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]

First thoughts are - Where is Horwell? And its a shame that Matt Loumanu is out with injury for a number of weeks.
Hopper in for Sloan is a shame when it seemed that Sloan and Lowe were starting to gell nicely.

[propdavid_london]

Start of the Amlin competition this wednesday against Montpellier.
I hope that COS really targets this competition like Quins normally do.

Montpellier were stuffed by Tulon recently - But I suspect that most teams would be, Jake White is the coach and has brought in a raft of high profile SA players although I am not sure if they have arrived there yet and are playing?

In any event its a tough opening fixture for Quins, but looks like we might have been resting Horwell and A.Jones last weekend for this fixture (Hopefully)

[yappysnap]

That was a very weakened Montpellier team and they started the first 20 mins strongly, it was only after a couple of tries that heads went down and they gave up.

For this game we might see the Du Plessis brothers, Trinh-Duc and Quadrago all back for Montpellier, plus others that i've forgotten. They'll be a totally different beast (and I do mean Beast).

It'll be a proper workout for our pack, the boiler room for Quins are going to need to have out standing games if we're to win this. My pack would be:

Marler
Buchanan if fit
Jones
Horwill
Twomey
Clifford
Robshaw
Easter

I don't think Ward or Gray will go well against the monster pack we'll see, if Buchanan is fit he's a very good compromise between their skill sets and a lot more robust.

In the backrow I don't think this is a game for Wallace to start, he's a good poacher but too often out wide and can be knocked about. Two 6.5's (classing Clifford as that but he's more a 6/7/8) may be better as we'll be doing a lot of tackling, and will need to be all over the park to fight it out.

Biggest worry will be the backrow and lock cover. Mathews was so poor last week he doesn't fill me with confidence coming on, and Wallace while good can only cover 7 when we really need an 8 on the bench. I'd look at moving Easter to lock late in the game if he's going well, then perhaps have baby Chisholm on the bench, it's a big ask for him but I think he's up to it.

[propdavid_london]

That would be a good selection Yappy. I know Ward underpowers the pack but its seemed in the last few games that he has really sarted to poach some good ball again - Ward and Wallace on the field at the same time will surely be a benefit as its not all about scrummaging.
Baby Chis on the bench is a good shout and like you I am sure he would do well - its all about lifting it up for the big games and Quins have a few that are young and hungry to make an impact.

[yappysnap]

Not just the scrummaging that Ward and Wallace worry me, they could be knocked back in contact quite a lot too. And Ward's darts are often horrific usually when we need them at their best.

I wouldn't complain if they both started though, it'd just mean we probably couldn't rely on a straight up punch out between the packs, we'd need our backs to be on form so that we can run a lot more ball and get those two in to the wide spaces and stretch Montpellier, high risk, but also high reward.

[ChequeredJersey]

I think we'll stuff Montpelier, I can't see either team picking their first choice sides at all, but Montpelier away in European second tier I can see fielding an entirely 2nd XV. They just don't care about the Challenge Cup, and I'm not sure it should be our priority either

[yappysnap]

I like your optimism CJ!

[sad_gimp]

Getting into a winning habit....reason to be optimistic! Pretty impressed with the last few results.

Care is looking back to his best, heads up, punishing any defensive positioning errors. Visser is looking like a great signing, Yarde getting back to form.

[yappysnap]

Yep, this weeks another really tough test though! Id happily take a losing no as we've struggled against Exeter in the past.

Fingers crossed for a Robshaw, Ward, Easter backrow.

[George Carlin]

I see that Robbie Nairn has been called into the Scotland 7s squad.

No idea if that's good, bad, irritating or completely indifferent for Quins fans.

[ChequeredJersey]

I see that Robbie Nairn has been called into the Scotland 7s squad.

No idea if that's good, bad, irritating or completely indifferent for Quins fans.

Always good to have our players recognised at any level

[yappysnap]

Always happy for our players to get some recognition, and he'll go nicely with all the other ex 7's players we have.

[George Carlin]

So I think that Scotland fans are now happy that our boy Tim has settled nicely into the Harlequins set-up.

[yappysnap]

He has become a try scoring machine. I think every one's happy!

[George Carlin]

He has become a try scoring machine. I think every one's happy!

Ah, but he was already Yappy (top try scorer in the Pro12 in each of his first four seasons for Edinburgh, 10 tries in 23 starts for Scotland) - you were just watching the wrong league...

[yappysnap]

Watch his first try from the weekend George.

Very quick, good line cut and good hand off to finish.

Playing like how the Welsh wish North was atm!

[LondonTiger]

COS rejects job offer from Italy.

[yappysnap]

Not really a surprise, I think he'll be with us for another 3-4 years at least yet. Certainly I think he needs to win another Prem title and make a mark in Europe if he's to get a position at a better club or Internationally.

[ChequeredJersey]

He wants the Ireland job.

and your statement presupposes that there ARE better club sides

[yappysnap]

By better I obviously meant different

[lostinwales]

I see Roberts got hurt in the Varsity match. Not serious (dead leg) but bets it keeps him out til near the 6N?

[Poorfour]

I see Roberts got hurt in the Varsity match. Not serious (dead leg) but bets it keeps him out til near the 6N?

Not sure - he was playing it down after the match and no-one seemed to be suggesting he'd be out for long. But dead legs are like hamstrings - they vary a lot in how long they take to clear up.

[propdavid_london]

I always thought he would be targeting the Big Game 8.
Squad is out for the Calvisano game - very young looking team with not a lot of experience barring Horwell!

[Poorfour]

I always thought he would be targeting the Big Game 8.  
Squad is out for the Calvisano game - very young looking team with not a lot of experience barring Horwell!

I disagree with that! I make it about 1150 appearances across the squad, an average of 50 each. There are some unfamiliar faces, but also some pretty experienced players on the pitch.

Harlequins Team
15. Tim Swiel - 12 appearances
14. Ross Chisholm - 51 appearances
13. Matt Hopper - 91 appearances
12. Winston Stanley - 0 appearances
11. Tim Visser - 6 appearances (but also 6 tries)
10. Ben Botica - 75 appearances
9. Karl Dickson - 140 apperances

1. Mark Lambert - 176 appearances
2. Rob Buchanan - 77 apearances
3. Will Collier - 73 appearances
4. James Horwill - 5 appearances (but 50+ caps )
5. Charlie Matthews - 98 appearances
6. Archie White - 0 appearances (Academy)
7. Luke Wallace - 110 appearances
8. Jack Clifford© - 38 appearances

16. Dave Ward - 69 appearances
17. Owen Evans - 0 appearances
18. Kyle Sinckler - 59 appearances
19. George Merrick - 20 appearances
20. Kieran Treadwell - 3 appearances (Academy)
21. Tito Tebaldi - 1 appearance
22. Harry Sloan - 20 appearances
23. Charlie Walker - 40 appearances

[yappysnap]

So gray is injured then?

[propdavid_london]

Cheers Poorfour - I haddnt appreciated how many appearances Charlie Matthews and Hopper had!
The eye automatically went to Winston Stanley (not exactly inexperienced). But Swiel and Archie White and owen evans.

[Poorfour]

Cheers Poorfour - I haddnt appreciated how many appearances Charlie Matthews and Hopper had!
The eye automatically went to Winston Stanley (not exactly inexperienced). But Swiel and Archie White and owen evans.

White and Evans we are taking a chance on, but everybody's got to start sometime, and Quins have a good track record of knowing when their development props and backrowers are ready.

Swiel has had enough of an impact in his games that we can be pretty confident of him performing. He's also part of a seriously quick backline, supported by two very quick back rows in Clifford and Wallace.

[yappysnap]

Should be an exciting team. The key thing will be to score early, build confidence and we'll run away with it.

Start making mistakes or chasing the game though and this team could struggle. We'll still win but we need a good points dif.

[propdavid_london]

Yarde has resigned - I am not sure if he is injured at the moment or resting!
But he is starting to show the form he had at LI.

[yappysnap]

He picked up MRSA from a cut a few weeks back, apparently it was treated ok but it's wiped him out a bit (as you'd imagine!)

I'm glad he's re-signed but I would like to see him string a few more games together!

[yappysnap]

Harlequins sign Beau Robinson, ex Reds player and I think Wallaby.

Quality cover for the flanks, he's all action and a real menace across the pitch.

[ChequeredJersey]

He is a Wallaby

[propdavid_london]

http://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-sign-super-xv-winner-beau-robinson/

I remember him playing when the Reds won the Supper 15s - He is an agressive back rower and likes to get stuck in. Havent seen him for a while though. Great as an experienced injury cover.

Shame for Talei, Hopefully we will also have Matt Loumanou available in the new year too.

[sad_gimp]

We many be a little thin on numbers in the back row, but not in quality. I'm kinda glad Robshaw is likely to lose the England captaincy, the RWC must have been a hell of an emotional drain, it'll be good for him to concentrate on just playing.

Care is looking much more of a natural captain than Marler, although I suspect Clifford will be handed the reigns next season.

[Poorfour]

It's tough having lost Talei for so long, and it looks like Baby Chis for a fair while too, but with Clifford, Wallace and Treadwell taking their chances and Ward as 7 cover, we're ok.

I'll breathe a sigh of relief when Luamanu returns, though. Field a side with him, Horwill, Roberts, Visser and Yarde to face Saracens and we might be able to fight fire with fire (Easter on the bench to administer the coup de grace)

[yappysnap]

You've jinxed them all now P4!

[ChequeredJersey]

There are seven changes to the starting team which beat Calvisano in Italy last week.

Second-row Charlie Matthews makes his 100th appearance for the Club as Jamie Roberts, who joined this week, makes his debut.



Owen Evans makes his starting debut, partnering Rob Buchanan and Kyle Sinckler in the front row.

George Merrick is named in the second row, with Dave Ward returning to openside flanker.

In the backs Tito Tebaldi also makes his starting debut as Marland Yarde returns to the wing.

Among the replacements, second year Academy member Seb Adeniran-Olule will look to make his first European appearance for the Club.  

Harlequins squad
15. Tim Swiel
14. Marland Yarde
13. Winston Stanley
12. Jamie Roberts
11. Ross Chisholm
10. Ben Botica
9. Tito Tebaldi

1. Owen Evans
2. Rob Buchanan
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. George Merrick
5. Charlie Matthews
6. Archie White
7. Dave Ward
8. Jack Clifford©

16. Joe Gray
17. Seb Adeniran-Olule
18. Adam Jones
19. Kieran Treadwell
20. Harry Sloan
21. Karl Dickson
22. Matt Hopper
23. Charlie Walker

[sad_gimp]

Ward at 7 again...wonder if this is with half an eye on the vacant England 7 spot...

[yappysnap]

He'll need to play against slightly better teams...

[mikey_dragon]

Have you guys played Montpellier yet?

How has Owen Evans gone for you? I don't remember him featuring much for Dragons, but I guess he did leave quite early on in his career.

[yappysnap]

Yes played and beat Montpellier with a try bp. Owen hasn't played for us yet (I think)

[ChequeredJersey]

Owen came off bench last week, hasn't started yet, will surely get a chance during the 6N

[ChequeredJersey]

Ward at 7 again...wonder if this is with half an eye on the vacant England 7 spot...

Ward is the next big thing, a 4.5

[yappysnap]

Very strong team for the BG8, interesting to see if Roberts has gelled a bit more now, and he has the benefit of Evans inside him this week.

Quietly confident of a win.

[thomh]

Well if we hadn't gone mad and gifted them 20 points then it would have been.

[yappysnap]

Yes that was a pantomime of a game. To start with the guys looked like they were still dreaming of Dubai while Glos were there to mug us. Then we all seemed to get caught up in the event and just all went mad.

Even so I would still take a draw like that over the turgid horror Saracens fans had to endure beforehand.

[ChequeredJersey]

Let's just not be idiots and we can beat Saracens in January. However, if we throw away intercept tries like taht against them, we will be destroyed brutally. All about the decision making

[yappysnap]

Problem is Sarries have this way of making us be idiots.

We can beat them, but every player needs to be at 100% and the whole team has to work well.

In contrast Sarries can beat us in second gear by just doing their basics.

[sad_gimp]

I think we have the players now, in fact I'd say our first choice XV is better than 2012. A little composure and we can beat Sarries.

[yappysnap]

Composure is the operative word

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