Harlequins
Preview: Harlequins vs Wasps
By Wyddy
February 5 2014
“What’s this? The Aviva Premiership?? I think I remember you, ah yes we had some good times back in the day, so good to see you! I’m sorry I cheated on you with the LV Cup.... it meant nothing to me, and to be honest never came close to matching you... What’s that? The Heineken Cup? I don’t know what you’re talking about Viv, look check the paper, we’re not even in it! Oh it’s good to have you back... give us a chance?”
The first of those chances to solidify our playoff position which hangs precariously at the moment is against Wasps. It seems so long since we had Premiership action this is going to be a welcome return to normality. Whilst shorn of our England quartet who were a great advertisement for the club last weekend, we have a number of injuries coming back and a couple of players who need to prove their form for the last stages of the season.
Wasps will be fairly unhindered by the 6 Nations call ups, able to call on all of their first teamers excluding Launchberry as Matt Mullan has been released back to the club. They’ve had a pretty up and down season so far, but in their last 10 games they have only lost 2, admittedly that has been fleshed out with some Amlin tonkings. However they’re only 1 point behind us in 6th place and a win at the Stoop will see them jump into playoff contention. What’s even more concerning is if Quins don’t win this game any one of up to 4 teams could leapfrog us and leave us potentially languishing in 8th place!
Expect a sizeable pack to be picked by Dai Young with Mullan, Festuccia and Swainston making up a combative front row unit and being backed up in the tight five by Palmer and Myall. The back row will go one of two ways, either going with the joint power and size of Johnson and Haskell or bringing in Guy Thompson for a bit more speed to play alongside Sam Jones at 8. The half back pairing will be Simpson and probably Andy Goode, who will be looking to put the hurt on Quins after fluffing his lines in the season opener to hand us the points.
In the backs with the return to fitness of Andrea Masi, expect him to take the 13 shirt as he feels his way back in after a lay off. Daly will likely continue at full back where he has consistently proven himself this season as he knocks on Lancasters door. With the unfortunate injuries to flyers who have cut Quins apart before, expect Dai Young to field ex England U20’s player, Josh Bassett with Tongan winger, William Helu.
Expect the Wasps game plan will be based on moving our pack around and sending Johnson and Haskell in to break the line and to unsurprisingly slow down Quins ball. If they can stop quick ball going to the Quins backs and wrap up players in the tackle, this will give them time to swamp Quins efforts to pour through the centre and offload. Fully expect a lot of rumbling forward play by a heavy Wasps pack.
Quins will be stretched a little thinner with the loss of starting England players, Brown, Care, Marler and captain Robshaw. In their place the squad players have been stepping up and whilst they were put to the sword in Cardiff they performed admirably against a devastated Tigers team. Quins continue to cling to 4th place in the Premiership, however their form has been patchy and in the last 5 Prem games they have won 3 and lost 2 to Bath and Northampton. With a series of tough games at the back end of the season including home games to rivals, Leicester and Bath, Quins need to put down a marker here.
Expect Conor to turn to Mark Lambert at loosehead alongside England Saxon, dynamo Dave Ward at hooker. At tight head, Paul Doran-Jones has finally started putting in a couple of performances that befit his standing as a sometime international. Whether this is through finally getting fit or assimilating into the squad who knows, but it’s very welcome, especially with the uncertainty over Will Colliers fitness, expect him to start at tighthead. Slotting in behind them will be ever present, George Robson and one of either Nick Kennedy or Charlie Matthews. Kennedy has been slightly disappointing for me since his return to fitness, for a man of his experience, whilst he certainly adds to the lineout, I don’t think he brings the grunt in the set piece or at the breakdown that Matthews does. Hopefully if selected he will avoid being the second man to the ruck and simply bracing and get their first and clear out the inevitable Wasps efforts to slow our ball.
Speaking of which our own jackals and busters are pretty well stocked, Big Mo may miss out after picking up a knock at Cardiff, but Tom Guest should be fit to return at blindside. Luke Wallace, who many expected big things of with the Saxons will be looking to show more than he did against the Wolfhounds and Scottish A. A lot of commentators picked up on his positioning on the wing rather than at the breakdown when the Saxons didn’t have the ball, something that has befuddled the hell out of me this season for Quins. Nick Easter will return at No8 to add some ballast to the group and solidity at the set piece, let’s hope he continues in the same awesome form he has been in for most of the season.
Moving to the half backs, Karl Dickson will start, and with the added gametime he has slowly begun to recapture some form, his replacement on the bench Sam Stuart has come on in some recent games and he has to start putting some pressure on Karl. I can’t see any way in which Evans won’t be recalled from fishing to play at fly half, Botica has been erratic at best this season and for such an important game we need our best players in their best positions. As the 3 Wise Monkeys who sit behind me so often point out... ‘not bad for a kiwi’.
In the backs Matt Hopper took a bit of a knock against the Wolfhounds but if fit, expect him to return to partner fit again, Jordan Turner-Hall. JTH possibly playing for his future at the club with his contract expiring at the end of the season. In the back 3, Sam Smith could line up only a week after it was announced he will be leaving for pastures new, expect him to team up with Ugo on the other wing and Ollie Lindsay-Hague playing at 15. A quick word to say thank you to Sammy for his dedication to the team, his strike rate is certainly impressive and am sure he will rip things up with Worcester, many thanks and all the best to him next season.
On the bench; Marfo, Gray, Sinckler/Collier, Kennedy/Matthews, Trayfoot, Stuart, Botica, Sackey.
Whilst mentioning the bench, it’s only fair after months of castigation to recognise a good performance by sometime pantomime villain of Block FC, Paul Sackey, against Leicester. It can only be hoped we see more of Paul Sackey and less of Milli Vanilli in the event he takes to the pitch for the first team again this season.
I’m going to avoid mentioning anything about new signings until the season is over, the impetus and the passion comes from the lads who pull on the quarters now, and there’ll be plenty of time to discuss 2014/15 once the season’s over.
If Quins have are to make the playoffs this season this is a must win game, whoever wins this can push on and make a top 4 place their own. The top two places arguable are gone now and we must make ground on Bath.
For me this is a passionate encounter, and given the damp outlook for Sunday, this will be a day for keeping things tight and taking the points when on offer. With our halfbacks, I think this can be the turning point, Quins by 5 pts for me.
COYQ!!!!!!!!!!!!
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon05/02/2014 12:52
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit: and upon this charge,
Cry — God for Harry! England and Saint George
The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit: and upon this charge,
Cry — God for Harry! England and Saint George
Strong wasps team with fewer missing through call ups an injury than us by the looks of things.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to bleat about it all over the internet"
