By KevT
February 5 2004

With Quins lying in equal fourth, there is a huge opportunity to make up some ground on those around Quins. Northampton are in the final play off place and they play Rotherham at home so Quins are unlikely to make up much ground on them. Quins have made eight changes to the team that started against Brive last week, but there are couple of significant changes to the team that played Brive away the week before. The major change in the forwards is that Ace Tiatia returns to the bench and Tony Diprose to Number Eight. Andre Vos plays open side flanker and Pat Sanderson is at blind side. Scot Bemand comes in at scrum half and Simon Keogh moves to the wing.

Mark Evans has had to make some very tough decisions again this week. Tony Diprose’s move from bench to Number Eight at the expense of Ace Tiatia looks like a horses for courses selection. I would guess that Mark feels that a Vos / Hill match up at open side and a Diprose / Randall match up at Number eight would be better than Sanderson / Hill and Vos / Randall. I would not have moved Keogh to the wing. I think a great deal of credit for Quins’ ability to score tries in recent weeks and for Paul Burke’s improved performance must go to Keogh’s better pass. Bemand has been playing well and perhaps Mark feels that his more physical approach will be an advantage against the disruptive Bracken.

Quins’ Number Eight Tony Diprose acknowledged that there are difficult decisions to make with this squad. “By a long way. You just have to look at my area, the back row. There’s myself, Andre (Vos), Pat (Sanderson), Luke (Sheriff), Ace (Tiatia), Roy (Winters), Kai (Horstmann) and that’s without considering Jim Evans and Simon Miall who are second rows who can also play in the front row. It’s a highly competitive area and there’s always going to be at least a couple of people disappointed as I have been a couple of times recently. There’s tremendous competition in the front row. Paul Burke would say the same as he has been pushed into playing his best rugby by Andy Dunne and Adrian Jarvis. There wasn’t that competition when I joined the club. There’s a good buzz about the place at the moment. It was great to get through to the Semi Final of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup but we have to forget about that competition now and concentrate on two tough matches in three weeks against two Derby matches.”

Quins’ faced a difficult game against Brive last week. “It was a difficult game. Brive were very motivated and perhaps there was a hangover from a tough match at The Stoop the previous Saturday plus another really tough match against the Sharks on Tuesday night. Both matches probably took their toll but we didn’t play that well last week.”

Turning to the match against Saracens this week, I asked Tony if playing against his former club added a bit more spice. For myself, it’s a big game. I have a lot of friends who I keep in touch with at the club. I was there for ten years so yes it’s good to play against them and meet up with your friends afterwards. Saracens league position belies the talent at the club. They haven’t done themselves justice so far. When you have players like Richard Hill who I know made me look good over a number of years and Taine Randell you know you’re in for a tough encounter but I’m looking forward to it.”

Quins face a Saracens team in flux. Rumours persist that Head Coach Rod Kafer has accepted an offer to be assistant coach to Eddie Jones for the Australian team. They have recruited Steve Diamond from Sale as forwards coach although I wouldn’t mind betting that his role could be expanded if Kafer leaves. On the playing front Saracens lie eleventh in the league. Injuries and World Cup absence have played a big part in what has been a very disappointing season for them. Kieran Bracken, Richard Hill, Raphael Ibanez, Morgan Williams and Nicky Little were in Australia. They have suffered a number of injuries in the last few weeks. Alex Codling has damaged ankle ligaments and will be out for some weeks. Tight head prop and ex Springbok Cobus Visagie has been suffering from a back complaint and he misses Saturday’s match. Thomas Castainede has a leg injury which has cleared up. Kevin Sorell has just returned from a long absence.

In the front row Steven Sparks, an Englishman who has spent a long time in France, has done an adequate job at loose head prop but has not had the same impact as David Flatman who he replaced and who is now at Bath. Raphael Ibanez has arrived from World Cup duty with France but he has been dropped this week. His line out throwing has been good to Alex Colding but he failed to find Simon Raiwlui and Craig Yandell against Montferrand last week. Ibanez has been dropped this week and Sarries say that this is because of injury. I can’t see how an injury can effect your throwing into the line out. Scottish international hooker Robbie Russell takes his place. He is quick, but can he hit his jumpers? The Saracens line out was a complete mess last week and I would imagine that this has been a significant focus for Saracens this week ahead of Quins’ visit. The absence of Cobus Viasagie will put a big strain on Sarries’ scrum. He has been their bed rock and Broster may well struggle against Ceri Jones. Simon Raiwalui is big, aggressive Fiian second row. He physical in a Martin Johnson / Mark Andrewes way. Craig Yandell is young but has yet to make the impact that his talent has indicated he might bring. The battle of the back rows will be very interesting. Current England Under 21 international Ben Skirving plays blind side flanker. He is 6’ 5” and sixteen and a half stone so will add a bit of height at the back of the line out. It is noticeable that the Sarries supporters would prefer Kris Chesney or Ben Russell who are on the bench. Richard Hill plays open side and his battle with Andre Vos will be one to watch. This is Hill’s second match following a period of injury caused by Troy Flavell’s swinging arm in the England vs New Zealand Barbarians match. Taine Randell is one of the top Number Eights in world rugby and his presence in the Sarries side makes a huge diference to their ball carrying ability through their forwards and their defence.

Kyran Bracken forms what in theory is a very special half back pairing with Thomas Casteignede. The question many Sarries supporters have been asking is whether Bracken is the best scrum half at the club. The back problem that troubled him at the World Cup seems to continue to trouble him and his pass is a little more laboured than it has been. He causes disruption for the opposition sscrum half but many Sarries supporters feel that Canadian scrum half Morgan Williams would be a better selection. Castaignede is a brilliant player. He played magnificently against Quins at Vicarage Road earlier in the season. The question is whether Fly Half is his best position. He doesn’t have the time that he has at Full Back. Andre Vos will certainly be keeping an eye on him on Saturday afternoon and will be hoping to put some pressure on him given the lack of fizz on Bracken’s pass. Kevin Sorrell returns at inside centre after a long period of absence with injury. He is a very strong runner and forms an effective partnership with England international Ben Johnston. Their midfield defence is good and they have played together a number of seasons so have a good understanding.

Richard Haughton on the left wing is lightning quick and he caused Quins a number of problems at Vicarage Road. Darragh O’Mahoney is an underrated wing on the left. He is a good footballer who links well and works hard. At Full Back, Sarries have chosen Robbie Kydd who is a recent signing from Bath. He played outside centre for Bath but can play Full Back or Fly Half. He is a New Zealand Under 21 international and a number of both fans were disappointed to see him go.

Quins and Saracens matches are often high scoring and entertaining affairs. At Vicarage Road this season Quins lost 39 – 33 in what was one of their poorer performances. Andy Goode since transferred from Saracens had a storming match. The addition of Richard Hill will help Saracens but this is a much stronger Quins side than the one that lost earlier in the season. Quins must not allow a talented Sarries back line any space.Greenwood marshals the Quins’ backs defence excellently but it is the match up at front that may decide the result. Quins’ set piece is stronger than Saracens. Will Sarries be able to secure enough possession for their excellent back line to outscore Quins. I can’t see it. I think the battle will be won by Quins’ front five.

NEC Harlequins: 15 Gavin Duffy;14 George Harder; 13 Will Greenwood; 12 Mel Deane; 11 Simon Keogh; 10 Paul Burke; 9 Scott Bemand; 1 Ceri Jones; 2 Tani Fuga; 3 Jason Leonard; 4 Karl Rudzki; 5 Jim Evans; 6 Pat Sanderson; 7 Andre Vos; 8 Tony Diprose

Replacements: 16 Ace Tiatia; 17 Jon Dawson; 18 Mike Worsley; 19 Bill Davison; 20 Roy Winters
21 Rob Jewell; 22 Andy Dunne


Saracens: 15. Robbie Kydd; 14. Richard Haughton; 13. Ben Johnston; 12. Kevin Sorrell; 11. Darragh O’Mahony; 10. Thomas Castaignede; 9. Kyran Bracken; 1. Steven Sparks; 2. Robbie Russell; 3. Ben Broster; 4. Simon Raiwalui; 5. Craig Yandell; 6. Ben Skirving; 7. Richard Hill; 8. Taine Randell

Replacements: 16. Raphael Ibanez; 17. Emiliano Bergamaschi; 18. Kris Chesney; 19. Ben Russell; 20. Morgan Williams; 21. Paul Bailey; 22. Dennis Cech