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Author Topic: Teams Up  (Read 1119 times)

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Fearless Fred

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Teams Up
« on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 12:01* »
Harlequins announce squad to play Benetton (a)
Friday, 7th December 2018 @ 12:00

Harlequins Head of Rugby Paul Gustard has made three changes to the team that beat Exeter Chiefs last Friday night for this weekend’s visit to Benetton in the Challenge Cup tomorrow (kick-off: 14:00 GMT).
Danny Care and Kyle Sinckler are rotated out and in come Charlie Mulchrone at Scrum-half, Phil Swainston at Tighthead and Mat Luamanu replaces Ben Glynn in the second row.

James Chisholm, who scored one of Quins’ four tries against Exeter last week, will captain the team again at number eight and is part of a back row that has been unchanged for the past three matches - with Exeter man-of-the-match Alex Dombrandt and Jack Clifford as flankers.

Harlequins Head of Rugby Paul Gustard said: “We were pleased with our win against Exeter last week but since that moment our minds have been completely focused on Benetton in the Challenge Cup.

“Our attack was very dangerous last week creating 11 linebreaks against the league’s most frugal defence and we are now looking to building on that development and making ourselves even more difficult to defend against.

“Our attack coaches, Tofty [Mark Mapletoft] and Snap [Nick Evans], have been working very hard in tandem with our game generals to keep finding a way to be more assertive, innovative and dominant with the ball.

“Alex Dombrandt was singled out for praise last week which is great to see. He has worked hard on developing both sides of his game and is deserving of the opportunities he has taken to impress in this famous shirt. He was part of a superb back row unit with Jack Clifford and James Chisholm also performing at a level that will help drive the team forward. Behind the scrum Danny Care, Nathan Earle and Mike Brown were once again instrumental in our victory against the league leaders.

“We have won one and lost one in the Challenge Cup so far, so the next two weeks are very important to put us on the right track to progress in the competition. We are aware of the threat they pose, the talent at their disposal and we are determined to play to our identity and continue the momentum we have generated.”

Harlequins squad to play Benetton (kick-off: 14:00 GMT)

15. Mike Brown (304)
14. Nathan Earle (11)
13. Joe Marchant (67)
12. Francis Saili (12)
11. Gabriel Ibitoye (9)
10. James Lang (32)
9. Charlie Mulchrone (27)

1. Joe Marler (178)
2. Dave Ward (153)
3. Phil Swainston (17)
4. George Merrick (88)
5. Mat Luamanu (69)
6. Alex Dombrandt (7)
7. Jack Clifford (81)
8. James Chisholm (Captain, 66)

16. Max Crumpton (9)
17. Lewis Boyce (25)
18. Will Collier (137)
19. Ben Glynn (28)
20. Paul Lasike (7)
21. Niall Saunders (3)
22. Marcus Smith (40)
23. Cadan Murley (6)

Not considered for selection

Alofa Alofa
Renaldo Bothma
Rob Buchanan
Danny Care
Demetri Catrakilis
James Horwill
Semi Kunatani
Dino Lamb
Dave Lewis
Mark Lambert
Aaron Morris
Chris Robshaw
Stan South
Kyle Sinckler
Matt Symons
Ben Tapuai
Tim Visser

BedfordshireBoy

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #1 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 12:11* »
Certainly taking this game seriously, great back line.

honkytonk

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #2 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 12:14* »
Wallace must really be out of favour. Played in the A league last week but laskie preferred for the bench this week.  Still no Horwill either.

Fearless Fred

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #3 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 12:19* »
I have a feeling that the outcome of this particular game is going to be the decisive one for the Pol. We win this away in Italy, and follow it up with the home win too, and we're in pole position. We lose this, then it could end up as a three way fight:



You'd expect the two French teams to win at home in their back-to-back fixtures. That's the French way: Always bet on the home team unless they're separated by about 8 places on the T14 table! That would get each of the French teams on 8/9 points. We win both games, and we'd be on 14pts, Benetton on a max of 10 going into Rounds 5 & 6. That would give us a decent buffer. If we win one & lose one, then all four teams would be within 3 or 4 points of each other with all to play for.

« Last Edit: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 12:27* by Fearless Fred »

Only Joe Quin

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #4 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 12:27* »
Wallace must really be out of favour. Played in the A league last week but laskie preferred for the bench this week.  Still no Horwill either.
With Luamanu starting and Glynn on the bench, that gives us decent cover for the back row. Looks like Gustard is expecting it to get very open towards the end.

GP2110

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #5 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 12:37* »
I’ve said it repeatedly - wallace’s form has been woeful the past few seasons (leaving aside his injury problems). His positioning on the wing is bizarre. And he gets far less turnovers than he used to get.  He is rightly behind Clifford , robshaw , Chisholm , Dombrandt and semi. I would also have ward ahead of him as a 7. I’m v happy with that team selection.

deadlyfrom5yardsout

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #6 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 12:51* »
Quietly optimistic.

Rocker

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #7 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 18:30* »
Yes good team. The continued absence of Wallace is puzzling. But he isn't as effective as he used to be, maybe the injuries have affected his game.

The Quin Meister

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #8 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 19:07* »
I like the fact that we have kept the same back row. They played so well last week. Band of brothers developing there. Robbo will have to work hard to get his place back.

Good to see James Lang has recovered after ending up bottom of a pile of bodies with the Devoto try. He needs to take a few tips from the master - Nev would never do that!

We signed Luamanu from Treviso so hopefully he will be up for a big performance. One gets the impression that Gussy thinks he can add more value at lock (rather than back row) and provide the necessary grunt we need.

Brown Bottle

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #9 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 19:20* »
...His positioning on the wing is bizarre...

I find it bizarre that people still comment on this as if it's something he personally does and is nothing to do with any tactics or game plan.

Quinky

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #10 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 19:47* »
Anybody aware of injury problems for Bothma? Can't believe he's just out of favour but also don't recall mention of injury.

raedarius

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #11 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 20:26* »
I find it bizarre that people still comment on this as if it's something he personally does and is nothing to do with any tactics or game plan.

OK, let's try this another way.  What is it about Wallace that means that coaches think it's a good tactic for him (and nobody else at the moment) to stand a significant distance away from the breakdown, on the wing or even off the pitch, and is that aspect of him the reason why he is seemingly out of favour with Gustard?

Comet

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #12 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 21:13* »
Good quality line up that is developing a bit of collective spirit. Brilliant. A win tomorrow is great for the competition but also starts to make some significant headlines in terms of the long term development and belief of this group.

Very excited about the next 2 games! Especially the Quins Christmas Party next Saturday morning! (On behalf of my son and nephew!)

GP2110

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #13 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 21:31* »
No other back row hangs out on the wing. And Wallace has been fit for most of the season and not made the 23, which suggests he is not doing what the coaches want. I’m certain his contract will not be renewed. The potential he had has vanished. He is not good enough for our 15, barely good enough for our 23 and a million miles away from international level.

Brown Bottle

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Re: Teams Up
« Reply #14 on: Friday 07-Dec-2018, 21:43* »
OK, let's try this another way.  What is it about Wallace that means that coaches think it's a good tactic for him (and nobody else at the moment) to stand a significant distance away from the breakdown, on the wing or even off the pitch, and is that aspect of him the reason why he is seemingly out of favour with Gustard?

So you seriously think a top class rugby player has buggered up his career by ignoring the coaches and just pissing about playing the way he fancies?
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