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Lots of International Quins
By Prof
May 28 2008
So Mike Ross played his first senior game for Ireland against the Barbarians in his country's first win over the invitational side. Unfortunately he only played for ten minutes or so before picking up a bit of an injury to his knee. [Injury update: Grade 1 medial ligament strain, 1-3 weeks out, should be OK for the Churchill Cup].
The next game for the Barbarians is against a new look England team, the look of the team has been forced on Johnson et al. because of the Premiership Final between Leicester Tigers and London Wasps.

The England team has no less than seven Harlequins players in it with Nick Easter being announced as captain too.

Mike Brown, who has been signalled out by Johnson as the stand out performer at fullback this season, has done the whole of England a great favour by replacing Balshaw in the squad - can a knighthood be far away for the young Quins 15?!

Dave Strettle regains his place on the win in spite of not having much game time recently. Although both Quins and England have a number of excellent wings available Stretts does have that little extra something that gets the crowd going and defenders trembling.

Will Skinner is beside captain Easter in the back row - it's nice to see an out and out 7 in an England shirt and Skinner's pace and mastery of the dark arts will be good to see on show for England.

Easter is one of those dependable players who never lets the team down, he has a Richards-esque ability to always seem to be in the right place at the right time. Even when under pressure at the back of the scrum he always seems to make yards and never seems to cough up the ball.

Then we have Danny Care on the bench - how he's not starting is anyone's guess. He wrested the 9 shirt at Quins away from So'oialo and Gommarsall and outplayed the likes of Wigglesworth, Ellis et al in the Premiership. His explosive speed from the breakdown catches a lot of defenders out and means that defenders have to keep an extra eye on him giving those outside him more time to play.

The final two Quins are speedsters too - Ugo may have lost a little of the pace he had a couple of years ago, but he is a far more rounded player than he's ever been. His inclusion shows how well the England selectors are doing these days. Finally Tom Guest - the home grown number eight, he has had a fantastic season and it just goes to show the strength in depth that Quins have in the back row. Although where Guest may come on isn't certain, with Narraway on the pitch at 6 there are already two capped 8's in the starting XV.

Chris Robshaw must be feeling a bit disappointed to be the only Quins player in the original training squad, after all he has been an outstanding blindside for the season. Here's hoping the experience will stand in him good stead for the coming years.

The fact that three of the players have all come through the Academy shows how well Russ, Osbourne and Diprose have been doing over the past few years.

Good luck England, especially the Quins boys.

Full squad: M Brown (Harlequins); T Ojo (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle), T Flood (Newcastle), D Strettle (Harlequins); C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks); N Lloyd (Saracens), D Paice (London Irish), J Hobson (Bristol), C Jones (Sale Sharks), N Kennedy (London Irish), L Narraway (Gloucester), W Skinner (Harlequins), N Easter (Harlequins, captain).
Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Newcastle), S Hooper (Leeds Carnegie), T Guest (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), P Richards (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins).

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Lots of International Quins
Posted by: ComeAllWithin.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 28/05/2008 14:40

Lots of International Quins

Re: Lots of International Quins
Posted by: southquin (IP Logged)
Date: 28/05/2008 15:22

Do you think Nike could produce quartered shirt by Sunday

Re: Lots of International Quins
Posted by: Alanquin (IP Logged)
Date: 28/05/2008 18:35

- "can a nighthood be far away for the young Quins 15?"

What exactly is that, Prof? Latest in pajamas or is worn in place of a hoodie?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:05:28:18:36:54 by Alanquin.

Re: Lots of International Quins
Posted by: QuinAlan (IP Logged)
Date: 28/05/2008 21:25

Quote:
Mike Brown, who has been signalled out by Johnson as the stand out performer at fullback this season, has done the whole of England a great favour by replacing Balshaw in the squad

Here, Blo@dy Here !!!!!!!!

Just hope Mike can grab his opportunity this time. Best of luck.

Re: Lots of International Quins
Posted by: Squirrel Nutquin (IP Logged)
Date: 28/05/2008 21:29

Anyone who replaces Balshaw deserves a large gong! Great!

Re: Lots of International Quins
Posted by: mabosa ritchie (IP Logged)
Date: 29/05/2008 06:06

they dont get caps for this do they?

Re: Lots of International Quins
Posted by: Heath Quinn (IP Logged)
Date: 29/05/2008 08:57

No

Re: Lots of International Quins
Posted by: Battering Ram Winger (IP Logged)
Date: 29/05/2008 09:37

Quote:
southquin
Do you think Nike could produce quartered shirt by Sunday

If Nike ever get involved with Quins' merchandising I will raze The Stoop to the ground.

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