By Wyddy
September 26 2014

Season back on track? Lightning strike against Sarries? All is well on the good ship Harlequin? 

A closer win than necessary against Wasps would have most believe that the collapse against Saracens was a flash in the pan, a perfect alignment of negative influences. However whilst the depth of the defeat may have been due to Snapper having stepped on a lego block or DC reaching for the exfoliation lotion rather than the brylcreem, the reasons remain. 

Quins got out of the traps slowly against Wasps, a mazy run from Tom Varndell where he evaded more tackles than points we’d scored in the last 100 minutes of rugby, culminated in a try for Guy Thompson early doors. This was then added to by a couple of unerring penalties from the boot of Andy Goode, fortunately Botica had brought his shooting boots this week. Whilst we failed to find the try line by crabbing across the field we did turn up a couple of penalties, Robshaw even getting in on the act of back rowers trying kicks beyond the defence only to find Goode, and the handling errors were noticeably down on the previous week. Half time the score stood at 9-13 to the visitors, with Quins probably shading it on performance, more of the same beckoned in the second period but we had kept Wade quiet. However, for a good fifteen minute spell Quins managed to string their performance together, the scrum stabilised and we started supporting the ball carriers. Robshaw was making yards, as was young Harry Sloan, support runners were on the shoulder and whilst the brand of adventurous offloads were at a minimum we were putting Wasps under severe pressure. They tried to counter by forcing the defensive line as Sarries did to us the previous week and Danny pinged them right back with a chip over the line which Wade inexplicably failed to ground only to see the onrushing Robshaw convert. This was swiftly followed by a piece of free thinking by Botica, who also chipped over the defence and was on course to collect before being blatantly tripped by Kearnan Myall who cost his team a yellow and a penalty try for the offence. 

This brought a rush of blood to Quins heads and naturally we let Wasps back into it after Care had slotted a sweetly taken drop goal with his left foot. Par for the course we were left thanking Goode’s misfiring boots and a defence which held out for the last 3 points. Still a much needed win over a Wasps team who had been firing in their first 2 games of the season. 

The concerns are still there though, the scrum once again struggled, the back line never really got motoring and whilst the handling was better, there were times when it just demolished our forward momentum with basic errors. Quins seem far off an 80 minute performance at present. 

However there were positives that came out of the Wasps win, Charlie Matthews came to the fore and was noticeably galvanised with his efforts to stoke the fires of competition, not to mention a neat by line in juggling as he managed to control 2 potential fumbles. Wallace also joined him, adding a bit of fire to his play, he was much more noticeable around the park and whilst still not back to his form of a season and a half ago his performance was improved. Robshaw has been hailed in the press for engineering this comeback, however anyone who watches him, or indeed listens to Conor, knows that his performance was only slightly better than against Saracens when he was let down more by those around him. 

In the backs Sloan gave a good account of himself although a number of us are surprised at the tackle missed count which seems to be a tad out of kilter with seeing the display. Turner-Hall was thrown a couple of hideous passes which he didn’t manage to claim and seemed to focus himself on doing the simple things better. Our wings were a bit more involved, Yarde showing that he has a serious leg drive, and Tikoirutuma proving himself much more willing to get stuck in. Brown played his usual game at fullback, inspiring those around him and generally playing flawlessly. However he has found it much harder to break the first tackle this season as teams look to double up on him knowing that he prefers to take the contact rather than offload. 

Our half back pairing probably worked the best it has this season, Care was back to his usual self, although still sometimes tries too hard to pull off the miracle pass. His drop goal was a thing of beauty and he helped create even though his pack were going backwards on a number of occasions. Botica grew into the game, he will be helped by having a run to give him the confidence that he doesn’t always have to play a safe game. His decision making is sometimes questionable, kicking away possession a little too often and passing to Care for him to take into contact was a bit of an error. However this will come as he feels more comfortable in the 10 shirt, the penalty try was all through his construction and quick thinking, and for the first time this season we had a fly half who could slot our points. When Evans is back and fit, the main question for Conor is does he continue to give Ben a run or risk destroying his rising confidence by benching him immediately for Snapper. 

Up front the addition of Dave Ward to the pack gives Quins a little something extra, his speed around the park not to mention what he adds to the breakdown really gives the team a boost. He has to start against Chiefs after that performance. The only member of the pack last week who may be a little at risk is Kyle Sinckler. He wasn’t shown up the way Tom Court at the Double Header, but he doesn’t seem to have the game plan at scrum time to adapt his approach if it’s going wrong or if he’s being driven up. Once again he also succumbed to the red mist when he chased to get involved in the scrap that Yarde had started with Goode in the corner. Is it time to give Will Collier a go? The paucity of heavy weight replacements means that we may well have to learn to deal with a retreating scrum in a number of games this season, and heaven help us when we play Bath. However 9 times out of 10 Easter manages to get it away from the base and into the hands of Care to save us from the inevitable pens if we’re slow at hooking out. 

Worryingly the A team have also struggled, recently being shown up at London Welsh. According to the reports the pack was dominated once again, that’s a pack that includes Lambert, Buchanan, Merrick, Trayfoot, Clifford and Collier!!! Is there a malaise in the forwards of the club? Have we sacrificed too much at the altar of agility and mobility that we now no longer have the power to dominate opposition forwards? It’s great having the gems that we do in the back three, but we first have to earn the right to play it, then not kick possession away, get it past the centres and then see what they can do with it! Conor once said we would never lose not knowing what would have happened if we hadn’t put 100% in. That’s all we as fans want to see. 

Heading down to Sandy Park this weekend may not have the same hoodoo as it once did over Quins, it traditionally has been an unhappy hunting ground however last seasons harum scarum encounter with Tom Guest sealing a tight win may give the visitors some comfort. 

Exeter have started this season like a freight train. Annihilating a poor Welsh side, and narrowly going down to Leicester Tigers in the first couple of weeks of the season before taking a trip up to Gloucester to play the reinforced Cherry n Whites. Gloucester came out firing early doors at Castle Grim and scored through Jonny May and Dan Murphy, however Exeter proved their grit in coming back strongly to lead Glaws 25-12. Superb tenacity and accuracy from their fly half, Steenson, ably assisted by young English centre pairing Henry Slade (recently celebrating signing a new contract) and Sam Hill. This 10,12,13 axis typifies all that is great about Exeter. Steenson provides the experience, whilst there is serious potential in both Slade and Hill, Slade usually plays at fly half but Rob Baxter has played him in the centres the past couple of games with good results. He was recently included in an England training camp and is very much in Lancasters thinking although the World Cup may come too soon for him – especially with the competition for that particular spot being red hot at the moment. He is a fly half who plays right up to the line, not afraid to take a hit to enable the pass to come off at the very last moment, he also has a howitzer of a boot, landing from 50 yards plus in this game. Sam Hill is another tough fella, with a low centre of gravity who has already proved that he has line breaking potential from the outside channel. 

The back row of Waldrom, Ewers and Ben White competed with the Gloucester back line ferociously on the day and the momentum swung back to Gloucester in the second half as they tried to overcome a harsh yellow to Kvesic. Steenson potted another penalty from the resulting spot kick and from then on Gloucester chased Exeter hard but were ultimately frustrated in a blood and thunder tie. 

Apart from the aforementioned triumvirate of Steenson, Slade and Hill, you can also add in England winger, Jack Nowell (recently returned from an injury layoff), either Matt Jess or Ian Whitten and Chrysander Botha at full back then you have a back line that can hurt teams with quick ball. If there is a weakness to Exeter then it’s at scrum half and potentially the front 3, Haydn Thomas is capable enough but isn’t the quickest around the fringes and will be in for an uncomfortable day if Care is in the sort of form of last week where he was all over Simpson. If Thomas doesn’t make it this week we could be in for an extended look at Will Chudley, formerly of the parish of Newcastle. Exeter could prove to be a little light in the front three with the retirement of Chris Whitehead pushing Jack Yeandle to the fore at hooker, who usually been partnered by Ben Moon and the very impressive, Tomas Francis. Moray Low, signed from Glasgow in the close season has yet to make an impact for Chiefs and when he came on against Gloucester was noticeably pinged by sir. This could be an area Quins look to exploit, and certainly if Marler has eyes on retaining the No 1 shirt for England he needs to show some level of destruction at scrum time. Conversely with Sinckler on the other side, this could be an area the more experienced Ben Moon looks to gain an advantage. 

As mentioned earlier there’s no ignoring Exeters back row, and Thomas Waldrom has started his Exeter career like a steam train… oh yes. With Dave Ewers trucking it up all day next to him they have some serious crashball carriers. The size of these two it amazes me what great engines… oh yes… they have, they’re continuously up off the deck quicker than the rest and then up on the rails to rumble over as well. Quins back row should relish this match up as it seems tailor made for both sides, both are pretty mobile with wily old campaigners at No8, some serious big hits to be expected between Easter and Waldrom. 

With sir this week being Andrew Small, hopefully Marler will continue his banter with him and stay on the right side. With two sides who will want to run the ball at each other I always look forward to these games against Chiefs. However the passion has to be there, it can’t just be brought to the fore because they were hurting after Saracens. It shouldn’t need a rocket to get the determination and the niggle back into the side. 

Head before heart this week. Chiefs by 7pts. 

COYQ!!!!