Harlequins

Two things really impressed me about Quins yesterday.

1) So many teams having lost a long winning streak could have imploded in Toulouse. Despite being outgunned in power Quins stuck to their task admirably.
2) Just how streetwise they were for a young team. They played right up to the refs tolerance at the breakdown, repeatedly slowing the ball down by "devious" means, but until the end keeping all their players on the park.

They are now in a grand position to seal at least a Best runner up spot, but will hope they can win their two remaining games and that glaws/Connacht deprive Toulouse of maximum points. While this result will give them huge confidence, a knockout match away to Leinster, Clermont, Toulouse or Munster (should any of tehse be top two seeds) would be very hard. Leinsetr look awesome at home (v goodd away) and Toulouse would be a tougher prospect after this loss.


Any way REALLY, REALLY WELL DONE QUINS

Cheers Tiger, i'm glad it was on Sunday had it been Sat i think i'd still be hungover!

What an epic game and for once I genuinely knew we'd win it for the full 80. Just had a good feeling about it.

Well, in 2011 we've done a knockout match away to Munster, a final against Stade Francais and an effective knockout away to Toulouse, and those didn't go so badly.

I wouldn't want to meet Toulouse again (give us a break!) but I think Quins would have a decent chance whoever they had to face, and wherever they had to face them, especially if we're at full strength. Bear in mind that Sunday's team featured second-choice players at 1, 4, 6, 12 and 13 - and the centre pairing had only played together once before.

How did Wallace play for Quins at the weekend? Didn't he replace an injured Skinner?

Had about 30 minutes and looked completely comfortable against an international backrow. Made some very good carries, followed the ball smartly and linked well. Slowed down Toulouse admirably as well.

He must be in the Saxons next year, he just looks like a natural after a few games.

Well done Quins this was a fantastic result and well deserved by every report I have read.

Thought they might have snuck it at home last week but didn't expect them to get anything out in France again WELL DONE

Yeah well done Quins. Caught the 1st half and there was some fantastic rugby by both sides even if Toulouse were a bit of a shambles at times. Fantastic to hang in there and get the result.

O'Shea for Ireland coach! ...

roddersm wrote: O'Shea for Ireland coach! ...

Was thinking the same yesterday Rodders

Seen a bit of Quins this season their dangerous on their day not any so called superstars but hard working and some good quality in attack and maybe a few future superstars

marty2086 wrote:

roddersm wrote: O'Shea for Ireland coach! ...

Was thinking the same yesterday Rodders

Seen a bit of Quins this season their dangerous on their day not any so called superstars but hard working and some good quality in attack and maybe a few future superstars

Oi hands off him he's ours!

On a side point, does anyone know why the 4th try for Williams was called back for a scrum? I can only think he was offside but surely that would have been a pen not a scrum?

Schmidt for Ireland coach...

A lot of credit must also go to the Quins new boy - Hopper from the Cornish Pirates. He put in some great tackles. And pulled of that reverse pass again.
He looks to be a great new signing.

yappysnap wrote:Had about 30 minutes and looked completely comfortable against an international backrow. Made some very good carries, followed the ball smartly and linked well. Slowed down Toulouse admirably as well.

Cheers for the info yappy- from what I've seen of Wallace, I really like the look of him. Good to hear he slowed down ball as well.

Yea he was a little flaky in his first two games but after that has looked a natural club 13, lovely pass and some massive hits and counter rucking on the weekend.

So much competition for centre spots now, love it.

Hooper's defence was shocking for his first couple of games. Adding some depth to the centres is a good thing.

yappysnap, I presume it was knocked on in a tackle or something like that.

Wait until half the team get called up for 6n's duty...and they coach out all the good things they're doing for quins....

Well done Quins, but by the way they were celebrating you would have been forgiven for thinking that they had just won the HC.

Poor show guys.

Wait until half the team get called up for 6n's duty...and they coach out all the good things they're doing for quins.... .

Or return them injured...

2) Just how streetwise they were for a young team

I thought they might struggle missing a ball carrier on the backrow but actually the introduction of an out and out openside really helped them (along with McAllister's kicking). They were pushing the limits but they must have watched Rolland last weekend and thought they could get away with it. Fair play I say.

Agree with Wallace being introduced to the Saxons for the next EPS announcement. Nothing like a proper filching openside to help you in a tight game and he looks a promising prospect.

HERSH wrote:Well done Quins, but by the way they were celebrating you would have been forgiven for thinking that they had just won the HC.

Poor show guys.

Yes celebrating a win is truly poor.

Bet Hersh's house is great place to be for New Years. 3-2-1 Shhhhhhh!

It may not be a cup final but a win in Toulouse is so rare it feels like one!

Pretty special feeling.

Add that to the Munster win and beating Stade and our bogey team Leicester and you can see why the boys were so happy.

Especially when you beat them 3 tries to two on the way.

It was the first time toulouse have lostg a game at home for 3 years.

So quins derserve to celebrate like they did.(even if it was not a HC final)

Hersh I am sure if Bath somehow managed to pull off a win like that you would be fairly pleased.

That was the perfect response to slipping up to Toulouse at home. That's Munster and Toulouse away from home in Europe now, for me they must simply be classed as a European force. It would be a travesty for them to not win any silverware this season. I do not think it will be the Heineken cup though, I think Leinster could retain it.

HERSH wrote:Well done Quins, but by the way they were celebrating you would have been forgiven for thinking that they had just won the HC.

Poor show guys.

Come on HERSH, don't be a sour puss, when Bath eventually win a game I'm sure you'll celebrate even louder!

Really impressed with how the forwards stepped up (6 Englishmen in the pack), and I wonder if Casson, Hooper might not turn out to be a better partnership than JTH and Lowe. Time will tell.

Strength in depth is really building up as the young players come through. Difficult to see how Quins will keep Clegg next season, but other than that things look really good and I love the confident ball handling skills they just keep demonstrating. Exciting and effective - good stuff!