By KevT
February 7 2003

NEC Harlequins take on the Sale Sharks on Saturday 8th February at The Stoop (kick off 3.00pm) and will try to put in a performance to erase the memory of a humiliating second half performance against Newcastle Falcons. Quins will be playing an in form Sale Sharks who have in Conor O’Shea’s words “the best back line in the premiership bar none.”

Quins make two changes to the team who started against Newcastle. Rob Jewell replaces Matt Moore. Bruce Starr comes in for Jon Dawson, with Jason Leonard switching to tight head prop.

Sale Sharks are likely to name the same side that started and beat London Irish at The Majeski Stadium last week. Sale have an awesome looking back line. I’m really looking forward to seeing Bryan Redpath and Charlie Hodgson at half back. Hodgson has been described by Paul Turner as “a box of tricks”. He has wonderful hands, a great turn of pace and brings other players into the game. He is a an old fashioned fly half and a number of commentators have suggested that England should start with him and put Jonny Wilkinson at inside centre.

Sale have Aussie Grahame Bond at inside centre. In my opinion he is a world class player. He is strong with a wonderful step and is complimented by the excellent Dan Harris outside him. That threat on its own might be enough to worry Quins fans but out wide Sale have the strong and direct Steve Hanley and Mark Cueto. At Full Back The Sharks have, in Nathan Williams, words “the best player I’ve played against in the League” Jason Robinson who is coming back to his England form.

At loose head prop Sale have Kevin Yates the former Bath and Wellington Hurricanes player who has also represented England. Yates is a tough no nonsense player as Brendan Venter found out last Saturday. A nasty altercation between the two of them resulted in Yates going to the sin bin. At hooker Sharks have the promising 22 year old Andy Titterall who has represented England at every level except full international. At tight head former Bristol Shogun Barry Stewart is likely to play. Stewart has five full caps for Scotland. With Jason Leonard switching to tight head, Quins are unlikely to be able to gain much advantage in the scrum.

In the second row Chris Jones plays. Jones, has been picked ahead of Alex Codling for the England “A” team and is best remembered for outsprinting Austin Healey for a try at the beginning of the season. I favour Codling to give the athletic Jones a lesson in the line out. At only 15 stone Jones is at the lighter end of the second row scale. Jones is partnered by another youngster in 23 year old Dean Schofield.

In the back row Sale have the abrasive Peter Anglesea at blind side flanker. At open side England international Alex Sanderson (brother of Quins’ own Pat) plays and at number eight Austrlain “A” international Stuart Pinkerton will play.

When Quins played Sale in September the Quins forwards gave the Sharks forwards a hard time. It is in this area that Quins hopes must lie. In the past couple of weeks Codling has put pressure on Ben Kay and cleaned up against Newcastle and Bristol’s Gareth Archer. Quins forwards managed to stop Sale playing their own game and Quins were very disappointed to narrowly lose that match by 16 – 20 after dominating much of the play.

This is another “must win” game for the Quins. The team will have to show the same toughness that saw them beat Wasps at home earlier in the season to beat a very talented Sharks team. Quins fans know the team can play like that but find it frustrating beyond belief that the team can play so well and then so badly week after week.

Both teams were boosted by good performances on Tuesday against Super 12 teams TheSsharks and the Stormers. A young Quins side put up a spirited display against the Sharks. They showed an ability to turn over and slow down ball that the first team hasn’t shown since October and November. In my view Quins are missing a genuine open side. Vos is a great influence on the side but is not a natural open side flanker. I hesitate to suggest dropping Ace Tiatia but the performance of Sherriff on Tuesday suggests that his presence at open side would allow Vos to move to his preferred position at blind side flanker and would provide a more balanced back row. That said, I think Ace has shown a degree of commitment and aggression that other players

Quins have to change something. The team has had plenty of possession in its last four matches against Newcastle, Leicester, Bristol and Bath but has rarely looked like it is going to score tries. The management have stated that Quins are losing out in the tackle area. If this is the case then they must change things around in the back row. I am beginning to believe that the major problem is at half back. The ball to Greenwood is easy to predict is too slow and Quins seem to have no answer to a flat defence. David Slemen has had problems with the boot this year but Quins ability to score tries when he was playing was greater. Is it time for a change? In August, Mark Evans stated that the aim for the season was to be more consistent. In this regard the players have let him down.

The second half performance against Newcastle must bring into question the mental toughness of some of the players. The management have stated that they want to keep a settled side over the next few seasons. It is becoming apparent that some of the current side go missing when the chips are down away from home. It is now time for the players to front up.


NEC Harlequins 15. Nathan Williams; 14. Rob Jewell; 13. Will Greenwood; 12. Viliame Satala; 11. Dan Luger
10. Paul Burke; 9. Scott Bemand; 1. Bruce Starr; 2. Tani Fuga; 3. Jason Leonard; 4. Bill Davison; 5. Alex Codling; 6. Ace Tiatia; 7. Andre Vos (Capt.); 8. Tony Diprose

Replacements to be selected from the following:
James Hayter; Pablo Cardinali; Karl Rudzki; Jim Evans; Simon Miall; Luke Sherriff; Matthew Powell; Henry Barratt; Matt Moore



Sale Sharks 15. Jason Robinson; 14. Mark Cueto, 13. Dan Harris, 12. Graeme Bond, 11. Steve Hanley; 10. Charlie Hodgson, 9. Bryan Redpath capt; 1. Kevin Yates, 2. Andy Titterrell, 3. Barry Stewart, 4. Chris Jones, 5. Dean Schofield, 6. Pete Anglesea, 7. Alex Sanderson, 8. Stuart Pinkerton.

REPLACEMENTS: Charl Marais, Stuart Turner, Iain Fullarton, Phil Davies, Jos Baxendell, Vaughan Going, Nick Walshe.