By Worried of Whitton
January 23 2009

Harlequins complete their successful Heineken Cup campaign in the Pool matches with their final match against Scarlets from Llanelli. The kick off at The Stoop is once again at 13.35 as the match is being shown live on Sky Sports.

Harlequins have already qualified for the quarter finals of this competition, but this match is any but a formality, as Quins fight to secure a coveted home tie, whilst their opponents will be looking to improve their final in the Pool 4 table.

The Pool 4 table after five matches shows no changes after last week’s matches.  There’s lovely!

The Harlequins team and supporters enjoyed a roller coaster of emotions last weekend, as they lost their 100% record in this season’s competition in the 21-10 deluge at Ravenhill last Saturday, The foul weather coupled with what appeared to be a bizarre substitution decision, had appeared to have washed away most of Quin’s Heineken hopes on Saturday night. Just 24 hours  later the tears of sadness had become tears of joy, as the unexpected result of  an “injury ravaged” Scarlets beat Stade Francais at Parc y Scarlets by 31 points to 17, a result that meant Quins were one of two sides who qualified early for the next round.

Hopes and aspirations were high among the quartered shirts as they headed for Belfast last weekend, an away win was certainly on the cards, but the minimum requirement of a bonus point would help keep the pressure on Stade Francais who were expected to win in Wales. Fate, however, had conjured up the sixteenth man for Ulster in the form of a deep weather depression hat tracked across the province during the match. The original forecast had suggested the weather deterioration would occur after the match, but Quins defeat cannot be blamed on the weather, although it certainly did not help as Richards revealed that two of the players had to be wrapped in survival blankets after the match. Aspirations may have been high but the team did not show that to be the case and ill discipline once again cost the team dearly in the first half of the match. The “game of two halves” format that we have come to expect this season reappeared in the second half as Quins clawed their way back playing with the howling gale; a penalty try brought them to be just six points behind with seven minutes to go and the precious bonus point. Quins won a kickable penalty, but the anticipation was soon washed away as we were stunned to see Evans being substituted before the kick was taken. A bizarre action which instantly brought the message board alive, after the match we learned of the farcical nature of this move from a furious Dean Richards. That act gave the match to the home side as degenerated to un contested scrums and a late break away try for the home side.

So it was this week’s opponents that put Harlequins through to the last eight. Quins defeat in Belfast had presented Stade Francais with a golden opportunity at least to take Pool 4 into this weekend’s final round. A sublime performance from the Scarlets saw off the dreams of Stade and eased the fears of Harlequins, seeing them through. Ironically Scarlets had started the match at the same pace as their opening pool match against Harlequins back in October. As we know on that day they switched off at half time, and from that point their season deteriorated. Their performance on Sunday showed that they may have turned the corner, and will be up to prevent Quins from securing a home advantage.

The hard work remains for Harlequins they need to secure the double over the Scarlets  with not only a win but with a bonus point to ensure a home tie, but will also need to rely on the other deciding pool matches to go their way.  Scarlets have named a strong side despite numerous injuries in their squad so the task will not be easy for the home side.

Harlequins along with Cardiff Blues are the only two teams that have already qualified. There is still all to play for in the other four pools, with the winners going through on merit and the two highest scoring runners up going through.  There a number of interesting ties this weekend as in Pool 1 Munster need a bonus point victory against Montauban to guarantee a home tie in the next round, In Pool 2 Leinster would top the pool with a bonus point home win over Edinburgh, whilst a Wasps win at Castres could see them qualify with a bonus point win. In Pool 3 Leicester travel to Swansea to play Ospreys, and a win would seal a home tie. Ospreys need a win possibly with a bonus point to progress. A win for Bath in Pool 5 will see them through, but Toulouse currently just one point behind can top the pool with a bonus point win. Gloucester are away to Biarritz in Pool 6 and need a bonus point to stand a realistic chance of going through.

The calculators have been out all week weighing all the permutations of whether Quins will be at home. The simplest answer is Wait and see, but Quins  still have a mathematical chance of finishing as the forth placed team, losing out on the bonus point last weekend could be critical. A five point bonus win has to be this goal. Finishing fourth overall Quins would host the team that finish fifth.  By tea time on Sunday all will have been revealed!

Come on you Quins!