By Quins4life
March 31 2016
A promising start to the season had us all believing we could repeat the heroics of the 2011/12 season and win this great championship, but alas a disappointing run which has included seven losses in our last 9 games has all but ruined our hopes of returning to the top 4 yet again and making it four times in five years.
Our recent form has been more like relegation form rather championship winning form; however the performance was better with all our internationals against a Northampton side which is seemingly peaking at the right time, even if we did once again throw away yet another solid lead. Whilst I don’t think we were helped at all by the incompetency of the referee, we did not help ourselves either and allowed the Saints to gain momentum far too easily and their tries were partially helped by our lack of organization and line speed in defence. I will forever be an optimist and, until it is mathematically impossible, will believe we can sneak into the top 4 but we are now fully relying on other results to go our way.
So next up is a home game against Newcastle Falcons who, after a good run of results including a win against Quins, are suddenly frantically looking over their shoulders at London Irish in the relegation scrap. I did think that Irish were all but down, but now they are only 4 points behind Newcastle. This will Dean Richards and his men will all be desperate for a valuable win down at the Stoop to ease their relegation fears. As I mentioned Newcastle beat us up at Kingston Park back in February in a game we also managed to squander a reasonably comfortable winning position. So once again we go into a fixture with revenge firmly in our minds.
Players to watch out for would have definitely included Mr Pie Eater himself, Andy Goode who, to be fair, will take a huge amount of credit if Newcastle stay up because he helped steady the ship and added some much needed experience. Unfortunately for the Falcons, and the Stoops food vendors, he has now called it a day again and now gone back to enjoy his retirement. Out of the players likely to be on the pitch, keep an eye out for England 7s international and Anthony Watson younger brother, Marcus, who has a lot of potential and could maybe follow in his brother’s footsteps in the future. In the pack, Latu has made a big impact and has really impressed me when I have watched him. He is an excellent ball carrier as well as being handy at the breakdown.
Team Selection
I am kind of in two minds this week about who we should select. Part of me thinks that we should keep more or less the same team as last weekend and go all out to get a bonus point win to keep our hopes of top 4 slightly alive. But then the realist in me then says we should probably prioritise the Challenge Cup now and rest our internationals for the Quarter Final next weekend as it is our only real chance of silverware this season. I think I would do a little bit of both.
In the front row, I would keep Marler in as we don’t know how much more of him we will see this season so let’s keep playing him while we can. Joining him, we have to start Ward for me as I just do not see Gray up to it and I was surprised he started last weekend. At tighthead I would leave Jones for the Quarter Final and play Sinckler as I think he is in better form than Collier. Second row has to be made up of Horwill and Twomey. Merrick is just to headless and a penalty magnet, whilst Matthews has seemingly fallen out of favour. The backrow is a tricky one and I would like to see the combination of Robshaw, Wallace and Clifford play together with Luamanu and Easter on the bench. Care and Botica will definitely start as the halfbacks, and then the centre are a tricky one. I read Lowe picked up a knock again so I think Marchant will continue at 13 as he played so impressively last weekend, and then, if he is not too jaded, Roberts should play so he can get more used to the Harlequins way. Back three will definitely include Visser and Walker on the wings but I think Brown could do with a break so I would look to start Chisholm at 15.
My Predicted Quins team to play Newcastle; Marler, Ward, Sinckler, Horwill, Twomey, Robshaw, Wallace, Clifford; Care, Botica, Visser, Roberts, Marchant, Walker, Chisholm.
Newcastle XV vs Wasps last weekend; Hammersley; Tait, Harris, Powell, Watson; Delany, Young; Vickers, McGuigan, Vea, Green, Robinson, Wilson, Welch (capt), Latu.
I think this is pretty much the strongest team they can put out so I expect very few changes to their side.
Well I want a big response. Actually a huge response. I am now fed up of having to come on here and reading comments about how awful we have played. We showed glimpses of our true selves last weekend, but we need to start putting it out on the pitch for the full matches rather than the odd 20 minutes. All we can do from now on is to try and pick up as many points as possible in our final four games and see where that leaves us. I hope to see us go out and score some good tries and put some smiles back on our faces, almost to remind us of the potential of this side and how next year we will be a force with this team out on the pitch more often than not. With Northampton having to travel to Wasps and playing after us could add extra pressure if we can get a big five point win. Also if we can get a good performance this weekend we can start building momentum again just in time for the start of the European knockout stages, and I really want to win that…it is our trophy after!!!
So I think we will see a response and playing against a Newcastle side that is in poor run of form and struggling away from home should help us. I am going for a big win and a good start to a hopefully happier end to the season.
Prediction; Quins 38 (TBP) Newcastle 13
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Quote:RodneyRegis
Cheers, nice review. BTW, Marcus is the elder Watson.
Quote:falconsfan07
Falcons fan in piece! great write up that by the way! nervous times for us falcons fans right now I can really see Irish beating a sale side this weekend that is poor away from home, the stoop is a very tough place to come we have nothing to lose in this so I can see us trying to throw the kitchen sink at you..
realistically I cant see us beating quins, we haven't won away all season and you guys have your internationals back so I'll be chuffed with a LBP... expect us to put out a side that will chuck the ball about n score some tries and hopefully finish within 7, expect to see our back 3 with watson, sinoti and hammersley in it n hopefully they'll get bsome space to run in but hey ho hope its a good game and may the best team win...
more bothered about the irish vs sale game tbh real tight one I think!
cheers!e
Quote:Irish vs Sale will be tough, but only if sale dont play near their best.
I really like Dean Richards and I think he is doing a good job at a club that clearly hasnt got the resources of the likes of Sarries etc. It is amazing to see your struggles as I think Newcastle have played some great rugby in the Premiership at points this year, especially in their wins against Leicester and Northampton. If you play like that in your last few games then you will be fine. If you let us win, we will then do you a favour when we go to Irish in a few weeks