Preview: Harlequins vs Worcester
By Wyddy
March 1 2014
The good ship HMS Harlequin has certainly been wracked by inclement weather and coming to the business end of the season is threatening to topple, can the remaining hands on deck stabilise her for the next couple of weeks til the skipper and his merry men get back from England duty?
There’ve been some close shaves in recent weeks but Quins luck finally ran out away at Gloucester as a team aiming to get their season back on track and mark Andy Hazell’s retirement prevailed. The final score somewhat flattering Quins by delivering them a losing bonus point which was in all fairness barely deserved.
However Quins have made something of a decent fist of getting a home run going, they are now undefeated in the Premiership since going down to Saracens at the Stoop on 28th September. However the wins against both Wasps and Newcastle could easily have gone the other way, but without the spine of the team and Nick Evans also being out of the squad, the points return could have been far worse. With the visit of the perennially plucky and unlucky Worcester to the Stoop, this game has all the hallmarks of a monstrous banana skin if it is taken too lightly due to the visitors league position.
Worcester and Dean Ryan, an admirable soul in general and one of the games good guys, have endured a monstrously difficult season, winless so far and rooted to the bottom of the table. However they have recently come close to taking that elusive first win of the season against a Leicester side, shorn of influential players, in a similar situation as Quins, who took them a little lightly and scrambled to a 23-22 win.
Much was hoped of the impact Dean Ryan would have on Worcester at the start of the season after an impressive cameo assisting Scotland. However the failure to hold on to key assets such as Matt Mullan, Matt Kvesic and in hindsight the one player who would have ensured a better points return, Andy Goode. The experienced and well travelled fly half single handedly snatched points for Worcester last season and without him they have seemed at a loss for impetus and nous. Ryan has acted on that perceived hole in his personnel by snatching up Ryan Lamb who has not had the impact he hoped for at Leicester. It also says something that Leicester were prepared to let him go when they have been suffering from a fairly severe injury crisis.
Up front they will probably lead with Tongan prop, Fainga’anuku and John Andress either side of Argentinas Agustin Creevy, unless Jerome Schuster fresh in from Leicester is fit to pass muster. Ironic that Leicester let him go just in time for him to face their closest rivals in the league table... or is that just me? In the engine room former Quin, James Percival will likely be joined by Gloucester bound Mariano Galarza. The back row will be boosted by the return of captain, Jonathan Thomas who has completed his ban for his Rocky Balboa demolition of soccer star, Sam Dickinson. It’s a toss up as to who will join hjm, Ryan to pick 2 from Sam Betty, Leonardo Senatore and Richard de Carpentier.
At half backs it’s likely we will see the starting debut of Ryan Lamb alongside Jonny Arr, as they look to strike up a partnership – Lamb has talent but has always been prone to the yipps, we will see if his short stay in Leicester has changed him. In the centres alongside them Grove and Fatiaki are likely to continue, with Lemi and Drauniniu on the wings. One of Worcesters few bright sparks for the season, the outstanding Chris Pennell, will be looking to make an impact against a Mike Brown-less Quins.
After the loss up at Kingsholm, Quins will be looking to stabilise the season, a loss to Worcester would really put us up against it in terms of overhauling a poorly performing, but crucially still winning Tigers team. Boosted by the commitment of 6 players re-signing with the club, Gray, Buchanan, Ward, Casson, Matthews and Botica, these signings do somewhat indicate the direction of the club at the end of the season. Turner-Hall is said to be looking for a club after not being offered a contract, and many will know, particularly the Wise Monkeys of FC, that I am heart broken that it looks like we will not be retaining the services of Mr Paul Sackey. However the long term signing of Ben Botica and the retention of all 3 of our premier hookers indicates no recruitment in those areas in the close season.
Moving on to the men still left standing on the poop deck to face Worcester, up front will see Mark Lambert joined by Dave Ward and Kyle Sinckler as Gray is moved to the bench. Robson will continue to feel his way back but will start alongside Kennedy barring any lingering injury issues. The back row remains typically strong, even in the absence of the England captain, and Nick Easter will lead the side from No8 with Big Mo Fa’asavalu and Luke Wallace on the flanks. Wallace in particular has looked a little jaded in recent weeks ever since his turn with the Saxons, let’s hope being back at home with the Stoop faithful we can see a re-energised performance.
In the half backs Karl Dickson continues his deputy duties and with poor old Nick Evans still out with injury, Ben Botica will continue to search for last seasons form which seems at times like we had a different player. In the centres Quins are really struggling to find bodies, with Ugo Monye moving to 13 last week in a move some on this website have indicated could be his longer term option. The injury news is scarce at the moment, but fearing the worst we may have only youngster, Harry Sloan fit from our centres, Ugo may again have to put in a stint there, that is if his monstrously swollen hand is back to normal. On the wings... well... with the absence of Tom Williams, Charlie Walker, Ross Chisholm and Ugo in the centres, it looks like the torch will be passed to that man, Paul of Sackey. I’d dearly love to be proved wrong this Saturday in a must win game, but he seems allergic to making a tackle and at his age he’s struggling to keep pace with the game and offer anything. London Irish bound Sam Smith on the other hand, and on the other wing, has once again been in clinical form, his tries to games ratio is really rather impressive and a lot of Quins stalwarts will miss his plucky nature and 100% commitment. They will be complimented by Ollie Lindsay-Hague who I must admit is making the most of his run at the first team 15 shirt, if only that skip would work against every opponent he’d be unstoppable.
All in all this is one where a Quins pack shorn only of Marler, Collier and Robshaw should have an edge and boss the set piece, with that platform experienced operator Dickson should be able to assist Botica in cutting back Worcester to give us a margin. Great care will have to be taken to stop Pennell and to limit his opportunities to score with the boot, he has been having a stormer with his kicking this season. If Pennell can be stopped and Thomas limited in the loose this should be Quins to throw away.
Quins by 7pts... cautiously...!
COYQ!!!!!
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