Team Selections

By Artemis
August 11 2006

So with the new season a few weeks away, the excitement is certainly building and although I have feelings of doom and impending failure, there is also a little bit of hope.

For the first time in a while there is a different mood around the club, fans seem to have benefited as much from the ND1 season as much as the club has, and I hope that we do return stronger and better for the journey, as I also hope that some of our friends from ND 1 may soon join us as well.

 

My thoughts, as always during the close season, turn to the team. Who will be the regular XV that I cheer on week in and week out, who will be my shining light and who will be my scape goat. Looking through the list of signings I have  mixed feelings. I look at Stuart Abbott and it sends shivers down my spine, the guy can play some serious rugby, how on earth the imbecile in charge of England did not pick him to start either of the summer tours I will never know, but that is our gain. However I do worry about his motivation, am I naïve enough to believe that “he wants a new challenge”, or do I believe the rumours that we were just a little quicker off the mark and the money was too good to turn down. 

 

In the same way I allowed myself to be buoyed by Abbott, I feel disappointed by the signings of Chris Hala'Ufia, Peter Cook and Ollie Kohn, not because I doubt their talent, commitment or what they bring to the squad, it’s just that once you’ve signed a current England international, followed by a current Welsh international (Hal Luscombe), followed by one of Englands brightest young talents (Danny Care), it feels a little strange. Also the big, high pro-file signings have been in the backs, as the lesser known quantities have been signed in the forwards.

 

This leads me nicely to the XV for next season. A number of the squad will not be first choice regulars, it is necessary to have enough strength and depth as well coming in under the salary cap. So the question remains, who of the players that we have signed are coming to the club as first choice, straight in the team, unless injured, players and who are here to push onto another level and who is here to make up the numbers.

 

What I thought we could do is make a direct comparison from the usual first XV from last season and see who out of the new boys would automatically walk in to the team.

 

NEC HARLEQUINS 05/06		NEC HARLEQUINS 06/07
Tom Williams	FULL-BACK	Tom Williams
Simon Keogh	WING	Simon Keogh
Will Greenwood	CENTRE	Stuart Abbott
Gavin Duffy	CENTRE	Gavin Duffy
Ugo Monye	WING	Ugo Monye
Andrew Mehrtens	FLY-HALF	Andrew Mehrtens
Steve So’oialo	SCRUM-HALF	Steve So’oialo
Ceri Jones	PROP	Ceri Jones
Tani Fuga	HOOKER	Tani Fuga
Ricky Nebbett	PROP	Ricky Nebbett
Jim Evans	LOCK	Jim Evans
Simon Miall	LOCK	Nicola Spanghero
Andre Vos	FLANKER	Andre Vos
Guest/ Sherriff/ Robshaw	FLANKER	Paul Volley
Nick Easter	No8	Nick Easter
Jimmy Richards	16	Jimmy Richards
Lorne Ward	17	Lorne Ward
Pablo Bouza	18	Simon Miall
Guest/Sherriff/Robshaw	19	Will Skinner
Adrian Jarvis	20	Adrian Jarvis
Mel Deane	21	Hal Luscombe
Mike Brown	22	Mike Brown

 

***I accept that this is pure speculation and it is based on my opinion***

 

It is obvious that Stuart Abbott will walk straight into the team, Paul Volley should because he is captain and I think he will fill the gap that we had last season, with Guest and Robshaw looking good but never holding the place down. I don’t know anything about Spanghero and am not convinced he is first choice, but I think Dean Richards has brought him in to beef up the pack. In Jim Evans you have a real athlete, quick and a good line out jumper, Miall has always been the beef, but I think Spanghero might take his place (I accept I might be wrong).

 

Now Hal Luscombe is an interesting signing, I’m not convinced he’ll play centre, Duffy is the man with the shirt and has proved he can play there, along with Luscombe and Abbott, Quins are blessed with three very exciting home nation talents. So how do you get them all to play?  Luscombe could take Keogh’s place on the wing or to accommodate Luscombe at centre, Duffy goes to full-back.

 

 

                  

Tom Williams	FULL-BACK	Gavin Duffy
Hal Luscombe	WING	Simon Keogh
Stuart Abbott	CENTRE	Stuart Abbott
Gavin Duffy	CENTRE	Hal Luscombe
Ugo Monye	WING	Ugo Monye

 

First Choice Signings

Stuart Abbott

Hal Luscombe

Paul Volley

Nicola Spanghero

 

Of the signings not discussed there has been great excitement about Danny Care from Leeds. Having seen him play for England U18’s at the Stoop, I am very excited also, he has a decent pass, he mixes his game up, with some running, kicking and passing and will hopefully grow at Quins, playing with Mehrtens. A number of boarders were equally excited by the prospect of Will Skinner joining the back row, mentions of pace and strength with good hands, means we might have got a real gem of a player. Finally Strettle, it’s safe to say he has got a dream move, but will he make the most of it, it is a big jump from ND1 to the GP, but all the talk has been of a decent player.

 

 

Make A Name For Yourself Signings

Danny Care

David Strettle

Will Skinner

 

I think it is safe to say that this years squad is an improvement on our last Premiership Squad. Will it be good enough to stay up? I think we are certainly starting with a number of things going for us. We have a better squad, a squad full of confidence, a good mix of young players and seasoned pro’s. However the fixture list has not done us many favours, with some of the big teams up first, it is imperative we make the most of every opportunity given to us, starting with coming out of the blocks against London Irish. I think what did it for us in 04/05 was that losing streak at the start of the season, so we must get a win in the first couple of games. With two of the form teams of last season up first we must get something from one of those games if not both, it will boost confidence and give the players and coaches a platform to build off of.