Newcastle Falcons v Halequins Match Preview
By Worried of Whitton
September 24 2009
Four weeks on and Harlequins travel North this weekend still without a win. Bottom placed Quins take on tenth placed Newcastle Falcons, kick off at Kingston Park is at 8.00pm on Friday September 25th. A win of any kind, is now desperately required to revive the clubs flagging fortunes, but past Friday night games in The North have rarely produced the points.
September 24 2009
Four weeks on and Harlequins travel North this weekend still without a win. Bottom placed Quins take on tenth placed Newcastle Falcons, kick off at Kingston Park is at 8.00pm on Friday September 25th. A win of any kind, is now desperately required to revive the clubs flagging fortunes, but past Friday night games in The North have rarely produced the points.
Last week Harlequins misery continued, following the pattern of their two previous games with a solid first half performance that was squandered and frittered away in the second half. Certainly last week’s pre match discussion in the bar looked forward the game with little confidence of a home win. With their woes compounded by an increasing injury count, Harlequins supporters have been left wondering where their next win will come from as they prop up the Premiership, played 3 lost 3 and just 1 bonus point from their first game of the season. Those supporters travelling to Kingston Park tomorrow night will certainly be travelling in hope that they will rewarded with the first win of the season. The rest of us will be camped around the computer listening to match on the radio via the internet.As this is a Friday night game and the team has been announced a day early. I am surprised that ex Falcon Rory Clegg is on the bench and not given the opportunity to start against his old club. His insight and knowledge will have been drawn upon in the pre match build up. The club has announced four changes to the starting lineup that faced Saracens last week
In the backs, it is great to see the welcome the return of Gonzalo Camacho, to the wing, along with Danny Care into the scrum half position. George Lowe moves into the centres to replace the injured Jordan Turner-Hall, where he will partner Tosh Masson. This is a big ask for this centre pairing and an opportunity to shine. We really miss Tiesi and need to get him back as soon as possible .The forwards stay the same but the bench sees new summer signing James Johnston make his debut on the bench, along with Shane O’Connor who returns to the Quins line-up.
Newcastle are currently in tenth place in the Premiership after two draws against fellow Northerners, Sale and Leeds, and one loss against Leicester in a very uninspiring, try less match at Welford Road last week. Falcon’s director of rugby Steve Bates interviewed earlier this week said: “It’s always a good time for a win, but even after three games without one I’m still very optimistic on the back of what we have seen so far this season. We haven’t played to our best consistently, but I think in all three games we have seen signs of what we are capable of”.
“We’re perhaps missing a little bit of team cohesion here and there, but I’m not sure that you can really short cut that process.
“It can be the difference between getting through a small gap and not getting through, but the guys are working hard in training and the signs are positive.”
Newcastle is taking nothing for granted despite Harlequins who are also still without win, Bates added: “We can’t underestimate the quality that Harlequins have got, despite the fact that they are yet to win a game this season. Despite their injuries they still have an excellent squad to pick from, and they have quality right throughout their back row which is capable of hurting any team. They’ve got an exciting back line with an excellent kicker in Nick Evans, and we know we will have to be very efficient if we are going to put them under some pressure during the game. Quins will naturally be disappointed at the way in which they’ve started the season, but they could quite easily turn that round with the quality they have in their squad .In all fairness they’ve been unlucky in some of the games they’ve lost so far, and judging by the videos we’ve seen they’re not actually playing that badly.” Bates added “We’re going out there with the very positive mindset that we’re going to put them under a lot of pressure, but we’re also mindful that it’s going to be a massive physical contest against a dangerous side.”
Harlequins
15 Ugo Monye, 14. Davis Strettle, 13. George Lowe,12. Tosh Masson, 11. Gonzalo Comacho, 10. Nick Evans,9, Danny Care, 1.Ceri Jones, 2. Gary Botha, 3.Mark Lambert, 4. Lewis Stevenson,5.Jim Evans, 6, Chris Robshaw7. Will Skinner 8. Nick Easter
Replacements 16 Aston Croall 17 Tani Fuga, 18 James Johnston 19 Shane O’Connor
20. Tom Guest, 21. Gareth Williams 22 Rory Clegg, 23. Josh Drauniniu
9 Micky Young, 1 Jon Golding, 2 Matt Thompson, 3 Carl Hayman, 4 James Hudson, 5 Tim Swinson,
6 Peter Browne, 7 Brent Wilson, 8 Filipo Levi
Replacements: Rob Vickers, Micky Ward, Laurence Ovens, Mark Sorenson, Adam Balding, Hall Charlton, Rob Miller, Gcobani Bobo
In the backs, it is great to see the welcome the return of Gonzalo Camacho, to the wing, along with Danny Care into the scrum half position. George Lowe moves into the centres to replace the injured Jordan Turner-Hall, where he will partner Tosh Masson. This is a big ask for this centre pairing and an opportunity to shine. We really miss Tiesi and need to get him back as soon as possible .The forwards stay the same but the bench sees new summer signing James Johnston make his debut on the bench, along with Shane O’Connor who returns to the Quins line-up.
Newcastle are currently in tenth place in the Premiership after two draws against fellow Northerners, Sale and Leeds, and one loss against Leicester in a very uninspiring, try less match at Welford Road last week. Falcon’s director of rugby Steve Bates interviewed earlier this week said: “It’s always a good time for a win, but even after three games without one I’m still very optimistic on the back of what we have seen so far this season. We haven’t played to our best consistently, but I think in all three games we have seen signs of what we are capable of”.
“We’re perhaps missing a little bit of team cohesion here and there, but I’m not sure that you can really short cut that process.
“It can be the difference between getting through a small gap and not getting through, but the guys are working hard in training and the signs are positive.”
Newcastle is taking nothing for granted despite Harlequins who are also still without win, Bates added: “We can’t underestimate the quality that Harlequins have got, despite the fact that they are yet to win a game this season. Despite their injuries they still have an excellent squad to pick from, and they have quality right throughout their back row which is capable of hurting any team. They’ve got an exciting back line with an excellent kicker in Nick Evans, and we know we will have to be very efficient if we are going to put them under some pressure during the game. Quins will naturally be disappointed at the way in which they’ve started the season, but they could quite easily turn that round with the quality they have in their squad .In all fairness they’ve been unlucky in some of the games they’ve lost so far, and judging by the videos we’ve seen they’re not actually playing that badly.” Bates added “We’re going out there with the very positive mindset that we’re going to put them under a lot of pressure, but we’re also mindful that it’s going to be a massive physical contest against a dangerous side.”
| Newcastle Falcons have received a boost with Micky Young, Jimmy Gopperth and Danny Williams all passed fit to start the Kingston Park clash all have returned from their respective injuries and are part of |
| a side showing six changes from last week’s visit to Leicester. Carl Hayman who was injured in the clash at Leicester will also start in the front row and his presence will be massive. Whilst Newcastle may dominate the pack, Quins should have the upper hand in the backs, provided that they keep the ball and not keep handing it back to the opposition.Harlequins need a break, but if they are to take anything from this game they are going to have to work hard for it, they can do it but have to believe in themselves. An away win on a Friday night is difficult but is achievable. Come on You Quins! |
Harlequins
15 Ugo Monye, 14. Davis Strettle, 13. George Lowe,12. Tosh Masson, 11. Gonzalo Comacho, 10. Nick Evans,9, Danny Care, 1.Ceri Jones, 2. Gary Botha, 3.Mark Lambert, 4. Lewis Stevenson,5.Jim Evans, 6, Chris Robshaw7. Will Skinner 8. Nick Easter
Replacements 16 Aston Croall 17 Tani Fuga, 18 James Johnston 19 Shane O’Connor
20. Tom Guest, 21. Gareth Williams 22 Rory Clegg, 23. Josh Drauniniu
Newcastle Falcons 15 Alex Tait, 14 Danny Williams, 13 Rob Vickerman, 12 Tane Tu’ipulotu, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Jimmy Gopperth,
9 Micky Young, 1 Jon Golding, 2 Matt Thompson, 3 Carl Hayman, 4 James Hudson, 5 Tim Swinson,
6 Peter Browne, 7 Brent Wilson, 8 Filipo Levi
Replacements: Rob Vickers, Micky Ward, Laurence Ovens, Mark Sorenson, Adam Balding, Hall Charlton, Rob Miller, Gcobani Bobo
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