Harlequins vs Exeter Chiefs

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Exeter Chiefs

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Jack Nowell
13 Henry Slade
12 Ian Whitten
11 Facundo Cordero
10 Joe Simmonds
9 Jack Maunder
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
4 Jonny Gray
5 Jonny Hill
6 Dave Ewers
7 Jannes Kirsten
8 Sam Simmonds

16 Jack Innard
17 Ben Moon
18 Patrick Schickerling
19 Sam Skinner
20 Don Armand
21 Sam Maunder
22 Harvey Skinner
23 Tom Hendrickson

.

Harlequins Starting XV
1. Joe Marler
2. Jack Walker
3. Will Collier
4. Matt Symons
5. Hugh Tizard
6. Tom Lawday
7. Jack Kenningham
8. Alex Dombrandt - Captain
9. Danny Care
10. Marcus Smith
11. Cadan Murley
12. Andre Esterhuizen
13. Luke Northmore
14. Joe Marchant
15. Tyrone Green

Impact Players
16. Jack Musk
17. Santiago Garcia Botta
18. Simon Kerrod
19. Dino Lamb
20. James Chisholm
21. Scott Steele
22. Huw Jones
23. Louis Lynagh

Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant Referees: Greg Macdonald & Sara Cox.
TMO: David Rose.
Citing Officer: Chris Catling

Weather as at 1200 Friday

Light rain showers and light winds from the south west

Temperature feels like 8 degrees

High chance of rain



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:01:08:08:53:23 by Lowerwatha.

Quins 30 - 17 chiefs
Not being able to keep a settled team is costing us. LCD and Sam Nixon unavailable , why? Jonny Gray back in again. Whitten starting over Hendrickson, sorry Whits has been a good servant but time to move over. Why has Devoto disappeared again? Don't think we will make top 4.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:01:07:12:56:23 by Boldeagle.

Television Coverage from 2.30 pm

Channel 409 BT Sport 2 SD
Channel 431 BT Sport 2 HD

Are LCD, Devoto and Nixon out with Covid, injured or tactical changes? We will miss all three, especially Luke. Has Whitten been picked purely to stop Esterhuizen?
I have a feeling we could be in for a tough afternoon, no scrums please!
With a full strength side I think we could have got something here, but as it is I'm sadly predicting a loss again! Quins 36 Chiefs 19.

Are LCD, Devoto and Nixon out with Covid, injured or tactical changes? We will miss all three, especially Luke. Has Whitten been picked purely to stop Esterhuizen?
I have a feeling we could be in for a tough afternoon, no scrums please!
With a full strength side I think we could have got something here, but as it is I'm sadly predicting a loss again! Quins 36 Chiefs 19.

27-15 to Quins

Quins 35 Chiefs 25. Strong Chiefs team but barring a miracle...no way are we taking the Stoop at this point in time.

A great shame that we cannot keep a settled front row after they found some form last weekend.
If the forecast is for rain that will put pressure on our scrum for sure.
Am I the only one that would prefer to see Mooner starting than on the bench and use Alec as an impact sub?
Quin's look to have the edge in most areas BUT not in the back row. That is the hope I will cling to and in the rain anything can happen so I would not be surprised to see us pinch a win but I would be more confident without so many of our players missing.
C'mon Exe.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:01:07:13:53:57 by Zyder head.

Quins 24 - 19 Exeter. I do not expect it to be pretty.

We're doomed I tell you, doomed...

Don't panic..................

Harlequins 17 Exeter 25

How many times have we been underdogs and still got the win.

blimey exe i will get the rope we are 5th in the league and progressing sort the scrum out and get Townsend back competing things will be better. A top club dont become bad overnight.

On the Quins board they are saying we have a poor 9, have to agree when you look at their 9, in a
different league.

I am still hopeful for a result and would be confident if we were at full strength something we haven’t been ALL season and the three drop outs for illness are again unfortunate for us but let’s not forget last years final we were without 3 of our best forwards and pushed them close. It is only the bonus points which put them above us our win ratio is the same when we have been largely decimated up front. We live in tough times with some teams falling victim to COVID but we still can put out a very good side and let’s hope for a positive performance.
Weather looks poor so could be who plays better in the conditions, let’s hope the ref has no influence on the outcome at least it’s not Dickson or Ridley so we do have a chance !!!

Quote:

Boldeagle
On the Quins board they are saying we have a poor 9, have to agree when you look at their 9, in a
different league.

Yes ... Because done on here have been telling them that for months! I don't agree!

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Quote:

keithbar54
blimey exe i will get the rope we are 5th in the league and progressing sort the scrum out and get Townsend back competing things will be better. A top club dont become bad overnight.

Hear, hear!
It won't be pretty, but I think Cordero will make a huge difference with everything to prove.
Quins 18 Chiefs 20

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Quote:

Boldeagle
On the Quins board they are saying we have a poor 9, have to agree when you look at their 9, in a different league.

I think you will find it was one person who said that - their resident know all.

Quote:

Boldeagle
On the Quins board THEY are saying we have a poor 9, have to agree when you look at their 9, in a
different league.

Well the one person who gives that opinion also says we have a very old 12. I suggest whoever underestimates Whitts does so at their peril.
That said, I must admit that in Devotos absence I'd prefer to see Hendrickson starting and Whitts on the bench.

Quote:

Boldeagle
On the Quins board they are saying we have a poor 9, have to agree when you look at their 9, in a
different league.

Given Quins have, for some time, been allegedly tracking JM as a replacement for Care, I guess there could be a few unhappy posters on their site !!!

Quote:

Boldeagle
On the Quins board they are saying we have a poor 9, have to agree when you look at their 9, in a
different league.

Putting the weekly ‘9’ debate to one side I’m much more concerned with the prospect of rain, therefore potentially more scrums, leading to Marler v JI-S on more occasions than we’d probably want..

Quote:

Rowancroft73

Quote:

Boldeagle
On the Quins board they are saying we have a poor 9, have to agree when you look at their 9, in a
different league.

Putting the weekly ‘9’ debate to one side I’m much more concerned with the prospect of rain, therefore potentially more scrums, leading to Marler v JI-S on more occasions than we’d probably want..

+1. That’s my main concern too. Other than that, I have a feeling we could sneak this one.

Jack Innard has not and will not let us down, you could argue that when he’s played he has been our best. Whitt’s will defend and along with Gray not a lot will get past him ( his exploits at Bath was a plip it seems). Good to see Facundo back and if it does stay dry he will be a real headache for their defence.
A lot of power in the packs, I trust Robs and Ali, to know what’s needed.
Could win could lose, keep Smith quiet and Quins struggle.
Quins 17 Chiefs 22 but still in the air, but this time we have Big Dave playing.

Being optimistic but come on Chiefs.

Going to be a tough day with the weather playing it’s part. Quins 24 Chiefs 25

Chiefs 40 38 Quins

I just don't see us beating that Quins side. But, and it's a big but, I think if we can limit the score until they start bringing on their 'impact players' we could come out of it with a couple of points.

Quins 31 - Chiefs 28 ........................... of course, I may be wrong

Quins 18-26 Exe but I could be wrong!

Weather forecast for Twickenham has changed slightly from heavy rain showers to light rain showers.

Quins 17 - Chiefs 21

Weather looks to suit Chiefs. Quins will have to show their game management has improved significantly to win this one unless they get significant dominance up front.

I’m keeping the faith and expecting a similar performance to the Sarries and Bristol games. No LCD but Jonny is back. It’s rare for Quins to score less than 20 points but if we control possession and play a tight game to reflect the forecast….
Quins 17 Chiefs 22

Going with the heart rather than head on this one.
Quins 18 - 20 Chiefs

Not sure why but I'm going for the bonus point win 28 - 24.
Mrs PC thinks we will lose 24 - 31
Our second row should make a difference with two international locks against a good Prem player and a coming youngster. Hope our front row can get parity at least some of the time.

Head over heart. Think we will be under the cosh in the scrum and weather means a lot of scrums. Joe Marler playing. I fear we might be in for a very bad day. Defence will have to be top draw otherwise Quins may win by a large margin. Quins 34 Chiefs 12. Hope I am wrong.

chiefs 29 - the other team 19

So far Losses 9 wins 10 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m with CornwallChief on this one regrettably. Wet weather and lots of fumbles means lots of scrums against probably the best and canniest front row in the Prem. Given our travails against other teams who can scrum bit and that’ we are playing probably our third and sixth choice TH props it will be a long day at the office.
We can win but will need a superhuman performance across the board.

After carefululy checking the weather and teams im going for a win chiefs 29 quins 27

Oh dear. Hepburn RED card. Half time.

I was going to say very happy with 7-7, just starting to get into the game, BUT, what a stupid red card !!!!!!

Pity re Hepburn red card but correct decision. Actually quite pleased with Chief's performance. Scrum a problem but defence and ball retention pretty good. Lineout going well. Simmo great defence by no in retreating scrum. good fighting qualities but a long second half now.

No complaints with the red card decision, and thankfully no long term effects. A small mitigation I hope the citing committee consider ... with Marler at 120kg, Sam already had 60kg, so Hepburn may well have been surprised at the lack of weight he 'tackled'. I'm sure he wouldn't have lifted 120kg as easily.

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

We can still do this although it is obviously going to be hard work.
One upside is after Alec's stupidity at least we will have our best available scrummager on earlier than expected.
So so stupid that red card. Added time in an attacking position.
I hope everyone in the dressing room is accepting his apologies at half time.

Well, brilliant performance.

A real pity Joe missed a conversion, but considering we were down one man for 40, I think we did pretty well. No disgrace for sure

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Gutted, but very proud of the boys.

Gutted.
Esterhuizen clearly goes beyond the ball with hands on the floor first for the final turnover but overall we had a lot of luck with Quin's spurning chances.
Hopefully the performance is more important than the result and we get our mojo back after that.
Great effort lads

Concerned SS may be cited for that. Otherwise a tremendous performance in adverse circumstances.
The scrum went better than expected and we nicked some important linesout. And did well on the counter ruck. I think we were marginally the better team and it bodes well for the future.

Your 14 played so well and as mentioned above, the counter rucking was excellent as was the ability to protect your players over the ball and prevent Quins back row turning over - superb; the breakdown was even in the end. Quins wasted 3 clear chances but in the end their persistence got them over the line and had a somewhat lucky in-off. Great game and look forward to visiting you at the end of the season, if I can get a ticket!