Harlequins 15/16 Thread

[yappysnap]

First topic message reminder :

Our squad (pinched from CAW):

HARLEQUINS Senior Squad

Name                DoB             Position        Contract
Rob Buchanan        (13/05/91)      Hooker          2015/16  
Joe Gray            (05/08/88)      Hooker          2015/16  
Dave Ward           (21/05/85)      Hooker          2015/16  

Will Collier        (05/05/91)      TH Prop         2017/18  
Adam Jones          (08/03/81)      TH prop         2015/16  
Matt Shields        (12/02/91)      TH Prop         2015/16    
Kyle Sinckler       (30/03/93)      TH Prop         2016/17    

Owen Evans          (19/02/89)      LH Prop      
Mark Lambert        (19/02/85)      LH Prop         2016/17    
Joe Marler          (07/07/90)      LH Prop         2015/16  

James Horwill       (29/05/85)      Lock            2017/18    
Charlie Matthews    (23/07/91)      Lock            2015/16    
George Merrick      (04/10/92)      Lock            2016/17    
Sam Twomey          (09/05/92)      Lock            2015/16  

Jack Clifford       (12/02/93)      Flanker/No. 8   2015/16    
Chris Robshaw       (04/06/86)      Flanker         2015/16    
Luke Wallace        (02/10/90)      Flanker         2016/17    

Nick Easter         (15/08/78)      Number 8        2016/17    
Mathew Luamanu     (04/03/88)      Number 8        ?          
Netani Talei        (19/03/83)      Number 8        ?          

Danny Care          (02/01/87)      Scrum-half      2015/16    
Karl Dickson        (02/08/82)      Scrum-half      2016/17    
Tito Tebaldi        (23/09/87)      Scrum-half      ?        

Ben Botica          (07/10/89)      Fly-half        2016/17    
Nick Evans          (14/08/80)      Fly-half        2015/16    
Tim Swiel           (04/06/93)      Fly-half        ?    

Matt Hopper         (29/01/85)      Centre          2016/17    
George Lowe         (22/10/89)      Centre          2015/16  
Jamie Roberts       (08/11/86)      Centre          ?        
Harry Sloan         (16/06/94)      Centre          2015/16  
Winston Stanley     (11/02/89)      Centre          ?      

Ollie Lindsay-Hague (08/10/90)      Wing/Fullback   ?          
Tim Visser          (29/05/87)      Winger          ?          
harlie Walker      (23/12/92)      Winger          2016/17    
Marland Yarde       (20/04/92)      Winger          2015/16    

Mike Brown          (04/09/85)      Fullback        2015/16  
Ross Chisholm       (19/10/90)      Fullback        2016/17    


A very strong looking squad, with a lot of internationals and experience to help the youngsters coming in. Fingers crossed but this season may be a good one for the men in quarters.

COYQ's!

[propdavid_london]

Harlequins Squad
15. Mike Brown
14. Marland Yarde
13. George Lowe
12. Jamie Roberts
11. Ross Chisholm
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care©

1. Joe Marler
2. Rob Buchanan
3. Will Collier
4. George Merrick
5. Charlie Matthews
6. Chris Robshaw
7. Jack Clifford
8. Nick Easter

16. Dave Ward
17. Mark Lambert
18. Kyle Sinckler
19. Mat Luamanu
20. Luke Wallace
21. Karl Dickson
22. Ben Botica
23. Charlie Walker

Cardiff Blues Squad
15. Dan Fish
14. Alex Cuthbert
13. Cory Allen
12. Rey Lee-Lo
11. Tom James
10. Rhys Patchell
9. Lloyd Williams©

1. Sam Hobbs )
2. Kristian Dacey
3. Tau Filise
4. Macauley Cook
5. James Down
6. Josh Turnbull
7. Josh Navidi
8. Manoa Vosawai

16. Ethan Lewis
17. Tom Davies
18. Dillon Lewis
19. Jarrad Hoeata
20. Ellis Jenkins
21. Tavis Knoyle
22. Gareth Anscombe
23. Gavin Evans

Women’s Premiership Final

Stay in your seats after the match as Richmond Ladies take on Saracens Women in the Women’s Premiership Final, kick-off 17:30. If you are not attending Harlequins’ match against Cardiff, you can get your free ticket to the Women’s Premiership Final on the gates.

[propdavid_london]

Thats a good strong Quins team.
Really pleased to see Lumanou back from injury as he looks very useful in the early fixtures.
I am hoping Quins can maintain recent form and get a good result.

On a different note - its great to see the womens game getting coverage. Its the first time a womens club game has had full TV coverage (SS5 I think) and should be a good game between Richmond and Sarracens.

[mikey_dragon]

Good back line for the Blues but an absolutely terrible pack to be playing against that Quins team. There should be better players available so I don't really understand Wilson's selection there.

[yappysnap]

Mikey are most of those Blues players first choice? Don't recognise many names there so I guess most of the pack aren't international players?

[ChequeredJersey]

Good Blues backline, I expect us to beat that pack though, but rugby isn't won on paper. Unless you're Toulon, in which case it's won on paper in the form of many many notes

[mikey_dragon]

The back line is pretty much first choice, not so sure about Dan Fish. I think Jenkins and the recent signing (Ma'afu?) could have been starting, that would be a powerful scrum. I would have also started Hoeata, moved Cooke to 6 and just not played Turnbull at all. Even with those changes though, Blues would still struggle to win.

[LondonTiger]

COS to leave at end of the season.

[propdavid_london]

Wow, thats a bit out of the blue!
http://www.quins.co.uk/news/conor-oshea-to-leave-harlequins-at-the-end-of-the-season/

I thought when he started turning down international oportunities he was going to be with Quins a lot longer.
No hints given away in the article about if there is another job out there he is going for or if there has been a disagreement with management etc!

[nathan]

Anyone think he could be involved in the Ireland setup?

[carpet baboon]

Munster?

[propdavid_london]

I am not sure where it came from but I always thought there were a few burned bridges with COS and IRFU! (back from his time with London Irish).

I wonder who would be a good replacement for COS? Will Quins promote from within with Mapletoft/Diprose/John Kingston.

[propdavid_london]

He has had a lot of involvement with the RFU on pannels and comittiees etc.
Could he have been offered a role there........Rob Andrews replacement!

[ChequeredJersey]

Gutted

[yappysnap]

Nnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[yappysnap]

It must be Saracens fault

[Poorfour]

It must be Saracens fault

You think he's replacing Gustard as their defence coach?

[yappysnap]

Perhaps

[sad_gimp]

Wasn't expecting that....surely he must have an international role lined up somewhere to walk away from Quins, particular with the form we're showing.

[propdavid_london]

Harlequins Team
15. Ross Chisholm
14. Marland Yarde
13. Matt Hopper
12. Harry Sloan
11. Charlie Walker
10. Ben Botica
9. Karl Dickson

1. Mark Lambert
2. Joe Gray
3. Will Collier
4. George Merrick
5. Charlie Matthews
6. Chris Robshaw
7. Luke Wallace
8. Jack Clifford ©

Replacements
16. Rob Buchanan
17. Owen Evans
18. Adam Jones
19. Kieran Treadwell
20. Mat Luamanu
21. Danny Care
22. Tim Swiel
23. Winston Stanley

Montpellier Team
15. Jesse Mogg
14. Benjamin Fall
13. Anthony Tuitavake
12. Robert Ebersohn
11. Marvin O'Connor
10. Demetri Catrakilis
9. Benoît Paillaugue

1. Misha Nariashvili
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Robins Tchale-Watchou
5. Paul Willemse
6. Fulgence Ouedraogo
7. Wiaan Liebenberg
8. Akapusi Qera

Replacements
16. Charles Geli
17. Davit Kubriashvili
18. Pat Cilliers
19. Jacques Du Plessis
20. Antoine Battut
21. Nic White
22. François Trinh Duc
23. Cyvan Reilhac

[propdavid_london]

A few key players getting rested here for Quins - I've not been keeping up with the T14 much so what kind of form are Montpellier in?
I see that they are starting some of their big new signings.....

[yappysnap]

Be interesting to see if the news this week affects the players performance. I would love for CoS to leave having added another piece of silverware to the cabinet and so for the players to play out of their skins for the next few months.

[ChequeredJersey]

Be interesting to see if the news this week affects the players performance. I would love for CoS to leave having added another piece of silverware to the cabinet and so for the players to play out of their skins for the next few months.

If they feel like he's not betraying them, I think they'll up their game

[formerly known as Sam]

Has there been any rumours behind COS deciding to not renew his contract? The club seems to have been built around him in recent years something must have happened to change his mind. It surely can't be a big money offer from 6N whipping boys Italy.

[ChequeredJersey]

Could see him involved in the England or Ireland setups.

[nathan]

Does he do attack at quins?

Perhaps doing that with England, I think Jones has always said "at the minute he will do attack"

[formerly known as Sam]

England attack coach would be a bit of a step sideways. Maybe even backwards. He is after all a successful AP director of rugby. Not sure where he'd fit in Ireland unless he's there to rescue Munster his home province or a real shock and Leinster where his style would fit best. That would at least put him position for potential promotion to the top Ireland job in a few years.

[yappysnap]

There's been no info at all on the why's gents.

CAW seems to generally think he's taking the Italy job. Not sure if this myself as it seems a poisoned chalice.

[Rugby Fan]

It's definitely not Japan, with Jamie Joseph having just been named.

He might have taken a look at the international scene and decided that all the plum jobs are taken for now. If any other unions follow England's lead and look for people who have coached at national level, then perhaps having experience with Italy will stand him in good stead.

[yappysnap]

That's something that has been mentioned RF, it just seems to me though that presiding over a losing team can do you more harm then good, wether it's the coaches fault or not.

[propdavid_london]

Do you think we could get Wayne Smith? Didnt fancy the National job but could he be tempted by a D0R role?

[Poorfour]

That's something that has been mentioned RF, it just seems to me though that presiding over a losing team can do you more harm then good, wether it's the coaches fault or not.

A fair number of decent coaches have taken on the challenge of Italy, so there's a reasonable benchmark for.performance. If COS does take.the job, I expect he will be judged as much on the pipeline of players he develops and the style of play he creates as he will on results.

If he wants to coach a top tier international team eventually, then he probably needs to.show that he can work in the very different environment of an international gig.

Random thought: COS was one of the DoRs Eddie spoke to after his appointment. Could his decision to leave have come out of some advice from Eddie?

[formerly known as Sam]

Eddie Jones intended to speak to all the DORs, with Quins on his doorstep COS was probably just closest. I know he's had discussions with Cockers and Mallinder more recently.

Italy just don't seem to be progressing and unless COS is going to become very hands on with the two teams competing in the Pro 12 and with the league system I can't see how they'll progress. That would be a long term herculean task and require spending all year in Italy which might not work for his family. Might be an interesting relationship with the head coaches working at the clubs if he's being given that sort of reign as well.

[yappysnap]

Do you think we could get Wayne Smith?  Didnt fancy the National job but could he be tempted by a D0R role?

From the names bandied around on CAW I'd take any of Todd Blackadder, Robbie Deans or Wayne Smith.

Really bot sure about promoting from within. Yes in the long run it could work. But those kinds of selections always seem to have the team go backwards before they go forwards.

[Notch]

Harlequins Academy lock Kieran Treadwell to sign for Ulster;

http://www.quins.co.uk/news/kieran-treadwell-to-leave-harlequins/

What are your thoughts Quins fans? A lot of IQ players we've signed from English sides lately have been complete flops. Does Treadwell have the ability to reverse that trend? Are you sorry to see him go or are you mainly apathetic?

[Poorfour]

Treadwell is one of.a group of young back five forwards who are all transitioning well to.senior rugby. He's played well when he's has the chance, but I.can understand him wanting to go.somewhere he can get more gametime and potentially international exposure.

I'd be sorrier to see him leave if we didn't already have the likes of Clifford, James Chisholm, Matthews, Twomey and Merrick.

[Notch]

Treadwell is one of.a group of young back five forwards who are all transitioning well to.senior rugby. He's played well when he's has the chance, but I.can understand him wanting to go.somewhere he can get more gametime and potentially international exposure.

I'd be sorrier to see him leave if we didn't already have the likes of Clifford, James Chisholm, Matthews, Twomey and Merrick.

Thats interesting because Kiss thinks he can go on to international level as well, seems he's seen as a potential leader. I'm optimistic he's not going to be another Lewis Stevenson/Peter Browne.

[yappysnap]

He could be a potential international player certainly, I think he's just unlucky to have three others infront of him age wise.

He should be a good player for Ulster and I think in a few seasons you'll have a very good lock.

[ChequeredJersey]

Do you think we could get Wayne Smith?  Didnt fancy the National job but could he be tempted by a D0R role?

I thought Smith would have considered England if it were a year later

[yappysnap]

Ouch

So the team seems a little weaker without a lot of the internationals

[ChequeredJersey]

And no real incentive to win compared with a desperate Montpelier!

Nasty to look at, sounds like Botica had a good game though

[formerly known as Sam]

Chris Robshaw might not want to watch that one back. Seemed to narrowly avoid two yellow cards for cynical infringements. Quins lacked impetus and really suffered mostly at the scrum. Had they had scrum parity then Montpellier would not have so productive on the scoreboard. Trunh Duc added a lot when he came on for the last ten, quite glad he's not in the France squad.

[yappysnap]

Yea our forwards were pretty dire

[mikey_dragon]

Quite shocked at this one. What went wrong?

[ChequeredJersey]

One team needed to win, the other didn't

[mikey_dragon]

True, but I expected Quins to win that because I believe they're a much better team. I don't suppose the Welsh prop replacements helped you out then?

[yappysnap]

Our scrum was probably the worst it's ever been, but then SA Montpellier are very strong there.

We just looked clueless and uninterested across the pitch tbh Mikey

[formerly known as Sam]

Don't think that's entirely fair Yappy, Botica was playing like a man with something to prove and ye game could have been very different had Walker not dropped it into touch when Botica presented him with a walk in.

[yappysnap]

Yea I was thinking that about Botica, he had a very good game. The rest though were different degrees of poor

[formerly known as Sam]

A mix of some trying to hard and some trying not to get injured. Not ideal but in the end it doesn't matter too much. Botica's performance a big plus and Chrisholm at fullback looked assured.

Just be grateful Trunh Duc was only fit enough for ten mins the Montpellier team looked some much more dangerous when he was bringing them onto the ball at the gain line. Surprised his introduction showed such a change in team dynamic.

[yappysnap]

I've always rated Trinc Duc, great from an England perspective that he's been relatively ignored internationally.

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