Harlequins v Wasps Sat Jan 17th

Teams are up for the all English affair.

Harlequins
15 FB Mike Brown
14 W Marland Yarde
13 C Matt Hopper
12 C George Lowe
11 W Tom Williams
10 FH Ben Botica
9 SH Danny Care
1 P Joe Marler
2 H Joe Gray
3 P Will Collier
4 L Charlie Matthews
5 L George Robson
6 F Jack Clifford
7 F Chris Robshaw
8 N8 Nick Easter

Replacements
16 Rob Buchanan 17 Mark Lambert 18 Kyle Sinckler 19 Sam Twomey 20 James Chisholm 21 Karl Dickson 22 Nick Evans 23 Charlie Walker

Great to see Evans back on the bench, pleased as well that after his good showing in that demolition job on Leicester Botica has retained the starting jersey. Other wise it's pretty much a first choice Quins team, looks very strong to me the bench while lacking experience has a huge amout of potential. Any one who hasn't heard of him before look out for James Chisholm, he's a future Quins star. Walker at 23. is another to watch too.

Team
15 FB Rob Miller
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 Ed Shervington
3 P Lorenzo Cittadini
4 L Bradley Davies
5 L Kearnan Myall
6 F Ashley Johnson
7 F James Haskell
8 N8 Nathan Hughes

Replacements
16 Carlo Festuccia 17 Simon McIntyre 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley 19 James Gaskell 20 Guy Thompson 21 Ben Jacobs 22 Alex Lozowski 23 Andrea Masi

Strong looking Wasps team, again they look pretty much first choice in all positions (correct me if i'm wrong).

After last weekends performance you have to go with a home win, but Wasps have that belligerence to cause an upset and will be looking to keep their Euro dreams alive.

Quins by 5

You know, I really don't rate Hopper. He's ok but a real shame you don't really have a decent/fit 12 so Lowe can play outside.  

EDIT: I was going to say I feel a little sorry for Swiel as he seemed to be settling in and then gets dropped when everyone else is fit...but he won't be registered for Europe will he?

EDIT2: So is that 2 NEQ players in the 23? With Botica holding a UK passport after growing up here but not technically eligible as he was born here (and moved away again)? You fly that flag Quins!

Yes Yappy apart from obviously Launch that would be our strongest team. Some would have Jacobs to start as he has been playing well recently.
I hope our young fly half Lozowski gets a run out - I really believe this lad can go all the way.

Cant call this game!
Before last weekend I would have said Wasps were firmly favourites and in-form. But Quins 2 performances in a row suggest an upward trend in form.
If the weather stays nice I am really looking forward to watching this. And I've got a free ticket to boot.

Nev has a British passport too, btw, though obviously has pesky All Black caps

As Trevor said, Launchbury in for Myall and I would have JCW ahead of Cittadini, but good to see JCW back. Possibly Masi over Miller, but Miller's been playing well.

Happy enough with the team though, except for no replacement scrum half

Edit:- apparently Jacobs is covering 9 as all the other 9s registered for Europe are injured.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Nev has a British passport too, btw, though obviously has pesky All Black caps

Having kids every time I see the name Nev I cant help think about a small blue character running about saying either 'oh dear oh dear' or 'tiptoperoo' or just screaming.

Hound apparently Daly is covering SH according to the offy site as you rightly say all others eligible are injured.

Dunno why I wrote Jacobs, Trev
I meant Daly

Anyone got a stream for this??

Great defensive performance by Wasps & Hask was immense. It's all on the Leinster game now

First I was delighted because that result was exactly what Leinster needed. Then I realized we have to travel to Wasps and they're just two points behind us and playing really well. A home quarter likely for the winner. Can't wait.

Great result for Leinster. Quins were clueless in attack and Wasps rode their luck. What's with the 'mighty Quin' over the tannoy - are Quins trying to emulate Sarries?

Well won guys, good defence and opportunism. Amazed Botica stayed on so long and we wasted so many opportunities

This looked like a great game. Will try hard to find highlights of this.

Well done Wasps, had a gameplan and stuck to it well.

We looked clueless at times, made the wrong decisions and fumbled too many good attacks. Really painful to watch.

Those botched attacks (stupid kicks in their 22) followed by the inception meant Quins were trying to force it and seemed a bit panicked. Haskell was a monster in defence.

For the first time in years I think Leinster are in trouble... Well done Wasps, not exactly a star-studded team yet, just a lot of good players playing for one another.

Anyone know if there are highlights of this anywhere? Glad to hear Haskell continuing his good form. I think he has to partner Robshaw.

Hood - there are very brief highlights on the EPR website

Thanks Hound

Well done Wasps. Masterclass in defence and if you can maintain that youll be a really difficult team to beat.
Quins looked impotent in attack - I must say that I was very dissapointed with the performance, really thought they had turned a corner. Another false dawn perhaps.

The only positive from that game was that the whole tempo and acuracy levels lifted when NEv came on. Botica and plenty of others were having a mare.
And the scrum, although we got nothing from the dominance there.

I would say Quins are now out of the European race even if they happen to get max points from Castre.

RE: Wasps - Haskell had a huge game and after than must be in a good place for 6N recognition.
It was one of the best games I've seen from Simpson for a while so also perhaps a time to have another look at him (in Lee Dicksons place). Nathan Hughes is such a good player too.

Nathan Hughes looks a fantastic player, especially in attack. I still do not want him to represent England though.

It seems more and more that we need to score early to settle our nerves. You could visibly see against Wasps the longer it went without points the more flustered we got.

Really don't think Marler works as captain, but then isn't Robshaw helping him?

we were outclassed at 9, 10 and 12 yesterday. care, botica and lowe had shockers. poor decision-making and execution at critical moments gifted wasps the win.

i did however really enjoy watching haskell play. best game i have ever seen him have. 16 tackles in the first 30minutes i think it was! plus the extra effort in releasing and getting back onto feet to attempt the turnover. impressive.

Pre game he looked like a man on a mission and lived up to that. Totally focused and totally on the zone, I can never understand when people call him stupid or just Brand, he's one of the best and most complex players around.

Hood83 wrote:Anyone know if there are highlights of this anywhere? Glad to hear Haskell continuing his good form. I think he has to partner Robshaw.

There's also this:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoWkCj-rGTQ