Wasps v Harlequins ERC Round 2

by yappysnap Fri 24 Oct 2014, 1:06 pm

Both teams had the opposite games last weekend, Wasps starting well but dropping off in the second half, Quins starting very slowly but finishing in total control.

If it goes like that again then it could be a real see saw (Irish-Style) game.

TEAMS
Team
15 FB Andrea Masi
14 W Christian Wade
13 C Elliot Daly
12 C Alapati Leiua
11 W Tom Varndell
10 FH Andy Goode
9 SH Joe Simpson
1 P Matt Mullan
2 H Carlo Festuccia
3 P Lorenzo Cittadini
4 L Joe Launchbury
5 L Bradley Davies
6 F Ashley Johnson
7 F Sam Jones
8 N8 Nathan Hughes
Replacements
16 Tom Lindsay 17 Simon McIntyre 18 Phil Swainston 19 James Gaskell 20 Thomas Young 21 Charlie Davies 22 Rob Miller 23 Chris Bell

Team
15 FB Mike Brown
14 W Marland Yarde
13 C Matt Hopper
12 C George Lowe
11 W Asaeli Tikoirotuma
10 FH Nick Evans
9 SH Danny Care
1 P Joe Marler
2 H Dave Ward
3 P Kyle Sinckler
4 L Charlie Matthews
5 L George Robson
6 F Luke Wallace
7 F Chris Robshaw
8 N8 Nick Easter
Replacements
16 Rob Buchanan 17 Mark Lambert 18 Will Collier 19 Sam Twomey 20 Joe Trayfoot 21 Karl Dickson 22 Jordan Turner-Hall 23 Ollie Lindsay-Hague

by ME-109 Fri 24 Oct 2014, 1:08 pm

This probably isn't particularly sporting, and isn't the done thing...

...But I really really hope ~~Sarries~~ Wasps smash ~~Munster~~ Harlequins on ~~Friday~~ whenever.

Not sure why but I just really don't like them and watching them lose would be the perfect start to my weekend. Very Happy

Isn't sport odd in how it can bring out these feelings for places and people you've never met?

by yappysnap Fri 24 Oct 2014, 1:12 pm

For what it's worth I have Wasps down to just win this one (going by last weeks predictions that's the kiss of death for them now Wink

...)

I think their front 5 will just be too nasty for us, they held up really well in the scrum last week and Mullan is looking in fine form, without the scrum as a real weapon we only have the lineout and with Dave Ward throwing then that could be a real car crash for us too.

We could of course get another piece of skill from Evans to snatch the win, but we need to keep it close for the chance of that and you know Wasps will be up in his face doing their best to make his life a misery, perhaps even a few cheeky late hits, as we have no cover for him either and Castres didn't really test him.

Both teams have backs that can cause havoc and we'll need ours to be on top form to stop their opposite numbers. There is some hope that Yarde and Brown can keep making the most of Wade's positioning and height under the high balls though, and that may be a way forward.

by yappysnap Fri 24 Oct 2014, 1:42 pm

ME-109 wrote:This probably isn't particularly sporting, and isn't the done thing...

...But I really really hope ~~Sarries~~ Wasps smash ~~Munster~~ Harlequins on ~~Friday~~ whenever.

Not sure why but I just really don't like them and watching them lose would be the perfect start to my weekend. Very Happy

Isn't sport odd in how it can bring out these feelings for places and people you've never met?

Well done

by ME-109 Fri 24 Oct 2014, 2:04 pm

Meh...actually I couldnt care less. Least interesting match up at the weekend. And Leinster are probably going to walk the pool anyhow.

by yappysnap Fri 24 Oct 2014, 2:38 pm

We'll come back and compare games on Monday.

I agree if Leinster pull their fingers out they could walk this pool.

by Hound of Harrow Sat 25 Oct 2014, 10:56 pm

Two teams who like to play open rugby. Quins through their offloading game and Wasps who like to go wide quickly.

Quins have had the edge recently in some close games. I don't want to call this one!

by ME-109 Sat 25 Oct 2014, 11:12 pm

Nobody cares

by HammerofThunor Sat 25 Oct 2014, 11:17 pm

I care. But I'm a nobody. I wish I was somebody, like you ME-109

by ME-109 Sat 25 Oct 2014, 11:24 pm

I would suggest you look to get some help then

by BigTrevsbigmac Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:38 am

ME-109 wrote:This probably isn't particularly sporting, and isn't the done thing...

...But I really really hope ~~Sarries~~ Wasps smash ~~Munster~~ Harlequins on ~~Friday~~ whenever.

Not sure why but I just really don't like them and watching them lose would be the perfect start to my weekend. Very Happy

Isn't sport odd in how it can bring out these feelings for places and people you've never met?

You must lead a very boring existence if your weekend begins on Sunday evening

by quinsforever Sun 26 Oct 2014, 8:05 am

He's just another chippy fan whose existence is defined by Irish success in euro rugby, and English club failure.

I think he will care plenty when Leinster fail to qualify.

Should be a good game today. Looking forwards to robshaw Haskell again

by Hound of Harrow Sun 26 Oct 2014, 8:20 am

Haskell is still out with a viral infection. Guy Thompson takes his place.

by quinsforever Sun 26 Oct 2014, 8:27 am

Shame hound! Are you going?

by **Biltong** Sun 26 Oct 2014, 8:32 am

ME-109 wrote:Nobody cares

You obviously care more than you suggest, enough to comment that you don't care.

by Hound of Harrow Sun 26 Oct 2014, 8:48 am

Aye, yappy. Are you or any of the other Quins fans going?

by yappysnap Sun 26 Oct 2014, 11:12 am

I'm not Hound, sadly on a training course this weekend! Will have it on Sky+ when I get home.

Real shame about Hask, he's probably one of my favourite players out there and it's good for the boys to be playing against the best.

What's his replacement like?

Interested to see how Daily goes as well, after the initial hype the last couple of seasons it all seems to have quietened down now.

by Hound of Harrow Sun 26 Oct 2014, 12:24 pm

We got Thompson from Jersey. Good solid player who is more competent than flash.

Daly...hmmm. He can do great things, but has a tendency to arc wide which cuts down the space for our wingers.

Here's hoping it's a good match.

thumbsup

by Cyril Sun 26 Oct 2014, 12:32 pm

Looking forward to this one Smile

Shame about Haskell. He's getting himself in contention for England and then gets no luck. Still a cracking back row match-up to enjoy though!

by Hound of Harrow Sun 26 Oct 2014, 12:44 pm

Apologies, Sam Jones is deputising for Haskell (I'm sure I read it was Thompson Headscratch

). He was part of the England U20s a couple of years ago.

Varndell is back though Smile

by yappysnap Sun 26 Oct 2014, 4:02 pm

Varndell is a real danger, especially alongside his mate Wade. Our wingers will need to be on top form

by TJ Sun 26 Oct 2014, 6:45 pm

Nobody watching this? Set up for a tense last 20 mins.

by HammerofThunor Sun 26 Oct 2014, 6:50 pm

Yeah, I'm watching. Hooper still poor in defence but lively in attack. Good to see Lowe lasting the game so far, been pretty decent. Also good to see Brown penalised for being an aggressive little bugger. Yarde having a bit of a shocker (handling wise), he did have the lovely break which resulted in him losing it forward.

I do think Wasps are really missing Haskell.

Overall decent, but I just have it on in the background at the minute.

by quinsforever Sun 26 Oct 2014, 6:50 pm

am watching tj.

fairly entertaining so far if a little tense and inaccurate.

cant remember the last time we had such a dominant scrum!

hard to see us losing with the scrum advantage after the pen try...

by TJ Sun 26 Oct 2014, 6:51 pm

Quins have played the better rugby

by HammerofThunor Sun 26 Oct 2014, 6:53 pm

Fantastic counter maul from young Young. Burrowed his way through the middle of the maul breaking off the ball carrier from the back. Perfect maul defence.

Edit: overall I think the ref has been decent.

by quinsforever Sun 26 Oct 2014, 6:55 pm

ha. we usually play the more exciting rugby, but have often ended up klling ourselves by doing so!

however it looks like this season we have a bit of go-forward ball from scrums which we havent had for a while.

and after a v poor start to the AP i'm quietly confident for the rest of the season. more so than i was last season anyway.

by Guest Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:10 pm

Not sure why the crowd cheered when the ref signalled for the TMO, any decision made there was always gonna be bad for Wasps.

by TJ Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:11 pm

Probably the best game I have watched this weekend.

by ME-109 Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:20 pm

Sometimes when the quality of the teams is questionable can often lead to the most exciting games

by yappysnap Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:25 pm

Really entertaining game, both sides looking to run first and kick smartly second. Definitely better then most of the stodge this weekend.

Probably Quons best game this season, the players linked well and the gameplan worked. Still too many unforced errors but over all much better.

Great to see the scrum so strong as well.

Well played to Wasps as well, you're always a really tough team to break dibs but for some reason today just weren't quite up for it in attack, Haskell was missed a lot as guys like Johnson suddenly had a lot more work to do around the pitch.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:25 pm

Brainless play from Daly near the end. 40 secs left on the clock, he kicks it out and then tries to have handbags with Lowe conceding the penalty??

by yappysnap Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:26 pm

ME-109 wrote:Sometimes when the quality of the teams is questionable can often lead to the most exciting games

Haha, I thought you didn't care? Yet a few minutes after the game you're on here. Oh dear.

by ChequeredJersey Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:28 pm

Commiserations Wasps

by ChequeredJersey Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:30 pm

ME-109 wrote:Meh...actually I couldnt care less. Least interesting match up at the weekend. And Leinster are probably going to walk the pool anyhow.

Really? Have you watched Leinster this season, 2pool matches so far included?

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:30 pm

Quins looked pretty good tonight, best I've seen from them this season. Matthew really stepped up, he could make a good partner for Horwill.

by ChequeredJersey Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:33 pm

HammerofThunor wrote:Yeah, I'm watching. Hooper still poor in defence but lively in attack. Good to see Lowe lasting the game so far, been pretty decent. Also good to see Brown penalised for being an aggressive little bugger. Yarde having a bit of a shocker (handling wise), he did have the lovely break which resulted in him losing it forward.

I do think Wasps are really missing Haskell.

Overall decent, but I just have it on in the background at the minute.

The Brown penalty was a travesty, absolutely abysmal call

by quinsforever Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:33 pm

ME-109 wrote:Sometimes when the quality of the teams is questionable can often lead to the most exciting games

sometimes when the quality of the observer is questionable [it] can often lead to the most moronic statements

by quinsforever Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:36 pm

thought italian quartet refereeing did pretty well. sensible calls overall and they let the game flow.

would be happy to see them in charge again. suited the open style of game we had.

by quinsforever Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:39 pm

ChequeredJersey wrote:
HammerofThunor wrote:Yeah, I'm watching. Hooper still poor in defence but lively in attack. Good to see Lowe lasting the game so far, been pretty decent. Also good to see Brown penalised for being an aggressive little bugger. Yarde having a bit of a shocker (handling wise), he did have the lovely break which resulted in him losing it forward.

I do think Wasps are really missing Haskell.

Overall decent, but I just have it on in the background at the minute.

The Brown penalty was a travesty, absolutely abysmal call

yes, was a strange call and a strange remark.

if every player gets penalised who swings their arms at the arms of the guy holding onto them at or pulling them into a ruck, we would have 20 additional penalties per game. refs just got that one wrong. Goode was infringing, and Browne trying to free himself. neither should have been penalised.

by TJ Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:40 pm

Aye - he is a regular on the pro 12 and is improving from a poor start IIRC.

by ME-109 Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:41 pm

quinsforever wrote:
ME-109 wrote:Sometimes when the quality of the teams is questionable can often lead to the most exciting games
sometimes when the quality of the observer is questionable [it] can often lead to the most moronic statements

Very harsh comment. tj was just saying he thought the game was very exciting maybe you should apologize to him..tut tut

by quinsforever Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:43 pm

good stuff. i loved it when he told someone to "shut up". (dont know if it was a quins or wasp player). great confidence and stops a good amount of the whingeing and petitioning which has become my pet hate particularly involving certain clubs and nations.

by quinsforever Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:44 pm

ME-109 wrote:
quinsforever wrote:
ME-109 wrote:Sometimes when the quality of the teams is questionable can often lead to the most exciting games
sometimes when the quality of the observer is questionable [it] can often lead to the most moronic statements

Very harsh comment. tj was just saying he thought the game was very exciting maybe you should apologize to him..tut tut

you know, and tj knows, and i know who the comment was directed to. thumbsup

by TJ Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:46 pm

by Hound of Harrow Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:47 pm

Deserved win you Quins fans. Wasps couldn't get going, and Johnson looked knackered.

Not much for the wings to work with, which was disappointing. Well, Yarde got a few touches but generally fluffed his lines.

An enjoyable game though, despite the loss.

by BigTrevsbigmac Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:54 pm

Yes no complaints from me. I'm surprised not many picked up on the difference Collier made when he came on.
He made a massive difference at scrum time & stopped Wasps at source.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 26 Oct 2014, 7:57 pm

Trev, I noticed that. I'm not sure if it was Davies going off (the same time Collier came on) which resulted in Wasps scrum going down the pan.

by Hound of Harrow Sun 26 Oct 2014, 8:08 pm

Trev/Sarge - a bit of both. Me and my mate said Collier made a difference. Sinckler had a torrid time against Mullan and Davies adds the 2nd row grunt we've missed since Shawsy departed. Davies has only just returned from injury so he's being sensibly managed*.

*Or Dai's got Welsh interests in mind Wink

by ME-109 Sun 26 Oct 2014, 8:31 pm

quinsforever wrote:
ME-109 wrote:
quinsforever wrote:
ME-109 wrote:Sometimes when the quality of the teams is questionable can often lead to the most exciting games
sometimes when the quality of the observer is questionable [it] can often lead to the most moronic statements

Very harsh comment. tj was just saying he thought the game was very exciting maybe you should apologize to him..tut tut

you know, and tj knows, and i know who the comment was directed to.

You really need to learn to love yourself a little more...i don't think you're moronic..quirky , deluded and on another planet maybe.

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