FalconsRugby.org.uk - Falcons v Quins 29/09/2007

Falcons v Quins 29/09/2007

Back in forwards

By Leipziger September 28 2007
Harlequins come north on Saturday looking to repeat their victory at Kingston Park last season, as we aim to bounce back from a trouncing at Irish and maintain strong home form which has brought only one defeat at KP in 2007. Whatever happens, surely this game can’t be worse than last year’s equivalent?

In front of the Sky cameras, and a crowd of over 10,000 on a dark Friday night, Harlequins played a throttling game to return south with a 3-11 win, the Falcons’ only points a Matthew Burke penalty. Gavin Beasley played at fly-half due to Jonny Wilkinson’s injury and Toby Flood making his England debut the following day, being replaced by fellow debutant Loki Crichton in the second half.

A larger defeat came on New Year’s Day at the Stoop for us, 42-15, although a chink of light came in December with a hollow 21-18 cup win at home against Quins.

Our visitors have had a stunning start to the season, with two bonus point wins. First London Irish were put to the sword at Twickenham 35-27, with tries from Ollie Kohn, Hal Luscombe, Tom Williams and 19-year-old Jordan Turner-Hall as the Quins tried their best to throw a strong lead away in the second half.

Next, last Saturday night Leeds visited the Stoop and despite only trailing 13-3 at half time, were blown away by five home tries after the break. Tom Guest, Chris Malone, Turner-Hall and Simon Keogh, a makeshift scrum-half, added to a first-half penalty try.

Centre Turner-Hall is one of a number of younger players who have filled the gap in Dean Richards’ side during the World Cup, although he, Charles Amesbury and Chris Robshaw, who all started against Leeds, have more than 50 league games between them already despite being 19, 21 and 21 respectively.

Like us, Harlequins have two players in the England side to play Tonga, with Andy Gomarsall and Nick Easter having been selected alongside Mathew Tait and Jonny Wilkinson. David Strettle would undoubtedly have been at the World Cup but for a broken foot, and Samoa’s Tani Fuga and Steve So’oialo could possibly be available, since Samoa have no more matches to play.

Quins will also welcome South Africa hooker Gary Botha after the World Cup, one of their numerous signings in the summer. Others include fly-half Malone from Bath, back rower Phil Davies and South Africa and Stormers centre De Wat Barry. Several short-term contracts have also been issued, including to Kiwi scrum-half Billy Fulton following an injury to Danny Care.

Malone in particular has a hard job replacing All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens, who left for Toulon in the summer.

The Falcons have two powerhouse forwards returning to the team tomorrow, with Jason Oakes and Russell Winter coming in for Andy Perry and the injured Ben Woods, whom we all pray will be back as soon as possible from his fractured hand. Phil Dowson will play openside for us for the first time in years, although it was the position he started out in. Lee Dickson starts for the first time this season, as does Andy Long, and Steve Jones and Tom Dillon continue in the midfield.

Falcons team:

15 Matthew Burke

14 Tom May

13 Tom Dillon

12 Joe Shaw

11 John Rudd

10 Steve Jones

9 Lee Dickson

1 Joe McDonnell

2 Andy Long

3 Micky Ward

4 Jason Oakes