Preview: Quins v Newcastle Falcons

Round 18 and Quins are back at The Stoop this weekend for the first of their final three home matches which coincidentally are all against Northern opposition and teams who currently sit below us in the league table. Kickoff is at 15.00 on Saturday April 3rd. This is yet another crucial match for both sides as they strive to stay above the drop zone.

One has to wonder which Newcastle will turn up this weekend and also what sort of state they will be in after being comprehensively thrashed 58-15 Saracens last weekend, only to bounce back  to beat Gloucester 25-13 on Wednesday night in their postponed round 13 match. Three Premiership games in one week is a big ask,  and potentially precarious especially as they must also be suffering from fatigue brought on by 900 miles  and 18 hours  of travelling up and down the A1.

After their heavy defeat last weekend Newcastle’s director of rugby Steve Bates said “The guys are hurting because they know they were well below par. "It wasn't good enough by any stretch, but you have to take your hat off to Saracens because they've got the resources to build this kind of team and they made their class tell. It's going to be a fight to the finish now, but we still believe we're a good team and that we can bounce back” and bounce back they did. On Wednesday morning Bates was reports as saying the Newcastle needed just six more points to keep their premiership status. A bold statement ahead of their home game against Gloucester, but they gained four points from their evenings work. Newcastle maintained their ninth spot with 32 points, Quins just one position above the visitors have the same number of league points but have played one game less. Newcastle s win over Gloucester has certainly tightened up the top of the bottom half of the table, enabling Quins to stay in touch with Gloucester one position above them and in sight of that precious sixth league position.

It was Gopperth that kick life back into Newcastle against Gloucester. He has become their new talisman who produced a match winning display and Quins must heed his presence and not give away penalties in kicking range. Saturday will see a battle of the Kiwi kickers Evans v Gopperth who kicked six out of seven penalties and his tackling prompted a turnover that lead to the Newcastle try.  Newcastle may be done but are not out. After the match a happy Bates said “it just shows how tight it is that we could go to Harlequins on Saturday, beat them and suddenly find ourselves in seventh position. Hopefully this will mean the pressure will be off us a little so we can play a bit more freely, but whether we can turn around again in three days and produce another big performance is the big question.

Quins failed on the road again down at Bath last weekend despite taking an early three point lead, Bath were industrious despite Harlequins showing their usual industry and fierce competition at the breakdown, but they could only chalk up two penalties before half-time, despite seeing Bath go down to 14 men after Claassens was sin binned for a high tackle on Strettle. The second half went even better for the home side and they had scored their third try by the 53^rd minute, through Joe Maddock, and may well regret not managing to score a bonus-point fourth. Quins defence remained strong throughout the game and they were rewarded for their tireless work with a late try from long-range finished off by Tom Williams, but it was just scant consolation as Bath won 24-13. .

Quins need to win all their remaining home matches to bring a bit of sparkle to a lack luster season. Qualification for the Heineken Cup although the goal of the new director of Rugby Conor O’Shea but after last week’s performance in the mud down in Bath that may now be just a dream. Hopefully O’Shea would have a galvanised the squad ready for their version of the Easter rising to take on Newcastle and deliver an excellent home victory on Saturday. A holiday crowd, although not a sellout, will be in fine voice to egg on the home side. The unusual step of announcing three signings before the end of the season was made in the hope to show the supporters that although this season has not been good there is plenty to look forward to. It also has a lot to do with the expected imminent launch of the Season tickets s for 2010-2011.

I think we would all prefer to see a couple of wins from an exciting home performance.  The tinkering with some of the laws two weeks ago certainly produced many tries last weekend and we will be expecting to see the Quartered shirts stacking up the points on Saturday afternoon

Ahead of Saturday s match the crucial survival match is on Friday Evening with tenth placed Sale playing Worcester who are propping up the bottom of the table. By kick off on Saturday we may well have a better idea of the way the foot of the table is shaping .

Quins should win on Saturday  and should strive to win well with a bonus point win. The supporters deserve it! 

Other games this weekend  

Friday April 2^nd
Sale v Worcester Warriors  19.45

Saturday, 27 March 2010
Harlequins v Newcastle, 15:00
Leeds Carnegie v Northampton 15:00
Northampton v Bath Rugby 15:00
Gloucester v Saracens  17:30

Sunday, 28 March 2010
Wasps v London Irish, 13:30

Come On You Quins!