Preview: Harlequins v Sale (HC)
By Worried of Whitton
December 11 2009
Harlequins return to Heineken Cup this weekend with their third round match against Sale Sharks. Kickoff is on SUNDAY December 13th at 12.45 pm at The Stoop, as the match is being televised live by Sky Sports, so we need to inform cook, to reschedule Sunday lunch to Sunday dinner!
This is the first match of two between the two teams over the next two weeks. Ironically the two meet again, in the Premiership at the start of January.
Sale fans will travel to the game safe in the knowledge that will not be cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch, The Sale players however may complain about losing the ball in the lush verdant pasture that is The Stoop. Sale acknowledged this week that their pitch has become too compacted due to rolling. It will be decompressed next week and then drained, using deep spiking, and should be ready for the Round 4 Heineken Cup game against Harlequins on December 20.
After two exciting matches against Cardiff and Toulouse, Harlequins find themselves at the foot of their Pool. These matches proved to be “the same old story” for harlequins – “close but no cigar” Two games which were winnable but the quartered shirts failed to play on for a win. The 20-6 defeat at Cardiff flattered the home side after Quins were unable to force home their pressure and get over the try line, despite camping in the Cardiff 22 for most of the second half, and gifting Cardiff two soft tries. The home match against Toulouse the following week saw another fine Heineken match at The Stoop with Quins racing away in the first half to a commanding lead, only to fritter it away within 10 minutes of the start of the second half, Quins lost 19-23 but earned a bonus point. Two losses out of two essentially means that any hope of reaching the final stages is gone, but there are still four more matches to play and back to back wins against Sale could turn Harlequins fortune. Since these two matches in October Quins Guinness Premiership fortunes have improved from just one bonus point from three match and 11th place. They have now rallied and find themselves in sixth place after a successful run of four wins and one draw in the past six matches, AND scored nine tries in their last three matches.
Pool 5 Standings courtesy of ERC website
| Position | Team | Pl | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toulouse | 2 | 9 |
| 2 | Cardiff Blues | 2 | 5 |
| 3 | Sale Sharks | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Harlequins | 2 | 1 |
It is believed by many supporters that Quins should concentrate on success in the domestic championship to focus on qualification for next year’s competition. This is a watershed match this weekend, a win and we are still in the competition a loss and we are out. An early blow for Quins this week was the announcement of an internal one match suspension of Danny Care after an incident at Leeds last weekend. In order to maintain their presence in the completion Harlequins will have to draw on their reserves of physical and mental strength. At this stage last year Quins excelled in there wonderful double header against Stade Francais. Interviewed earlier this week by Mick Cleary, Nick Easter said that Quins are well equipped to repeat that feat over the next two week. Referring to the scandal Easter said the Club is stronger for what they had been thorough; they are a tighter knit unit. Easter said "You wouldn't want it, you don't plan for it, but you've got to deal with it. Just as you can gain a lot from coming through adversity in a match, that's what has happened with us. When everyone is knocking you, you've got to pull together. What went on did affect us. But it's behind us now, that's for sure. Mud will always stick in the eyes of some people, and inevitably it will be brought up, but for us it's over."
He added "Sport gives you what you get. You've got to deal with it. Since then, we've had a much better attitude, although we've left ourselves a hell of a task in the Heineken Cup. Still, having fought tooth and nail to remain in the tournament, which we qualified for by right, we've let it slip by losing to Cardiff Blues and Toulouse. But until mathematically we're out, we're going to give it everything."
On a final note we have all been saddened t learn of the early retirement of our own Gentle Giant Jim Evans after a recurrence of shoulder injury. I m sure we will all show our appreciation to his ten years of stalwart service to the club. It is good to know that he has been retained for a new role at the club. Thanks for the memories, Jim and good luck for the future. Here’s to the team pulling off another fine victory his weekend!
Come on You Quins!
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The Sharks have Dwayne Peel, Mark Cueto, Lee Thomas and Chris Jones all available for the clash - although Jones is without Dean Schofield and Kristian Ormsby.
"We have been looking forward to this game after our home win over Cardiff Blues in October," said Jones.
"It's the first of three games against Quins in 19 days and I am sure they will be three physical and very tough encounters.
"Quins are improving every week and players like Easter and Care make a huge contribution, although I hear Care is suspended for this game.
"We are able to welcome back several players this week although my captain Dean Schofield is unavailable after picking up a shin injury last week."
Harlequins team and news to follow...
Sale: 15 Nick Macleod, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Lee Thomas, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Charlie Hodgson (capt), 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 David Seymour, 6 Carl Fearns, 5 Sean Cox, 4 James Gaskell, 3 Jack Forster, 2 Neil Briggs, 1 Eifion Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Gavin Kerr, 18 Martin Halsall, 19 Chris Jones, 20 Luke Abraham, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 David Bishop, 23 Oriol Ripol.
However please refer the information on manual labour to the hired staff.
