Preview: Harlequins v Worcester Warriors

The Round 12 match between Harlequins and Worcester Warriors that was postponed from January 10th   due to a frozen pitch, kicks off in far more balmier conditions tonight at The Stoop, Wednesday April 1st at 7.45 pm. This is one of two matches being played tonight the other being Bath v Wasps, as the stagger unwinds in this year’s Premiership race.

By the final whistle all the Premiership teams will have completed 19 games, be on equal terms and the table will show how the teams line up prior to their final three matches. For tonight’s opponents Worcester and also Bath who we play on Saturday and indeed Wasps this will be their second match of three in just a week. Like Quins, Bath are playing for a top four finish, and both clubs could go top this evening  whereas, Worcester on the other hand, are back fighting for their Premiership survival, as mathematically they could still be relegated, after last weekend pasting by Bristol. 

Back in January prior to the match the table looked like this. The top six and the bottom six clubs are the same, just with the pack shuffled. It also shows just how close the top six clubs have been this season. This is the premiership table for w/e January 10^th 2009

Looking deeper at the statistics, Harlequins have the most to show from the games played since January of all the Premiership teams they have garnered 25 points from 7 games at average of 3.6 Premiership points per match. In contrast Worcester’s average which is the worst down at 0.5 points per match, Bristol is at 1, Bath at 2.6.  In addition Quins have only lost once in the Premiership at The Stoop this season, back in September when they handed the win to London Irish. The teams were announced yesterday and reported on the message board, they show the intentions of either club. Quins are focussing on the task of taking the maximum points from this game with a very strong line up. Worcester, are giving full Premiership debuts to five players, as Worcester appear to be focussing their efforts on the European Challenge Cup competition. As we have learned to our cost in the past, Worcester came be dangerous. Although a weakened side  there a number  players in their line up who do have the potential to cause Quins problems notably the captain Matt Powell, Craig Gillies and if he players Hal Luscombe. On paper this looks to be a formality for the home side but it equally has the potential for being a banana skin.

These next four days are four big days for Quins. It is not impossible for Quins to go top this evening if the results go their way. A bonus point victory with a 30 point margin and Bath failing to win a bonus point would see us to the top. This has been Harlequins best season in many years and we stand on a significant step forward in the clubs history. With a report in The Daily Telegraph of the new south stand proposal Mark Evans has been reported as always insisting “that if you build well, fans will come”. The target this year was for the knock out stages of the Heineken Cup which has been achieved so how much further can we go? We are still very much in the race for a top four finish, and we are all aware of the possibilities providing we do not slip up on the field tonight.

As Mick Cleary has said, “Harlequins are contenders. The next stage awaits.” This has all the makings of a good evening on our own “Field of Dreams” enjoy the match tonight it looks to be a cracker for the supporters, and the team.

Come on You Quins!

Teams:

Harlequins: Ceri Jones, Tani Fuga, Mike Ross, Ollie Kohn, Jim Evans, Chris Robshaw, Will Skinner (c), Tom Guest, Danny Care, Chris Malone, Ugo Monye, Jordan Turner-Hall, Gonzalo Tiesi, Tom Williams, Mike Brown
Replacements: Gary Botha, Mark Lambert, George Robson, Nick Easter, Andy Gomarsall, Waisea Luveniyali, David Strettle

Worcester: Jack Gilding, Chris Fortey, Shaun Ruwers, David Lyons, Craig Gillies, James Collins, Jake Abbott, Tom Wood, Matt Powell (c), Joe Carlisle, Charlie Fellows, Greg King, Hal Luscombe, Michael Penn, Loki Crichton
Replacements: Ross Davies, Jordan Page, Graham Kitchener, Rob Wood, Jonny Arr, George Crook, Tom Wheatcroft