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Author Topic: Team for the final!  (Read 1167 times)

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DazzaS

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Team for the final!
« on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:00* »
https://www.quins.co.uk/news/esterhuizen-returns-for-quins-premiership-final-run/

ESTERHUIZEN RETURNS FOR PREMIERSHIP FINAL
Friday, 25th June 2021 @ 12:00


COACHING GROUP NAME THE MATCHDAY 23 TO CONTEST THE GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP TITLE AGAINST EXETER CHIEFS THIS WEEKEND

Amongst three changes to the starting side that claimed a historic semi-final win away to Ashton Gate last weekend, Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen bolsters Quins’ midfield for the first time since March having returned from suspension this week. Stepping into the twelve jersey, Australian international Ben Tapuai takes up the 22 jersey on the bench.

Back row James Chisholm also returns to the starting XV this week, having impressed with a try-scoring appearance from the bench last weekend. Tom Lawday takes up the 20 jersey amongst the Impact Players.

The final change to the starting line-up sees wing Cadan Murley start following injury to outside back Aaron Morris in Bristol last week.

Prem Final squad
Commenting, Harlequins’ General Manager Billy Millard said: “Before a ball has been kicked in anger this weekend, I want to go on the record stating how proud I am of this side.

“This is a special group with the ability to do exceptional things.

“We know Exeter offer us a very different challenge to the one we came up against in Bristol last weekend. We’ve done our due diligence and have worked hard on our physical and mental preparation this week.

“This is an exciting time for the Club and we will be sure to make the most of every moment.”

Harlequins Starting XV
1. Joe Marler (225)
2. Scott Baldwin (43)
3. Wilco Louw (28)
4. Matt Symons (63)
5. Stephan Lewies (35) - Captain
6. James Chisholm (112)
7. Jack Kenningham (12)
8. Alex Dombrandt (76)
9. Danny Care (306)
10. Marcus Smith (110)
11. Cadan Murley (47)
12. Andre Esterhuizen (18)
13. Joe Marchant (113)
14. Louis Lynagh (13)
15. Tyrone Green (21)

Impact Players
16. Joe Gray (173)
17. Santiago Garcia Botta (37)
18. Will Collier (188)
19. Dino Lamb (48)
20. Tom Lawday (39)
21. Martin Landajo (37)
22. Ben Tapuai (45)
23. Luke Northmore (27)

Unavailable for selection:
Mike Brown, Sam Riley

Unavailable due to injury:
Aaron Morris, Jordan Els, Oscar Beard, Paul Lasike, Will Evans
« Last Edit: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:06* by DazzaS »

DazzaS

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #1 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:01* »
Exeter side!

https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-side-to-face-harlequins-7397 huddle.jpg
By Mark Stevens
25/6/21

It’s a trip Exeter Chiefs have become accustomed to in recent years, but Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, says his side will be taking nothing for granted when they lock horns with Harlequins in tomorrow’s Gallagher Premiership Final at Twickenham (5:30pm).

For a sixth successive season, Devon’s finest will head to the capital in a bid to land English Rugby’s top prize.

After the toughest of seasons, one in which Covid has again played a huge part - and teams have been hampered by lengthy international call-ups, the Chiefs are back where they want to be, just one game away from creating yet another memorable chapter in the club’s history books.

Victory tomorrow for the Chiefs would not only ensure them of a third title in five years but, more importantly, it would seal back-to-back crowns - a phenomenal achievement in itself given the relentless nature of the top-flight.

Unlike last season where they were the dominant force, both in the Premiership and Europe, this time round they have faced a much tougher fight in their quest to reach the end of season showpiece. Bristol, topped the standings at the end of the regular season, whilst Sale Sharks and Harlequins provedequally formidable foes.

Harlequins underlined their own ambitions by going to Ashton Gate last week and overcoming a 28-0 deficit to bite the Bears in extra time. At Sandy Park, the Chiefs were matching up against the Sharks for a second successive week in yet another bruising battle.

Thankfully, Baxter’s side had enough on both occasions to see off the Sharks and now they are hell-bent on finishing the job that started, ironically away to Harlequins in November, just a few weeks after they had seen off Wasps in monsoon-like conditions for last season’s Premiership final.

“The mood feels pretty good,” said Baxter earlier this week. “Right now, it doesn’t quite feel like it did last week [against Sale], because that was electric and I could sense seeing the boys and the way they were in training, that they were hungry and ready to go. I could see in their body language, the way they were talking, and the way they wanted to drive things through, I never felt we were ever going to lose that game.

“I think as this week goes on and we get ever closer to the game, we will get that same buzz about the place. I know even now the lads are ready. Once you get over those first few days of giddiness about getting to the final, it’s then that you start to lock things down and focus on making sure you give yourself the best chance to go out and win the game. That’s our job as coaches to help do that, but it’s also the job of the players to make sure they are in the right frame of mind as well.”

Standing in the way of the Chiefs tomorrow will be a Harlequins side, who have produced a Lazarus-like revival to their season following the departure of former head coach Paul Gustard back in January.

Baxter has watched from afar the strides they have made since that time and he has warned his players of the threat they will pose to his own side’s chances this weekend.

“I can’t tell you what they have changed, just because I’ve not been part of their camp,” added Baxter. “What I can say is, you look at their players and you can see they look comfortable, they look as though they are enjoying the way they play, and they are playing with smiles on their faces. When you get a team like that, it makes them dangerous.

“You have to be a fool to not notice what Quins did last week. Bristol have been a good team this season and have beaten most sides, including ourselves, yet Quins made them look pretty ordinary for a good chunk of that game. Now, we have to make sure we don’t ever look ordinary in the game and that means focusing on being the best versions of ourselves we can be.


CHIEFS TV: Rob Baxter looks ahead to Saturday's Gallagher Premiership Final against Harlequins
“That is what I have got to hope the experience of previous finals gives us. Being the best versions of ourselves is pretty good and it can win us games, but you do have to drive it, you have to stick at it, and you do have to be able to revert to it and bring yourself back to it when you do come under pressure.”

Thankfully, a large nucleus of Baxter’s squad this weekend have tasted the Twickenham Final experience previously, but there will be a small number of players who will be sampling the occasion for the first time and the Chiefs leader says they must embrace the whole day.

“I think you need to let those guys have that different motivation,” he continued. “Their motivation is this is my first final, a huge occasion for me, but you have to remind them of the same stuff as everybody else, which is use your motivation for today to make you the best players in our systems and in what we do that you can. That will allow you to thrive, allow the team to thrive, allow you to have the best experience and, hopefully, gives you the best opportunity to win.”

And one of those who will be getting his first taste of running out for the Chiefs at HQ will be young flanker Richard Capstick, whose afternoon was cut short after just two minutes last weekend following a high tackle from Sale’s Manu Tuilagi.

Capstick was forced off following the incident and did not return for the remainder of the game. However, he has since passed all of his HIA protocols this week, and he is able to pack down in an unchanged Chiefs starting line-up from that which started a week ago.

Also in from the outset will be Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Hill and Sam Simmonds, who together with Stuart Hogg - who is named on the bench - will be part of the British & Irish Lions contingent who fly to South Africa for their summer tour on Sunday.

Another starter is Jack Nowell, who marked his return to action last weekend by scoring two tries in the win over Sale. The Cornishman is the only Chiefs player to have featured in all six of Exeter’s Premiership Finals and much will be asked of him in his side’s pursuit of glory.

EXETER CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE HARLEQUINS

15 Jack Nowell
14 Alex Cuthbert
13 Henry Slade
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Tom O’Flaherty
10 Joe Simmonds (capt)
9 Jack Maunder
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie
3 Harry Williams
4 Jonny Gray
5 Jonny Hill
6 Jannes Kirsten
7 Richard Capstick
8 Sam Simmonds

16 Jack Yeandle
17 Ben Moon
18 Marcus Street
19 Sean Lonsdale
20 Don Armand
21 Stu Townsend
22 Harvey Skinner
23 Stuart Hogg
« Last Edit: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:05* by DazzaS »

MrSoloDolo

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #2 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:04* »
Let's rip into them boys. Whatever the result..... Hell of a season.

COYQ
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RodneyRegis

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #3 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:07* »
That's a really, really decent team. IMO any leadership lost from Mike is offset by the great partnership we saw from Green and Lynagh. Kenningham has been incredible - whilst he's not as great as Evans yet there's nobody there I'm worried about. Much happier with the bench than I've been most of the season. Think we'll need one final 80 minutes (or as close as possible) from Joe though.
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Kermitpower

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #4 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:10* »
Whilst it's a stunning team, I'm slightly disappointed - on the basis of how the spectator ticket sales went - that we've not managed to sneak Luke Wallace in to the Exeter starting lineup!  ;)
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Boonie

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #5 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:18* »
Nothing to lose, everything to gain. Play the Quins way, and let's see what we can do. COYQ!!

poorfour

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #6 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:19* »
That is as good a starting team as we have had in a long while, and a fresh Andre could be a real handful if he's not ring-rusty.

Tasty match ups across the pitch, but the real battle is between the contrasting styles of the teams. Can Quins create enough disruption to find chances? Can they keep Exeter from hammering away at their line?
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KentQuin

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #7 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:23* »
As strong a team as we could've selected. COYQ.

T-Bone

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #8 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:23* »
Good to see such a strong team. Virtually full strength. If Brown was fit, you'd still want Green playing.

Bit of a gamble having no Lang on the bench. Feels a bit iffy, but then if Smith has to come off we are arguably done for anyway.

So excited for tomorrow now

poorfour

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #9 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:29* »
Good to see such a strong team. Virtually full strength. If Brown was fit, you'd still want Green playing.

Bit of a gamble having no Lang on the bench. Feels a bit iffy, but then if Smith has to come off we are arguably done for anyway.

So excited for tomorrow now

It looks like Taps and Marchant have been practicing a bit at 10, given how we ended the Newcastle game.

Brown Bottle

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #10 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:37* »
...
Bit of a gamble having no Lang on the bench. Feels a bit iffy, but then if Smith has to come off we are arguably done for anyway.
...

Unfortunately that is probably true. If not definitely.

Brown Bottle

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #11 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:39* »
...
Tasty match ups across the pitch, but the real battle is between the contrasting styles of the teams. Can Quins create enough disruption to find chances? Can they keep Exeter from hammering away at their line?

I wouldn't underestimate Exeter's ability to play attacking rugby.
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Twickersman

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #12 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:43* »
I'm a bit surprised that Murley has bee. Selected ahead of Northmore. Murley is a good young player. But Northmore has really improved this season. So much so I would rather he starts ahead of Marchant. Joe seems to be better suited to the wing these days.

poorfour

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #13 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:50* »
I wouldn't underestimate Exeter's ability to play attacking rugby.

I'm not - but Exeter play with a lot of structure, and Quins... don't. In many ways it's a battle of who can best impose the way they play on the game.

honkytonk

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Re: Team for the final!
« Reply #14 on: Friday 25-Jun-2021, 12:57* »
I'm a bit surprised that Murley has bee. Selected ahead of Northmore. Murley is a good young player. But Northmore has really improved this season. So much so I would rather he starts ahead of Marchant. Joe seems to be better suited to the wing these days.

Problem (if you can call it that) is Marchant and Northmore have been very good. Marchant was brilliant last week, as was Northmore. I think Marchant was always going to play, just depended if it was Wing or Centre. That then decided who out of Murley and Northmore would play.

 

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