After the first round of games, the Pool 3 table looks like this, although Quins currently languish in fourth position after their 37 -17 loss to Stade Francais we must remember that it is still  very early in the competition.  

There were some positives to bring home from Paris. As the team retreated to Waterloo on the Eurostar with sound of Welsh siren Bonnie Tyler’s “Lost in France” ringing in their ears, they could take some comfort from the British broadsheets who were surprising complementary about our performance. Brendan Gallagher wrote in the Daily Telegraph; “Losing to a bunch of flash Parisiens dressed in skin tight boudoir pink Lycra at a Stadium where the smell of perfume easily overpowers that of Ralgex is probably no easy pill to swallow for the young buckos of Harlequins. However dean Richards men can be pleased enough with this performance against a side that should go a long way this season.” He added “Pleased in the sense that if they learn quickly not to turn over vital possession, play to the referee more and compete at this intensity for the remainder of the competition then Cardiff and Bristol are in for a tough time.”  It is accepted that perhaps referee Alain Rolland did not have one of his best games as he missed a series of French offside offences at the ruck and some serious examples of “handbags”, from which Volley received a citing, which was subsequently dismissed. This was always going to be a feisty contest, and Quins perhaps needed to wise up and adjust their game in line with the fact that this was the European Cup match not a domestic league match. It was turn-overs rather than Gallic flair that saw off Harlequins. Nick Easter commented after the match “it was good to be back and that was one of the hardest games I’ve played for a while”. As long as the lessons have been learned from this game Harlequins should be well prepared to meet a strong Cardiff team who currently head the Magners League.

We saw how Quins played in their opening Premiership games this season, and their current fourth place in the Premiership suggest that Quins have been doing something right, despite seeming to have slightly lost their way, in recent weeks. Quins supporters have debated long and hard on this subject and I think we are all as one in knowing the areas of the game where we suffer, that is no unforced errors, keep possession with no turn-overs, control the line out and make those kicks at goal count. We need to have the confidence to execute our game plan. And draw in Cardiff to the way we want to play they will not want a tight game.  

Harlequins become Cardiff’s fourth English Premiership opposition in as many weeks. Cardiff saw off a below par Sale at home at the end of October, winning 32-15 but were well beaten away from home by Leicester just a week later, 42-20. Both these matches were in the EDF Anglo Welsh. Last week Cardiff were at home to Bristol, and they took some time to overcome their visitors, 34-18,  finally scoring four tries with relative ease and picking up a valuable bonus point. What is noticeable in all three matches is the number of points scored, suggesting that this Saturday should provide plenty of action, and that Cardiff aren’t as good on the road. Perhaps we need to comfort ourselves with the knowledge that the Welsh never do well in Twickenham!

Cardiff  reached the inaugural Heineken Cup final way back in 1996, but since then they have failed to live up to their expectations. In 2006 their campaign was a prime example of such shortcomings; having been drawn in the most favourable of groups the Blues blew their qualification chances with a massive 48-3 defeat against then Guinness Premiership strugglers Leeds Tykes. Last year they were drawn, with Leicester and Munster who were both vying for top spot. Despite the quality of opposition the Blues will still have been disappointed with the nature in which they capitulated with four straight defeats. They now have a far superior squad, with the arrival of major signings such as Gareth Thomas and Paul Tito. Thomas has already impressed in his first few weeks in a Blues shirt and the former Toulousian and Welsh captain adds to the potency of an already exciting Blues back-line and he will be an instrumental figure in their Heineken campaign. Cardiff Blues also boast considerable younger talent, but have been forced to play Dai Flannigan at fly half, after Nick Robinson was ruled out after a hip injury against Leicester. The Blues will be confident of producing a positive string of results this year’s competition. Their team also includes ex Quin Mamma Molitika, whose skills have certainly improved since he left the club. Cardiff certainly started well against Bristol and they will be looking to consolidate on the last weeks result when they play at The Stoop.

Against Bristol, Cardiff initially appeared to lack confidence and took some time to realise that there was more to winning this game than trying to show off their star turns and Bristol were handed an early lead after they were able to force their way out wide for the first try. Bristol’s forward power had been predicted to motor their way through the Welsh lines with ease and Cardiff were expected suffer  the cost of not recruiting a back up fly half over the summer, after Nicky Robinson injured his hip against Leicester, which meant that academy player Dai Flanagan had to be  thrown into European competition earlier than anticipated, however it was Flanagan’s perfect chip that set Robinson up for Cardiff’s first try, but once level it took Cardiff  over an hour to turn up the pressure sufficiently to score three late tries to secure their win. After the match Cardiff Coach Dai Young said “We would have settled for that before the game but we are sensible enough to know we have another big game, without disrespect to Bristol we will have to be better going away to The Stoop,” said Young. He continued to speak at some length saying; “We need a bit more accuracy and to be prepared to go through the phases to get what you want. We want a bit more patience and a bit more composure, we need to go through one or two more phases and to be more clinical to make sure we come away with something. Our aim is the quarter-finals, last season was the only season we have been competitive in this competition but we were in a very tough group and did not quite make it. This season we are very competitive and have a focus we want to get through, but so have Harlequins, Bristol and Stade Francais – everyone wants the same thing but we want to give it our best shot this year” 

The Harlequins team, will be announced as usual at lunchtime on Friday. The second XV had a good run out on Monday night beating Bristol seconds, and it is likely that some of that team will feature in this weeks starting XV. Whoever is picked the team will need to play well and maintain discipline no turnovers, needless penalties skins otherwise it is going to Harlequins rather than Cardiff who will be Blue come the final whistle. Cardiff who announced there team on Wednesday have a pretty formidable starting XV and considerable strength and depth to be serious contenders for a quarter final places. Quins need to keep their heads and play to their strengths rather than be drawn into the oppositions’ game plan as they did against Stade Francais last weekend. Cardiff believe that they have identified the Quins strengths as being a very expansive team with ball in hand, the influence of Dean Richards means that they have tightened their forwards up and they are a typical English side with a strong scrum, driving lineout and if they can get over the gain line they will cause them problems.

This has all the signs of being a hard fought but very exciting match, Quins will not want to chalk up a second loss in a week, or indeed consecutive home games, and will need fight hard to come away with a home win. I cannot see a bonus point coming with a win unless Cardiff implode. A win will maintain Harlequins interest in this competition and keep up their momentum for the back to back matches against Bristol in December,  a loss and we will be just a another team making up the numbers, harbouring a wish that  we’d qualified for the European Challenge Cup competition, rather than the Heineken. Our home advantage has to be made to count.

A number of posters on both the Harlequins and Cardiff Blues message boards suggest that Cardiff’s Achilles heal lies at 9 with Spice and 10 with Flannigan, particularly as there is no reserve named for either position in the squad of 22 as announced. The concern is Flannigan at 10 is poor and inexperienced at this level with one poster adding,” Bristol didn't expose him because they have no backs. You do, and I expect you to make him look out of his depth” and if the ball doesn’t get to their backs Cardiff could be sunk.

Cardiff coach Dai Young has acknowledges that his Cardiff team will need to improve if they are to win away from home.

This match is tantalising poised and the adrenalin will certainly be running through our veins on Saturday afternoon. The two sides appear to have a number of similarities with their squads with home and foreign international players, so it should be set for a cracking contest. I for one cannot wait!

The Cardiff  Blues team as announced on Wednesday was;

15. Ben Blair, 14. Tom James, 13. Jamie Robinson, 12. Tom Shanklin, 11. Gareth Thomas, 10. Dai Flannigan, 9. Jason Spice, 8. Xavier Rush,7. Martyn Williams, 6. Mamma Molitika, 5. Paul Tito, 4. Deiniol Jones, 3. Taufa'ao Filise, 2. T. Rhys Thomas, 1. Gethin Jenkins,
Replacements 16. John Yapp, 17. Gareth Williams, 18. Robert Sidoli, 19. Scott Morgan, 20. Robin Sowden-Taylor, 21. Tal Selley, 22. Rhys Williams,

Come on you Quins !

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• November 2007 at Harlequins

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