haunt them. To score only one try (and be outscored in tries) was criminal Thought Connacht were excellent and deserved a losing BP and can aim for a couple of home wins in the group. The only ones really happy with last night's result are Toulouse.

maestegmafia wrote:Have to say Harlequins have a big ask now. They were touted previous to last night as being contenders to win this group. On the form of last nights game they will be lucky to get anything against Toulouse.

Connacht must fancy themselves to beat Quins and Gloucester at home, may even squeeze an away result, LBP maybe or a draw at Kingsholm.

I guess Quins are more focused on the premiership than the HEC...?

Where's the "knee-jerk" emoticon?

Quins won. They'll play better. You're getting a tad carried away there, old fruit.

Yeah i dont want to detract massively from mcCarthy's performance as he was superb. Denying Smith that score was fantastic. At international level those little silly late hits get punished. he doesnt need to do that.

if he keeps that up i would like to see him in the 6N squad. Tuohy hasnt been bad but hasnt been brilliant either. Connacht fans can correct me but is Andrew browne not regarded higher than McCarthy as well?

Anyway it is a step in the right direction from mcCarthy. Wilkinson was superb in defence i thought as well. O'halloran looks dangerous. Nikora i thought was very useful, NOC less so.

Plenty of positives but they need a few years consecutively in the heineken so i hope they get it.

Thought Duffy, McSharry, Wilkinson, McCarthy and Muldoon were really excellent last night - never heard of the lad McSharry before but then I suppose that down to my Dublin ignorance

as far as i know it is only his 2nd start brenno. his debut was against us last week

I know it was a step down in terms of 'class of opponent' this week but i thought he was excellent

brennomac wrote:Thought Duffy, McSharry, Wilkinson, McCarthy and Muldoon were really excellent last night - never heard of the lad McSharry before but then I suppose that down to my Dublin ignorance

He's from Leinster!

Back from London and a thoroughly enjoyable game. We were unlucky and i think the ref was a little harsh on us. Griffin, Muldoon and Wilkinson were outstanding. Frank murphy did well also. Not sure about the comments concerning off the ball stuff, quins were as guilty if not more so but mostly close in so not as obvious. I would put it at 1all between the two ex teammates o'shea and elwood. On this form noone is going to enjoy coming to Galway..