Preview: Harlequins v Bath Rugby
By Worried of Whitton
March 14 2008
Quins return to The Stoop for their anti penultimate home match of the season. Hopes will once more be running high as Quins take on 2nd placed Bath. For the for the fourth consecutive week a thrilling match is eagerly anticipated as a renaissance Quins, who have picked up 13 points from their last four matches, endeavour to consolidate their top 6 position as the season begins to draw to a close
If the supporters can re create the atmosphere at The Stoop of two weeks ago then those winning points should be secure.
Despite the disappointment of losing away to Wasps 29-25, Quins did return to London with a bonus point, and dreams of what might have been. A win would have propelled them up to fourth position, after Saracens narrowly beat Sale. The results of last weekend caused a few changes in the table as Gloucester this week’s visitors Bath and Leicester have pulled away from the teams below them. Those clubs between fourth and seventh position have consolidated their positions with just four points between them. London Irish are hard on the heals of Wasps who they play this weekend
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | PD | BP | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gloucester Rugby | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 410 | 284 | +126 | 10 | 54 |
| 2 | Bath Rugby | 15 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 364 | 266 | +98 | 6 | 50 |
| 3 | Leicester Tigers | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 384 | 285 | +99 | 8 | 48 |
| 4 | Sale Sharks | 15 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 311 | 263 | +48 | 6 | 42 |
| 5 | Saracens | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 354 | 317 | +34 | 6 | 42 |
| 6 | Harlequins | 15 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 333 | 327 | +6 | 9 | 41 |
| 7 | London Wasps | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 341 | 298 | +43 | 6 | 38 |
| 8 | London Irish | 15 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 287 | 292 | -5 | 4 | 36 |
| 9 | Bristol Rugby* | 15 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 270 | 306 | -36 | 3 | 30 |
| 10 | Newcastle | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 232 | 309 | -77 | 3 | 27 |
| 11 | Worcester Warriors | 16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 255 | 345 | -90 | 6 | 20 |
| 12 | Leeds Carnegie | 15 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 233 | 482 | -249 | 2 | 6 |
* Bristol deducted 1 point for fielding an ineligible player
But, Wasps still have that potentially crucial game in hand. The teams immediately below Irish a have all but played themselves out of a top six finish, whilst the match that has been billed for many month as the “relegation decider” is played on Friday night as Worcester Warriors host Leeds Carnegie. Indeed the matches this week are interesting in their make up as they have pitted the teams, who currently occupy the top six against each other and likewise those in the bottom six.
Last weekend, despite outscoring their opponents three tries to two, the best coming from a superb scorching run by Monye, leaving Lewsey trailing in his wake, Quins were left with a losing bonus point from a feisty match. Quins showed that they were not about to easily surrender their three match unbeaten run and they could well have snatched victory in the closing stages. Harlequins have just seven matches which will define their season more than the poor winter performances. After putting Warriors and Saracens to the sword, and squashing the Cherries, they came very close to swatting Wasps on Sunday, but must now bounce back to pull the plug on a very hot Bath! Bath currently second, just four point behind table topping Gloucester but have a game in hand. They too will be pushing for a win, to maintain the pressure on Gloucester especially after tasting life at the top for a couple of hours last weekend, following their win over Newcastle. They will also be out to do the double over Quins after winning at home 25-10 at the Recreation Ground earlier this season. It looks as if the weather will make Bath feel at home with heavy showers forecast, I just hope that the rain will not be as heavy as last year as we watch a very slow match played under on monsoon and a pitch that became a swamp before our eyes, Quins won that encounter 9-3. Despite losing four players to the England Six Nations squad, with Borthwick, Lipman, Mears and Stevens al at Twickenham on Saturday Bath will still provide formidable opposition with Olly Barkley who has once more find his form after punishing a below par Newcastle, and the ever wily Grewcock out to cause disruption. Despite this Bath were forced to grind out a win with an uninspiring performance last weekend. Failing to take their opportunities, Bath should have sprinted away with the game but were left with a solitary try and 14 points from Barkley’s boot.
Press reports state that the team are up for it and will be pushing for a play off place
When interviewed earlier this week, by Simon Fitzjohn in the Richmond and Twickenham Times, Monye said that buoyant Quins squads were ready for the acid test, as confidence at The Stoop is very high. After this weekend Quins have six matches left, two at home and four away, three against teams above them in the table and three below. Recent home performances suggest that Quins should win all their remaining home games, Newcastle and Sale, and away to Leeds, targeting Bristol and London Irish where an away win would cause an upset. The final match of the season is away at Leicester.
Monye insisted this week that Quins were still on the up, looking to improve their position. Despite the “winter of discontent”, sixth place in the Premiership is the lowest position in the table that Quins have occupied this season, despite a brief flirtation in seventh a few weekends ago. “There is a massive amount of self belief in the squad and we feel we are capable of beating anyone. It doesn’t t matter who we are playing, as we feel we can win. Everyone is playing with real confidence, and we are playing some good rugby at the moment” Monye added that “ Dean Richards has encouraged an expansive game which creates a lot of opportunities, and this style of rugby suits not just me, but the whole back line and everybody is profiting form it.” It is clear however that there is still room for improvement, and this will be needed this weekend. This weekend match against Bath will really show where Quins stand and whether a top four position looks a reality. A win at Wasps last weekend would have reinforced that expectation, however we are set for another spectacle this weekend, even though we have an extra day to wait for it, as the match is on Sunday, and it will be no easy ride.
I would expect, baring injuries, to see the same team selection that lined up against Gloucester two weeks ago. Despite announcing their departure in the summer, both Adrian Jarvis and Hal Luscombe have been instrumental in recent matches and they appear to be determined to leave The Stoop on a high!
You’ve not seen nothing like the
Mighty Quins!
The other matches this weekend
| Date | Time | Match |
|---|---|---|
| Round 16 | ||
| Fri 14th Mar 08 | 19:45 | Sale Sharks v Gloucester Rugby** |
| Fri 14th Mar 08 | 20:00 | Worcester Warriors**v Leeds Carnegie |
| Sat 15th Mar 08 | 15:00 | Leicester Tigers** v Saracens** |
| Sun 16th Mar 08 | 15:00 | Harlequins v Bath Rugby |
| Sun 16th Mar 08 | 15:00 | London Irish v London Wasps* |
| Sun 16th Mar 08 | 15:00 | Newcastle Falcons* v Bristol Rugby |
* Round 15 for Wasps and Newcastle
**Round 17 for Gloucester, Leicester, Saracens, and Worcester
Quote:WOW
After putting Warriors and Saracens to the sword, and squashing the Cherries, they came very close to swatting Wasps on Sunday, but must now bounce back to pull the plug on a very hot Bath!
How very droll!
