Quins prepared to take a luke warm Bath

By Worried of Whitton
September 28 2004

Round 4 of the Zurich sees NEC Harlequins at home to Bath Rugby, in what has been engineered, to be the 1000th Zurich Premiership game. The kick off is therefore rescheduled to 15.05, assuming that they have already kicked off at Kingsholm and Welford Road. The match is to be broadcast live by Sky.

Just 12 months ago Quins and Bath were topping the Premiership. This year they have both had a lack luster start, struggling to find their winning form. Bath narrowly beat Worcester last weekend 26-22, to pick up their first win of the new season. Quins, however, were narrowly beaten away at Newcastle. In their first two Premiership matches Bath leaked four tries after going almost twelve months since conceding their last try bonus point. Ironically their opposition, in these games, was against Quins most recent opposition, Northampton and Newcastle. Four tries for a bonus point has to Quins target in order to secure their first win of the season in style. Bath last visited the Stoop back in May, which proved to be an absolute classic match with Keogh stealing the win at the last, after Bath had raced to a 22-9 lead at half time. Quins never give up attitude paid dividends once again that day and Worcester had certainly taken note as they too came back in their match against Bath overcoming an eleven point deficit at half time to come away with a point. 

Winning the regular 2003/04, but losing the farcical ZP play off final was perhaps a bitter pill for Bath at the end of a long and grueling campaign. As such they have lost their momentum and confidence and as their current performance suggests that they will not be amongst the front runners this year. Bath, have made a few changes during the summer. Director of Bath Rugby, Jack Rowell was reported as saying that the relatively small influx of players has been part of a fine tuning process, adding that after lengthy lay offs resulting from injuries, Fleck, Best and that old Stoop favourite, Brendon Daniel, all feel like new signings. Actual new boys are prop, Christian Loader, ex Sale scrum half Nick Walshe and the former Canterbury (NZ) wing Joe Maddock. Notable leavers have been Maggs, Catt and Balshaw with Joe Mbu making the journey down the M4 to Quins.

Bath have had to name a changed side from last weeks match against Worcester, as their lock Steve Borthwick has been banned for seven days by an RFU disciplinary panel after his citing following an injury-time brawl during Bath s defeat against Newcastle two weeks ago. Rob Fidler steps into the side to replace him in the second row, of an otherwise unchanged front eight. At the back there has been some juggling as Mike Tindall is out with a shoulder injury and he has been replaced at inside center by Olly Barkley. Chris Malone will wear the fly half shirt. In a move that has caused some debate amongst  Bath fans. Nick Walshe starts his first competitive game in a Bath shirt, at scrum half.

Feedback from the hardy band of supporters who made the journey North, to see last Sunday s match at Kingston Park has been very positive and although we just fell short of winning the game, the team performance was very much improved on our previous two outings. Quins played with commitment and skill and their defence remained intact despite being down to fourteen men for almost a quarter of the game, and they prevented Newcastle from physically scoring a try. This was a much improved side, which is likely to run out unchanged at the stoop on Saturday afternoon.

Duffy picked up the Quins man of the match for his performance, and it sounds as if he and Staunton have bonded, as the two players were involved in the moves leading up to our two tries. Collecting a ball from Staunton just outside his 22, Duffy ran though a gap and accelerated past Wilkinson and Burke to give Harder the pass and a touchdown under the posts. In the second half, a break by Staunton cut through the Newcastle defence to find Duffy for Quins second try. Despite missing a last minute penalty Staunton s kicking has kept him in the starting line up this week.

There was a fair bit of press coverage on Rob Andrews post match comments, but with two defeats and playing a strong side away from home Harlequins were hardly going to be playing an open expansive game. Given the same position how would Mr. A have approached the game? Mark Evans response, reported in the Evening Standard, was precise and concise "The fact is that we outscored them two tries to one and the one they got was a penalty try that should not have been awarded. Yes, we are bottom but there isn't any kind of crisis and the performance at Newcastle was the best of our three so far." Quins have progressed a lot in the past three weeks, and we will need to take the game to the opposition and press our home advantage. A win will certainly push Quins back up the table, and give a much needed boost to the season with tough games  against the ers   (Worcester, Gloucester, Leicester and Munster)  in the next few weeks

Scotty s infamous clipboard rightly shows an unchanged starting line up to face Bath, although there will be a late fitness test for Will Greenwood. If passed fit he will replace Andy Reay. Mike Worsley drops from the bench due to injury. The good news is that both Maurice Fitzgerald and Dafydd James are on the bench making their Premiership debuts in the famous quartered shirt. James replaces Williams as a substitute.  

So on Saturday afternoon, Harlequins find themselves in exactly the same position as they were two years ago  at the foot of the table after three matches. The only other time we  have remained with out a win after four games was in the inaugural season of premiership rugby in 1987/88 when we suffered three defeats and a draw from our first four league matches. Bath do have a poor record at the Stoop, having only won once , way back in September 1999 since the start of the Premiership. Harlequins have won their last four home matches against Bath, and that will become five on Saturday afternoon.

The only way is up! 

Come on you Quins!

post script;

Finally I urge you all to come down to the Stoop again on Monday night to watch the Second XV take on Bath United, in the third round of the Zurich A  Championship. Quins are unbeaten in this season s competition. There is a relaxed and informal atmosphere and it is a great opportunity to witness what invariably turns out to be an exciting game of rugby.

For Season Ticket Holders entrance is free, otherwise entrance fee is £5.00. The bar is open and food is now also available.

Players to Watch:   Jeremy Staunton and Gavin Duffy

Prediction: Quins to scrub up well and win at home.

NEC Harlequins:
15. Gavin Duffy, 14. Ugo Monye, 13. George Harder, 12. Will Greenwood, 11. Simon Keogh, 10. Jeremy Staunton, 9. Steve So'oialo, 1. Ceri Jones, 2. Ace Tiatia, 3. Jon Dawson, 4. Karl Rudzki, 5. Simon Miall,, 6. Luke Sherriff,  7. Andre Vos (c), 8, Tony Diprose
Replacements: 16. Tani Fuga , 17. Maurice Fitz Gerald, 18. Roy Winters, 19.Kai Horstmann, 20. Maama Molitika, 21. Andy Dunne, 22. Dafydd James

Bath Rugby:

15. Joe Maddock, 14. Alex Crockett, 13 Robbie Fleck, 12. Olly Barkley, 11. Brendon  Daniel, 10. Chris Malone, 9. Nick Walshe,  1.David Barnes, 2. Jonathan Humphries(c), 3. Duncan Bell, 4. Rob Fidler  ,5. Danny Grewcock, 6. Andy Beattie, 7. Michael Lipman, 8. Isaac Fea'unati
Replacements: 16 Martyn Wood, 17 Lee Mears, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 Spencer Davey, 20 Lee Best, 21 Gareth Delve, 22 James Hudson.
 

Match officials:
Referee: Chris White  
Touch judges: Peter Huckle, Andrew Pearce