Harlequins 2014/15 Thread

by Sam Mon 18 Aug - 14:10

First topic message reminder :

Squad for 2014/15 Season:
Hookers: Rob Buchanan, Joe Gray, Dave Ward
Props: Will Collier, Paul Doran-Jones, Mark Lambert, Darryl Marfo, Joe Marler (c), Kyle Sinckler
Locks: Charlie Matthews, George Merrick, George Robson, Sam Twomey
Backrow: Chris Robshaw, Joe Trayfoot, Luke Wallace, Jack Clifford, Nick Easter
Scrum Half: Danny Care, Karl Dickson, Sam Stuart
Fly Half: Ben Botica, Nick Evans
Centre: Tom Casson, Matt Hopper, George Lowe, Jordan Turner-Hall
Wing: Ugo Monye, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Charlie Walker, Tom Williams, Marland Yarde
Fullback: Mike Brown, Ross Chisholm, Ollie Lindsay-Hague

Players in: Asaeli Tikoirotuma (Waikato Chiefs), Marland Yarde (London Irish)

Players out: Tom Guest (London Irish), Sam Smith (Worcester Warriors), Samoa Maurie Fa'asavalu (Oyonnax), Nick Kennedy (retired), Tim Molenaar (London Welsh), Nic Mayhew (North Harbour), Paul Sackey (retired)

Pre-season:
FC Grenoble - Harlequins 16/08/14
Harlequins - Pau 23/08/14
Glasgow Warriors - Harlequins 23/08/14

Come on you Quins!!! Fingers Crossed

by ChequeredJersey Mon 13 Oct - 19:08

Robshaw

by Sam Wed 15 Oct - 15:39

Just couldn't seem to get over the gainline Friday night, so often we were not making any yards at all before kicking the ball away, the only time we did make yards (and not alot of them) was for the try!

Something really isn't clicking, no signs of our offloading game from the last few seasons.

by **LondonTiger** Thu 16 Oct - 16:28

Harlequins: Brown; Yarde, Hopper, Lowe, Tikoirotuma; Evans, Care; Marler (c), Ward, Collier, Matthews, Robson, Wallace, Robshaw, Easter
Replacements: Buchanan, Lambert, Sinckler, Twomey, Trayfoot, Dickson, Turner-Hall, Lindsay- Hague

Who goes to stand-off if Evans is injured and who kicks the goals?

by lostinwales Thu 16 Oct - 16:37

If Yarde is listed it would seem that reports of injury from last weekend are false

by bluestonevedder Thu 16 Oct - 17:00

LondonTiger wrote:
Harlequins: Brown; Yarde, Hopper, Lowe, Tikoirotuma; Evans, Care; Marler (c), Ward, Collier, Matthews, Robson, Wallace, Robshaw, Easter
Replacements: Buchanan, Lambert, Sinckler, Twomey, Trayfoot, Dickson, Turner-Hall, Lindsay- Hague

Who goes to stand-off if Evans is injured and who kicks the goals?

Guessing Care to kick goals, and possibly to stand-off too?

He's pretty handy with the old boot. It wouldn't surprise me is OLH has played some 10 too.

by ChequeredJersey Thu 16 Oct - 19:25

Hopper cover 10, not that much worse than he's played 13 recently

by propdavid_london Fri 17 Oct - 10:18

Brown has had a crack at kicking goals too.
I am sure that Care would possibly fill in at 10 with Dickson coming on.
Ticks is supposed to be a capable 12 - so Lowe could step in to 10 perhaps.
It wouldnt be ideal is Evans is injured, whats happened to Botica?

by Sam Fri 17 Oct - 11:01

I would have thought Care, what's happened to the young 10 that was on the bench while Evans was injured?

by lostinwales Fri 17 Oct - 11:11

propdavid_london wrote:Brown has had a crack at kicking goals too.
I am sure that Care would possibly fill in at 10 with Dickson coming on.
Ticks is supposed to be a capable 12 - so Lowe could step in to 10 perhaps.
It wouldnt be ideal is Evans is injured, whats happened to Botica?

Just read that Botica is out for 3 months with a 'dislocated collar bone' Ouch

by Sam Fri 17 Oct - 12:42

lostinwales wrote:
propdavid_london wrote:Brown has had a crack at kicking goals too.
I am sure that Care would possibly fill in at 10 with Dickson coming on.
Ticks is supposed to be a capable 12 - so Lowe could step in to 10 perhaps.
It wouldnt be ideal is Evans is injured, whats happened to Botica?

Just read that Botica is out for 3 months with a 'dislocated collar bone' Ouch

Ouch, what are the rules about getting a player in while someone is out injured? We are looking short at 10, and Evans has already been injured once or twice this season...

by propdavid_london Fri 17 Oct - 13:02

We normally have Grimoldby at our Academy 10 - is he injured too?

by yappysnap Fri 17 Oct - 17:25

Grimboldy isn't injured but is in fairly terrible form, his skills just aren't good enough for the Prem yet and miles off European rugby.

As to a replacement... I think we have a maximum limit to spend (£200k?) and the replacement needs to be of a similar experience and same position. So hopefully we could get a decent fly half from a SupeRugby side or the Currie Cup perhaps...

by yappysnap Fri 17 Oct - 22:42

Good to see the team finally implement a plan B, perhaps we've just been keeping it under wraps until now!

by yappysnap Sun 19 Oct - 11:43

So the Rugby Paper is stating we're after James Horwill...

To be honest I think that'd be a real backwards signing, he'd cost a lot, probably be injured often and is almost over the hill. Can only think he'd teach the youngsters a lot as a plus point.

by beshocked Sun 19 Oct - 11:53

Almost over the hill? He is 29.

I think he would be a good signing for you. You certainly need to add some players to your pack as I just think it lacks a bit of power. He's obviously also got a lot of experience too.

by yappysnap Sun 19 Oct - 13:12

Didn't realise he was that young! Well I revise my opinion in that case, we'll take him!

by ChequeredJersey Sun 19 Oct - 13:13

He's int standard, he plays lock, we'll take him, though I'm not sure Australia should be the first port of call to improve our pack

by thomh Sun 19 Oct - 13:46

If you're managing Toulon, then no. We're currently a mid-table standard club with no caps in the second row. I'd take Horwill. No chance of Etzebeth then?

by yappysnap Sun 19 Oct - 20:14

Yea Oz wouldn't be the first point of call but tbf in the second row department they have 3 or 4 beasts who could all do a real job

by ChequeredJersey Sun 19 Oct - 20:57

We do have money and another marquee next year though. Any news on when he might join? If it's from this season that implies we are going for another marquee next season Smile

by yappysnap Sun 19 Oct - 22:11

I think it was post RWC but might have imagined that, even if we did get him id still want another front row and a 12!

Oh and good news CoS came out saying they'll have a new 10 in the next couple of weeks. Come on Slade...

by propdavid_london Mon 20 Oct - 14:14

Slade will have already played for Chiefs in Europe - meaning we couldnt have him as part of our European squad.

by propdavid_london Mon 20 Oct - 14:14

Hang on, you mean the Kiwi Slade?

by **LondonTiger** Mon 20 Oct - 21:36

Colin Slade is on standby for the NZ tour - should Carter not be fit

by yappysnap Mon 20 Oct - 22:28

propdavid_london wrote:Hang on, you mean the Kiwi Slade?

Yes that'd be the one

by yappysnap Mon 20 Oct - 22:31

LondonTiger wrote:Colin Slade is on standby for the NZ tour - should Carter not be fit

He'd still be third choice so potentially open to an offer...

by ChequeredJersey Mon 20 Oct - 23:12

I'd take Tom Taylor

by yappysnap Tue 21 Oct - 6:40

Id be happy with him too

by Sam Tue 21 Oct - 15:55

Fingers crossed!

by propdavid_london Wed 22 Oct - 9:01

He is also going to be playing for the BaaBaas in Twickers against Australia - sounds like a good oportunity to have a chat with him.

by yappysnap Sun 26 Oct - 23:02

Woohoo great win away at Wasps and it looks like we have signed Horwill!!

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3823_9535391,00.html

He's coming straight after the RWC, apparently on 300k so we may be losing people to afford him.

by Poorfour Sun 26 Oct - 23:05

yappysnap wrote:Woohoo great win away at Wasps and it looks like we have signed Horwill!!

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3823_9535391,00.html

He's coming straight after the RWC, apparently on 300k so we may be losing people to afford him.

I'd assumed he would be the second marquee player (coming in next season). The squad is already close to bare minimum size for an AP squad, so I hope we don't lose people to accommodate him, especially given how our new locks are starting to come through.

by ChequeredJersey Sun 26 Oct - 23:32

We won't lose people, he will be a marquee signing. Think we just need another backrower, maybe, and 10 cover and we are sorted. Fit Lowe and Casson ok for centre for me though I wouldn't say no to a Tom Taylor in the short term or Anthony Allen etc

Very happy with the win today, hope the European relative success carries over into England performances and LV momentum then a return to our best form in the AP and a mugging of Leinster

by ChequeredJersey Sun 26 Oct - 23:33

Would be delicious for a fit again TW to score the match winnjng try in Dublin Wink

by Poorfour Mon 27 Oct - 6:25

I just hope we go into those two games with some cover at FH... though it was interesting to hear from BT that Danny is the designated cover at 10 for the moment - which is what I always thought Deano should have done.

by sad_gimp Mon 27 Oct - 8:42

I have no complaints about Yarde so far. He always looks dangerous and isn't afraid to take on a half gap and has the power and technique to get through it.

The whole team is still suffering from handling issues although we did at least see an improvement yesterday.

Good to finally see our scrum on top, makes a huge difference to our game if we can get some go forward ball from the set piece.

by propdavid_london Mon 27 Oct - 8:49

Yarde still has to justify his salary in my book.
The whole side is suffering from poor execution but Yarde and Hopper are both the worst offenders in my eyes.
I will give him time, as that is needed to fit into a new side but credit where its due, Quins look like they are starting to improve which is great news.
It will be interesting to see what LV team is selected - Does COS pick is usual side and alow them to continue to gel, or does he go back to the academy side with a bit of experience?

by sad_gimp Mon 27 Oct - 9:28

Care, Lowe, Easter have all let themselves down handling wise so I don't think it's fair to single anyone out. We've had two new wings starting most games so hopefully it'll sort itself out as the patterns settle.

Good to see Matthews grow into the game, he's starting to look pretty handy.

I would give the academy guys game time.....we are going to need them as we pick up injuries through the season.

by ChequeredJersey Mon 27 Oct - 9:40

Yarde was worse than all of them put together but then so was Brown a couple of weeks ago

by propdavid_london Mon 27 Oct - 14:14

Yes, Agree CJ. Brown needed to show some real improvement from a few weeks back when he was massively out of sorts. I feel that he did enough to show that that was just a bad day at the office.
Yarde on the otherhand hasnt had any stand out performances - showing the form that made him a top signing in the first place.
At the moment, a fit Ugo should still be selected over Yarde.
The deck might even be shuffled a bit with a fit Tom Williams returning.

by Poorfour Mon 27 Oct - 14:54

Brown was clearly rattled by the hit he took in Exeter and it carried over into the Leicester game but he's looked more himself the last couple of weeks.

Yarde has been working hard. The understanding isn't quite there but he's improving. Interesting to contrast him with Tiks, who seems to be doing less and concentrating on getting the basics right. Two different approaches to integrating with a new team. The difference being experience and that Yarde has the eye of his national coach on him and presumably feels the need to prove something. I think they will both be OK given time but we shouldn't expect them to be perfect out of the blocks as the Quins system is quite different from anyone else's and there's a lot to learn. I'd probably prefer them to rotate with the more experienced wingers, but since Ugo and Tom are both injured that isn't an option.

I think Lowe has been remarkable when you consider he has been out of the game for a year and has not had a gentle reintroduction - a couple of A games, 20 minutes and then two starts in European competition and out of his usual position. He's fallen off a couple of tackles and dropped a couple of balls but since his return the backline has started to look like the players actually know each other.

Matthews is still making mistakes, but he's gathering some momentum. Body position in contact could still be improved but he's looking very handy in the lineout, sound in the scrum and apparently comfortable on the wing. He's not there yet, but he looks like he could be a lock with an all-round skillset comfortable playing 4 or 5. That's a rare thing, and if he takes a bit longer to develop it's worth waiting for.

by yappysnap Mon 27 Oct - 16:45

Remember it took North a whole season to find his feet at Northampton, so we sadly can't expect too much from our wings either.

Still a bit frustrated with Hopper, he has no real excuse but is still dropping balls, missing tackles and not making the breaks, Lowe at 12 had better feet then him.

Do you think we'll see JTH start in the LV?

by Poorfour Mon 27 Oct - 17:15

Not sure. I am assuming that JTH is carrying some kind of minor knock - not enough that he couldn't fill in if someone was injured, but enough that COS prefers to play Lowe out of position than risk him.

I don't really care who plays in the LV= games as long as we use the time as best we can to emerge with a fit squad for the next round of AP and ERCC games.

Am I the only one who already feels that it's worth going all out for the ERCC this year? Our uber-tough group is looking a bit less tough at the moment and if we emerge from the Leinster double-header with honours even we would be in good shape to qualify for a home QF.

by propdavid_london Tue 28 Oct - 9:40

I'm a bit concerned, we've been scraping the bottom of the barrell at the moment for our A-League fixtures.
I suspect that we will have to do similar with the LV cup. Wouldnt be so bad if guys like Chisholm and Clfford were fit.
A bit of a break for some of the players is perhaps whats needed in the LV.

On a side note there is a bit of a deal on at the Sarries v Quins LV Game -
https://www.eticketing.co.uk/saracens/details/event.aspx?itemref=2171
Double header - Quins game at 1pm, then Sarries women v Richmond women (premiership match) at 3:30 followed by fireworks display.

ERCC: Its a shame that the Leinster game is home first, would rather an away tie and try nicking a bonus point and then its all to play for at home.

by yappysnap Tue 28 Oct - 10:01

ERCC: hell no! The last couple if seasons we've suffered from massive burnout by the end if the season, with the smaller squad I see no reason why that wouldn't happen again this year too.

Let's try our best in every Euro game but I won't be upset if we drop out, it's doing it's job as a chance for the boys to click.

Jeff is the priority, top 6 a must and top 4 should be an expectation.

by propdavid_london Tue 28 Oct - 10:43

Good to see on BT sport last night that the Horwell move was also mentioned.

by Sam Wed 29 Oct - 10:41

Injury cover for Botica confirmed: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/29816072

Never heard of him, anyone know anything?

by yappysnap Wed 29 Oct - 11:03

Never heard of him!

Sounds pretty similar to Botica though I guess

by ChequeredJersey Wed 29 Oct - 18:45

Apparently he looked pretty good at youth level. Attacking fly half, Sarries fans said he played well vs them for the Sharks. Think it's a solid signing but we'll see. If Nev keeps getting his form back like he has, then the combo of this guy as well should help us get our mojo back

by Sam Thu 30 Oct - 11:05

ChequeredJersey wrote:Apparently he looked pretty good at youth level. Attacking fly half, Sarries fans said he played well vs them for the Sharks. Think it's a solid signing but we'll see. If Nev keeps getting his form back like he has, then the combo of this guy as well should help us get our mojo back

My fingers are very much crossed!

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