Preview: Northampton Saints (h)

By Worried of Whitton
November 3 2006

A return to the GP this weekend sees Quins at home to Northampton Saints. This match marks the start of a critical run of three matches for Harlequins as they topically set out to reignite their league season. Failure to pick up any points over the next few weeks will certainly result in fireworks!

The past two weeks have seen the shoots of a renaissance in Harlequins’ fortunes with two straight wins in the European Challenge cup Competition. A win by the narrowest of margins in Connacht was followed by a comprehensive thrashing, 57 – 10 of Montpellier at the Stoop last Saturday, in a match that gave the spectators a sense of déjà vu from last season. It was very much like watching an ND 1 match, with Quins having won the match and collected a bonus point by half time. This was not a match, it showed that there is a fighting spirit within the team and when cheered on by the massive home support victory does come. The confidence has returned and as discussed on a thread on CAW during the week, and clearly witnessed from the Lexus Stand, the strength of team spirit could not be better summed up they the energetic, passionate and vociferous support that Andy Gomarsall was giving from the bench. His enthusiasm continued once on the pitch as he substituted Danny Care. On last week's performance, I'm convinced Quins can win their first Guinness Premiership game this weekend, but it will not be an easy win. Quins have shown what they can do at home. They had the measure of Gloucester certainly in the first half, they would have beaten Leicester had it not been for indiscipline, and most recently could have left Sale rueing their team selection in the EDF cup match.

Harlequins currently lie in eleventh position with just two bonus points from five games, they are just one place above bottom placed Worcester, by virtue of their better points difference, and they too have yet to win in the Premiership this season. Whilst this is a parlous position, the recent misfortunes of the four clubs immediately above have meant that both bottom teams are still in close contention at this stage of the season. Both need to ensure that a wider gap does not open up. The bottom half of the Premiership table currently looks like this;

After what has been “reported” as one of the hardest starts to the season, although I still maintain we should have won two of these matches, Quins now play three of the “lower half” clubs, in consecutive weeks. Harlequins have to target these matches as must wins, in order to move up to a more respectable position in the Premiership. After Northampton, this weekend, Quins are away to Newcastle next Friday November 10th, and the following week they are back at the Stoop to face Worcester on Friday November 17^th. We need at least twelve points from these three matches, thirteen points are achievable.

An analysis of the bottom half of the Premiership table proves more interesting than one might initially think. This weekend has produced some interesting fixtures with a couple of head to heads, Harlequins v Northampton and Bath v London Irish. The other two clubs find themselves involved in tough matches, Worcester visit Welford Road Leicester on Saturday while Newcastle are at home to Premiership leaders Bristol who remain unbeaten. The results of these matches could therefore have a profound affect on our league position, and therefore it is imperative that Quins fight to force a win on Saturday and not solely rely on the other results going their way.

Northampton themselves have not had an easy time of it themselves. Last weekend they ended a five match losing run by beating Border Reivers 37-13 in the European Cup. Northampton, but they have yet to win away from home this season, so the timing of this match could not be better for Harlequins. The last time Quins beat Northampton was almost three years ago to the day, when they won 43-21, and that is their only win in their last ten meetings. Northampton will be without Ben Cohen, who is on duty for England, so there can be no talk of Northampton being a weakened side, as their hooker Steve Thompson who is returning from injury is almost certain to start as he strives to reclaim his place in the England squad. Northampton too have their own All Blacks legend in Carlos Spencer, and it is a great disappointment that our own Andrew Mehrtens is still recovering from his operation and isn’t able to play. I think we can probably expect a number of All Black spectators in the crowd on Saturday, along with numerous Kiwi’s to swell the crowd, getting an extra shot of Rugby, before the showdown on Sunday over the road at HQ. This match is expected to set a new record attendance for the Stoop with almost 11,500 tickets sold ahead of the game.

Northampton did not make many signings during the summer, and those new recruits include Argentinian Hooker, Matais Cortese, Ian Vass from Quins, who no doubt like every other ex Quin will be trying to prove that it was a mistake to be released, and of course their giant signing of loosehead prop Soane Tonga’uiha, a player who Quins are all too aware of from his presence at Bedford last season, however he is not in the squad this week. Although Northampton are strong at the front, their back line is currently their weakest area and this is the zone that Quins will have to exploit.

Northampton Saints’ announced their team early and the surprise selection is ex Quin scrum-half Ian Vass has again been chosen as full back for the second week running, in his third position of the season this weekend. Coach Paul Grayson believes “Vass is extremely talented, and you can play him pretty much anywhere in the backline. I know he wants to play at scrum-half but he does have the talent to play out of position”. We need to test him out with a few high balls. Lock Christian Short returns to the starting line-up following a two-week absence with an ankle injury. Chris Wyles is picked to replace the wing for Ben Cohen, on the wing. Prop Chris Budgen has been cited for an alleged stamping incident in their match last weekend. With a hearing date yet to be set, he will no doubt be looking to keep out of further trouble.

As this is written Harlequin had yet to announce their team. After two wins it is expected t hat there will be little change in the line up, although Richards is probably awaiting on late fitness testes. Monye did leave the field injured last weekend but it was expected that was more of a precaution. Quins quartet of youngsters, Brown, Care, Jarvis and Turner Hall who were all dominant in their performances against Montpellier all hope to start the match. Richards has to have the confidence to feature them – Jarvis of course will already have his name on the starting line up and I would, however, expect to see Gomarsall start ahead of Care. The Premiership is a step up but surely the confidence of the last few weeks should help them through. It is expected that Luscombe who was not released for international duty will also feature. Will Skinner is also due to return from injury this week.

Irrespective of the result, supporters of both teams will be very pleased to see that Premiership favourite Tony Spreadbury is officiating on Saturday and therefore we can expect that the match will be fairly refereed! 

Last Wednesday, November 1st was All Saints Day. With a record crowd expected at The Stoop the atmosphere should be electric as the home crowd get behind their team to ensure that Saturday will be All Quins Day!  A tough match but Quins to take a win with Northampton collecting a losing bonus point.

Come on you Quins!

 

 

NEC Harlequins:  
15. Mike Brown, 14. Tom Williams, 13. Gavin Duffy, 12. Jordan Turner-Hall, 11. Simon Keogh, 10. Adrian Jarvis, 9. Andy Gomarsall, 1. Ceri Jones, 2. Tani Fuga, 3. Mike Ross, 4. Ollie Kohn, 5. Nicolas Spanghero, 6. Andre Vos, 7. Paul Volley (Capt.), 8. Nick Easter
Replacements: 16. Jimmy Richards, 17. Lorne Ward, 18. Jim Evans, 19. Chris Hala'Ufia, 20. Danny Care, 21. Craig McMullen, 22. George Harder
NB The team wasn't available when the preview was written


Northampton Saints
15 Ian Vass, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Rhodri Davies, 12 Luke Myring, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Mark Robinson, 1 Tom Smith, 2 Steve Thompson, 3 Chris Budgen, 4 Damien Browne, 5 Christian Short, 6 Paul Tupai, 7 Darren Fox ©, 8 Daniel Browne,
Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 Pat Barnard, 18 David Gerard, 19 Mark Easter, 20 Johnny Howard, 21 Vaughan Going, 22 Paul Diggin,

 

Referee: Tony Spreadbury