ZP Preview: Just how good are Quins?

Knowledge reqd.
By Sparkie
November 15 2002

Wasps visit old rivals, Quins, looking for a jump start. Quins are on a roll at home. It is time we put a stop to that sort of nonsense. Usually this is the keenest of our away fixtures and one of our most happy hunting grounds. But like last season's result, we sometimes come unstuck at the Stoop.

Certainly this will be the case if we fail to play for the full 80 minutes. Quins gave Sarries a 23 point lead last weekend before staging an unlikely comeback. Unlike Tykes against us though, they failed to guard their own goal-line adequately and allowed our on-loan prop, Andy Kershaw to grab a last minute, five-pointer try.

If we put the standard of refereeing out of our minds and expand our thoughts, we ought to have too much strength in depth for Quins. It's time for Scrivs to earn some more plaudits leading the back row charge whilst the locks sort out the line dancing and the front row get a grip on those boring in against them. Our preponderance to kick from hand is another weakness. If we don't pick and drive before finding width at pace, we could be in for another long afternoon.

That said, Tykes beat Quins convincingly at the Stoop and Glaws turned them over there, just, too. Quins three recent home victories, whilst revelations of a sort, were against less sturdy opponents -- Bath, Newcastle and Irish. Away from home they are frail -- just 3 draws in the last 14 trips -- the rest all lost.

The team news reveals that Simon Shaw is suffering from a trapped nerve and Will Green has damaged ribs. Both join Joe Worsley on the Physio's couch. Lawrence Dallaglio may feature as a replacement but I have a hunch that Wayward will need him come tomorrow.

Quins are shorn of the mighty Jason Leonard (98 this weekend) and Will Greenwood, both playing down the road the day before. Contrary to earlier reports, Lord Lucan is still not match fit and Uncle Fester is rested. However, Paul Burke is back at fly half (in place of David Slemen) after missing six weeks through a knee injury. With Viliame Satala away with Fiji Rob Jewell comes in to partner our old boy, Nick Greenstock at centre.

Tani Fuga starts at hooker in place of Keith Wood who requires more rehabilitation work to his neck injury. The replacements bench will be announced on the morning of the game, while André Vos, the latest of Quins Sanzar signings takes over as captain having acclimatised himself at the club. We wait to see if he can galvanise the Middlesex club where Zinny and Wilson failed.

"Last Sunday's first half performance was very disappointing and, although we came back into the game, you can't afford to give any Premiership team a 23 point start," said Mark Evans, Quins CX. "London Wasps are a very good team, who are well organised and will offer us a very hard test on Sunday. They have a strong squad and we know that we will face a real battle at the Stoop."

Teams:

Wasps: 15 Josh Lewsey; 14 Shane Roiser, 13 Stuart Abbott, 12 Ayoola Erinle, 11 Kenny Logan; 10 Alex King, 9 Rob Howley (Capt.); 1 Darren Molloy, 2 Phil Greening, 3 Craig Dowd, 4 Joe Beardshaw, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 Mark Lock, 7 Paul Volley, 8 Peter Scrivener.

Bench: 16 Ali McKenzie, 17 Trevor Leota, 18 Mike McCarthy, 19 John Hart/Lawrence Dallaglio, 20 Martyn Wood, 21 Mark Van Gisbergen, 22 Fraser Waters.

Quins: 15 Nathan Williams; 14 Matt Moore, 13 Rob Jewell, 12 Nick Greenstock, 11 Ben Gollings; 10 Paul Burke, 9 Nick Duncombe; 1 Bruce Starr, 2 Tani Fuga, 3 Laurent Gomez, 4 Bill Davison, 5 Alex Codling, 6 Ace Tiatia, 7 Andre Vos (Capt.), 8 Tony Diprose.

Bench: TBC

Related links: A Quins eye view | Casbah Largesse as Sorries beat Queens | Moonlighting DJ scores a late try

Previously v. Queens (Pl.24 W15 D0 L9)

26 Apr 2002 16- 6 Loftus Road
22 Sep 2001 13-33 The Stoop
10 Apr 2001 38-19 Loftus Road
 9 Sep 2000 31-18 The Stoop
21 May 2000 35-32 Loftus Road
23 Dec 1999 52-16 The Stoop
19 May 1999 20-27 The Stoop
 1 Nov 1998 21-22 Loftus Road
12 Apr 1998 29-26 Loftus Road
13 Dec 1997 17-53 The Stoop
 3 May 1997 42-22 The Stoop
 5 Jan 1997 17-19 Loftus Road
 9 Mar 1996  3-34 Repton Avenue
16 Sep 1995 20-29 The Stoop
14 Jan 1995 25- 7 Repton Avenue
17 Sep 1994 57-26 The Stoop
15 Jan 1994 17-22 The Stoop
18 Sep 1993 18-15 Repton Avenue
26 Sep 1992 15-13 The Stoop
16 Nov 1991 20- 6 Repton Avenue
22 Sep 1990 18-12 The Stoop
23 Sep 1989  9-12 The Stoop
24 Sep 1988 23-15 Repton Avenue
 2 Jan 1988 17-16 Repton Avenue