Gloucester vs Harlequins - tight at the top

First topic message reminder :

Quins go to Gloucester for a hard match at a hard away venue between 2 teams with a lot of quality and early season promise (and still 3rd and 5th in the table) but both in awful AP form. Vital for both sides to win to try and build momentum for the tail end of the season where Gloucester will be pushing for a Playoff place and belief before they play French Giants Biarritz in the Amlin; Quins for a Home SF (but need to guarantee their play off place first) and some form before they take on the European Elite in the HEC.

Teams are now up:

"Director of Rugby Nigel Davies makes one change to his back line and four in the pack as Gloucester Rugby welcome Harlequins to Kingsholm for Friday evening's Aviva Premiership encounter (kick off 7:45pm).
Third in the Aviva Premiership table will play fifth as the race for top four places hots up, and the game at Kingsholm kicks off a weekend of key action.

The one change in the backs from the team that started against London Welsh last weekend, sees Henry Trinder replace Mike Tindall in the midfield as Gloucester continue to field an all English back line.

Up front, Koree Britton will make his first start in the Aviva Premiership at hooker, while Lua Lokotui returns to partner Jim Hamilton in the second row.

Meanwhile, Tom Savage and Akapusi Qera resume their usual positions as blindside and openside flanker respectively.

After three weeks without a game, Davies acknowledged that his team weren't initially at their best against London Welsh last weekend but will be looking for a more complete performance against Harlequins.

"We were probably a bit rusty, definitely didn't work to the patterns that we did earlier in the season, although we saw a bit of it towards the end of the game in the last 20 minutes when we opened it up again.

"What we've done this week is look within ourselves as a group, just refocus on what's important to us and look at the individuals that we have within the team and what we're capable of.

"It's all about how we perform on Friday night. It's a big game, against a tough opponent who have been trailblazing over the last two or three years in terms of their performances and results. So, it'll be a big test for us.

"But we're still very much in the fight. It's about seeing what we can do, and taking our game to the next level."

Gloucester Rugby:

Rob Cook;
Charlie Sharples,
Henry Trinder,
Billy Twelvetrees,
Jonny May;
Freddie Burns,
Dan Robson;
Dan Murphy,
Koree Britton,
Shaun Knight;
Lua Lokotui,
Jim Hamilton (capt);
Tom Savage,
Akapusi Qera,
Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements:

Huia Edmonds, Nick Wood, Dario Chistolini, Will James, Andy Hazell, Dave Lewis, Mike Tindall, Martyn Thomas"

"Harlequins have announced the team that will play Gloucester Rugby in Round 19 of the Aviva Premiership at Kingsholm, tomorrow evening, kick-off 7.45pm.
With just a five day turn around between the back to back away games, there are six changes to the starting line-up that lost to Saracens last Sunday.

Among the backs, Ross Chisholm comes in for Ugo Monye, while George Lowe and Tom Casson combine in the centres in place of Jordan Turner-Hall and Matt Hopper.

In the forwards, Rob Buchanan is named at hooker, with Olly Kohn returning from a hamstring injury to start in the second row.

With Chris Robshaw being rested for this fixture, Luke Wallace joins Tom Guest and Nick Easter, who captains the team, in the back-row.

Harlequins team

15. Mike Brown
14. Ross Chisholm
13. George Lowe
12. Tom Casson
11. Sam Smith
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care

1. Joe Marler
2. Rob Buchanan
3. James Johnston
4. Olly Kohn
5. George Robson
6. Tom Guest
7. Luke Wallace
8. Nick Easter (C)

16. Joe Gray
17. Mark Lambert
18. Will Collier
19. Charlie Matthews
20. Joe Trayfoot
21. Karl Dickson
22. Ben Botica
23. Matt Hopper"

Both sides make 5 changes, neither at full strength but both sides that can and should play good rugby. The match is 7.45pm at Kingsholm, Gloucester on Friday 29th March. Weather is set to be dry and cloudy but chilly. Let's have a good game. COYQ

tbf the kick at goal was long and difficult. The kick to touch was less excusable

Burns needs to get this now, can't throw away many more chances

Burns is throwing quite a few poor passes. Not a good game from him in my opinion so far

Worried about a card

Poopie

Don't give away the penalty try

Oh dear, let's see what we are made of

Great stuff. That card really cost Quins

This is the drive we need to see

I feel sick

Sam Smith may have cost us this game

Kick to touch please

MOTM?

Qera?

what was that?!

Sorry, should have read what the Frak was that?

COYQ!!!!!

Well won Gloucester. I am utterly utterly gutted

Might actually cry

~Hugely entertaining game, not reflected in the scoreline.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Qera?

Yeah I'd say so

We really needed a win

Bit of a wobble from Quins this. They really were their own downfall with some stupid penalties conceded, an equally stupid yc, tapping instead of kicking and a foolish chip when surely Botica was in drop goal range. Could have been another yc with Wallace's high tackle on May, no idea how that wasn't given.

Quins won the title because they were clinical, particularly in defence in their own half. That's just not the case at the minute.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Bit of a wobble from Quins this. They really were their own downfall with some stupid penalties conceded, an equally stupid yc, tapping instead of kicking and a foolish chip when surely Botica was in drop goal range. Could have been another yc with Wallace's high tackle on May, no idea how that wasn't given.

Quins won the title because they were clinical, particularly in defence in their own half. That's just not the case at the minute.

Ouch dont wait for the dust to settle before getting the kicks in Sam

To be fair we were all composure in the first half. Stopped when we took Care and Nev off

Well, maybe a bit before that. Glad to see Care, Brown, Nev, Lowe all play well. Hope Olly is fit for the full 80 next week. Very glad it's a 9 day turn around

Yappy, Quins will let their years worth of errors out now so they can dish out the kicking when they play Tigers. You sods always turn it on against us.

Well that was like watching a Barbarians match! I was amazed when Evans kicked for touch when Quins could've had an easy 3 pointer in our 22. In fairness to Sam Smith, there was quite a strong wind throughout the game and kicking from where he took the quick tap penalty would've been a very tough kick.

Glaws' defence was dire at times, but we vastly improved for the 2nd half. I think I've probably aged 10 years from watching that, but ultimately I'm now somewhat happy! Kalamafoni is just a beast and I cannot think of a better signing this season than him.

Brilliant game, so much attacking intent from both sides. A lot of line breaks and chances despite the low scores. Both sides guilty of going for one offload too many on a number of occasions, but full credit for the attacking mindset and there was some truly sublime interplay from both sides.

Gloucester in particular we're looking to attack from all corners of the ground, the distribution skills of Burns and Twelvetrees used to full effect releasing the gas men Trinder, Sharples and the incredible Jonny May. These guys have to be looked at by England soon, there is no substitute for natural talent, speed if mind and speed of foot. The only complaint about Gloucester's attack is a lack of patience. They are so dangerous for about 3 or 4 phases but if the defence can scramble to keep them out, they will invariably lose composure and throw or kick the ball away. No doubt Nigel Davies will be looking to improve this as attacking conditions improve.

While Gloucester were clearly targeting opportunities out wide, Quins took full advantage of some slack defence through the middle, where Gloucester were clearly missing the influence of Tindall. Trinder is a brilliant attacker but he was bumped by Buchanan for his try and also made some errors in when to fly up, when to hold the line. He will learn, and it must be remembered that he has not had much rugby in the last two seasons, and these instinctive things all come through experience. He couldn't have a better mentor.

Both sides wasted chances, Quins certainly looked like they could score more at the end of the first half which could have killed the game, but the ball went to ground in the crucial moments and Gloucester were hanging on a bit until half time. There was also an opportunity for what would have been one of the best team tries I've ever seen as Sharples collected a high kick, wriggled clear of the chasers, fed May to jink his way into midfield where Trinder hit a great line and offloaded behind the back before the ball was spread wide to Cook, who cut inside a number if defenders on a great line, but somehow dropped the ball as he was bearing down on the Quins 22.

Despite the number of line breaks from around half way, the try line defence from both sides was very good, especially in the second half. In the first half Gloucester looked to be flying up and targeting Quins midfield runners behind the gain line, but this led to gaps which were exploited so in the second half they had clearly changed tactic, allowing short yardage but plugging gaps. Credit to Quins they adapted well and made a lot of progress through patient phase play - something Gloucester need to learn.

Harlequins did not look the same side in attack once Danny Care went off, he really is their spark when on the ball. Dickson is a good player but Care is the best club 9 in Europe in my opinion. Gloucester also struggled when their replacement scrum half, Dave Lewis, came on. He was giving Burns a bit of a tough time and I think they will be hoping Robson is not injured as Lewis is not really up to scratch. Evans exuded class throughout and U don't think he would have made the decisions Botica did in the last 5. Burns looked to be working his was back to his attacking best, but he still needs to regain his pre-injury kicking confidence.

So a great game and two sides who could really prosper in good conditions. Lets hope for more games like this.

Just out of interest and not because of any sour grapes, but why did the ref state that he couldnt check the suspect early hit in the first half? I thought that's what the TMO was for?

He stated it wasn't in the process of scoring. Very odd, as the TMO can be used in the case of suspected foul play. Though as soon as a player runs up requesting he check he's in an awkward situation as players are not allowed to make TMO requests from referees. Maybe if Easter had not done his best John Terry impersonation Doyle might have taken advice from a touch judge and gone upstairs.

To be fair, we have seen quite a few requests from captains this season.

Odd that the ref doesn't know the rules he's meant to be reffing.

Doyle had blown the whistle for knock on before Easter crossed the line. Therefore a try can never be awarded irrespective of whether Doyle was right or not - thus he can only go to TMO if he suspected foul play. Seemed to me he had no belief there was any foul play.

Excellent game between my current favourite two AP sides. Hopefully the others in the top 6 can produce similar entertainment today.

Just watched some of that game again (yes i'm a masochist) Easter and Kalamafoni were absolutely titanic. Showed England exactly why Wood is not an 8 and why you need a big ball carrier there, both of them seemed to be in a contest to see who could do better.

Likewise Lowe and Trinder showed us exactly what we're missing with Tuilagi at 13.

And why can't Care bring his Quins form to England? Or at least get more then one start in 10 to try?

It was a brilliant game, just so gutted about the result.

Care had 3 starts this season for England. I tohough he was unlucky to be dropped after the Aus game.

Manu is playing like a man possessed today, and dare I say it showing what Lowe and Trinder are incapable of.

LondonTiger wrote:Care had 3 starts this season for England. I tohough he was unlucky to be dropped after the Aus game.

Manu is playing like a man possessed today, and dare I say it showing what Lowe and Trinder are incapable of.

Quite. And look, he's also able to pass/offload when in a Tigers shirt. It was good to see Lowe looking back to his best though. As for Trinder, perhaps it's only when I see him play but he always seems to look as good in attack as he does poor in defence.

Manu looks match fit now, we've not seen that in a few months. I'm not sure the deep smashy, smashy England attack pattern is really helping him play how he likes too. He loves that outside arc and using his pace to break through and then to look for support. No real hope of a line break for England the ball was too slow.

Agree totally on the number 8s. England could have used Easter.

Well Manu made me eat my words! Leicester certainly know how to get the best out of him although it was basically a training ground session by the 50 min mark.

I think training would have been more fiesty then that at Welford Rd.

So looking ahead to Munster...

At least we have a lot of positives from this game. I'd expect us to play:

1. Marler
1. Buchanan
3. Johnston
4. Kohn
5. Robson
6. Robshaw
7. Wallace
8. Easter
9. Care
10. Evans
11. Monye
12. Casson
13. Lowe
14. Chisholm
15. Brown

Robshaw in there to bring a bit of control and fluency in attack. Wallace stays at 7 because he's amazing and I genuinely love him. Monye back hopefully from injury to help with the restarts and wide defence. Chisholm also stays on the wing because he to is amazing. Casson and Lowe looked very enterprising and offered a lot more then JTH + Hopper.

I thought Wallace was your stand out player yesterday, even ahead of Easter. The future is looking bright for English 7s. The sooner Robshaw moves to 6 the better for Quins and England.

Cheers HKC

Congrats on the win btw, I've almost stopped weeping at the thought of it.

Considering Croft is slowly returning to form and Wood is still around I don't think Robshaw will be merely sliding across the backrow. He might just have to fight it out at 7 internationally.

yappysnap wrote:Cheers HKC

Congrats on the win btw, I've almost stopped weeping at the thought of it.

I know that feeling well! It so could've easily gone the other way. What the cameras didn't show was that when Burns intercepted in the run up to our first try was that he was the last man and had it gone to hand it would've been a definite 7 points - true end to end stuff!

You're a gent HKC

All the best for Glaws for the rest of the season, it'll be good to see you in the Heineken Cup next season.

Thanks HKC

Also I know our form hasn't been great, but check out http://www.munsterfans.com/threads/32918-Harlequins-v-Munster-Sunday-7th-April-2pm-KO/page28

Insanely one-eyed Munster supporters there considering their recent form. Trying not to reply to some posts/laugh

Bless 'em

Its going to be a cracker either way, can't wait for next weekend.

Watching the highlights of this game i cant believe how quick Sharples is, thats one thing no england international player in the back three has at the moment (or for a painfully long time !) and thats scary natural speed. Likewise May also looked quality, showing composure and time on the ball and Wade for wasps also looked like a quality player with more natural gas reserves than Russia.