Harlequins vs Stade Francais- Match Thread

[Notch]

This is the place for all discussion of tonights Amlin Challenge Cup Final between Harlequins and Stade Francais.

The teams are out;

HARLEQUINS

http://www.union.quins.co.uk/news/13562.php

15. Mike Brown
14. Gonzalo Camacho
13. George Lowe
12. Jordan Turner-Hall
11. Ugo Monye
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care

1. Joe Marler
2. Joe Gray
3. James Johnston
4. Ollie Kohn
5. George Robson
6. Maurie Fa'asavalu
7. Chris Robshaw (c)
8. Nick Easter

16. Matt Cairns
17. Ceri Jones
18. Mark Lambert
19. Pete Browne
20. Will Skinner
21. Dave Moore
22. Rory Clegg
23. Ross Chisholm

STADE FRANCAIS

http://www.stade.fr/actualite/article/view/8011

15. Martin Rodriguez
14. Julian Arias
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
12. Guillaume Bousses
11. Djibril Camara
10. Lionel Beauxis
9. Juilen Dupuy

1. Rodrigo Roncero
2. Remi Bonfils
3. David Attoub
4. Tom Plamer
5. Pascal Pape
6. Antoine Burban
7. James Haskell
8. Sergio Parisse (c)

16. Damien Weber
17. Rayno Gerber
18. Arthur Joly
19. Arnaud Marchois
20. Pierre Rabadan
21. Juan Manuel Leguizamon
22. Noel Oelsching
23. Ollie Phillips

REFEREE; George Clancy

No specialist hooker on the bench for Stade, as well as a 5-2 split between forwards and backs.

Should be a good game, with a lot at stake (a win will take the victors into next years Heineken Cup)

[GloucesterBear]

Can't see a side running away with this in all fairness.

Both back rows are very good, while Marler will be up against Roncero and Attoub very tough for him.

But the backs I rate Quins backs more than I do Stade's, Care and Evans have done very well this season, Monye, Turner-Hall, Lowe and Brown are all dangerous players. Stade just don't have the class in the backs Arias could be dangerous coming in from the wing but for me Quins to sneak it.

[Notch]

Agreed Bear. Stade have never really looked to be more than the sum of their parts this season, whereas Quins will be on a high after winning so well in Thomond. They start as favourites.

[GloucesterBear]

Indeed Stade are a big side but just haven't done much this season, 11th in Top 14 for them is very very poor. Toulouse and Clermont along with Biarritz are now the big three in Top 14, still don't rate Toulon and Racing Metro are punching above there weight a bit even though they do have Hernandez, Nallet, Chabal, Masi and F.Steyn.

Quins were pretty decent in the Premiership this season, Brown won't get in the England world cup side but there is no point in trying. Care and Evans is an amazing half back pairing who will try and take the game to Stade, and Dupuy and Beaxius.

Should be exciting and might be close like both Aviva Premiership semi finals last week, but Quins have too much class in the backs and an on form Robson and a decent back row to get them through this game.

[george doors]

My first post on this site........ I really hope it's Quins by 5 points

[Thomond]

Hoping for a Quins win.Would be nice to see Conor O'Shea win something.He should be in the frame for the Irish job next time around.Think Quins could spring another shock.

[george doors]

I dont think it would be a shock for Quins to win, I think the bookies have them as fav

[Adam D]

(welcome to the board george - any questions, please ask away)

[george doors]

Thank you Hobo. The site looks great

[Adam D]

the live chat box will be on tonight for the game.

Hope you join in the chat.

[Notch]

UNBELIEVABLE finish!

Just shows that heart and spirit can play a part in the modern game. Harlequins pack was mashed in the second half but they just hung in. Stade did not turn their massive superiority into points. No backline, just crash ball. Almost fitting after the way they mugged ASM in the semi-final. They should have won, but fair play to Quins... great try, great kick! Nick Evans; balls of steel.

[Notch]

P.S. I though the Quins tighthead might have been a wee bit lucky at the end...

Stade are absolutely raging about the final series of scrums.

[GloucesterBear]

Was right what a close match.

Nick Evans composed and secure frame of mind wins Quins the Challenge Cup excellent AP player we should be glad to have such a quality player playing in the Premiership. Well done to Quins, gave away a fair few penalties but didn't think Stade backs were up to much cop anyway.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

GloucesterBear - a rather accurate prediction - Quins to sneak it!

[Loki]

What a drop goal from Bastareaud!

Really enjoyed the match and that try fromQuins was exceptional!

What a match to set up today's final!

[MR. scotland27]

What a great win for Quins well done them.

[greybeard]

Can't say that was the greatest match I've ever seen (I think that was the match the day after ;-)) but I'm very happy for Quins and their fans.

I was surprised it was that difficult for them, but I think they made things difficult for themselves. Far too often they tried to force a final pass to keep the ball alive and ended up knocking on or otherwise losing posession. A little bit more of a calm head on their collective shoulders and I think they could have taken the lead at a much earlier moment in the match.

SF, well they just bored the hell out of me. Really glad their lack of invention wasn't rewarded.

[Notch]

Have to agree with you there greybeard. That;s their ethos, the game O'Shea is trying to make them play- the fast tempo offloading style.

But the Stade pack was superb, getting on the front foot in the second half, and their defence was putting a huge amount of pressure on them. Fair play to them for sticking true to their principles but they should have tried to fight fire with fire and played some territory. They were a little lucky to escape with the Cup.

[greybeard]

They were very lucky but I'm really glad they did. SF bored me to tears and once they edged in front all they cared about was knocking over a DG to keep the score board ticking. They never even bothered looking for a try.

Now, I'm a fan of a well taken DG. And I'm definitely not in the camp that believes the DG should be 1 or 2 points. I think it's a skill and should be rewarded. But the Top 14 over reliance on the DG does my head in.

[Notch]

Yeah. One thing I noticed was how peripheral the two inside centres were to the game. Jordan Turner-Hall was totally average and as for Guillaume Bousses- was he even on the pitch?

That's never a good sign for fans of running rugby.

Stade ultimately lost the game because of their one-dimensional approach. If they had even managed one try they would have won comfortably.

Must say, Rodriguezs drop goal was absolutely spectacular.

[greybeard]

And Bastareau's was "Oh Christ, the fat guy can kick!" :huh:

[Notch]

Yeah!

Nearly as good as this one;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAvMKkC1kjA&feature=related

[greybeard]

I was going to look for that but I was too lazy

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