Preview: Harlequins vs Northampton

By Wyddy
April 30 2013

Well it appears Spring has finally sprung, the roots of regeneration and growth abound and the trees are beginning to blossom. The first salvos of this coming change of season 2 weeks ago, was heralded by a try fest in the Premiership, a total of 44 tries scored in glorious sunny weather. This of course brought back the age old question of moving more of the season in to such conditions so we can be treated to more of this rugby versus the sodden, attritional slogs which bring so much character to the game.

Fortunately this revival in seasonal conditions seems to have coincided with a blessed righting of the good ship Quins. First the somewhat scratchy win against a committed Bath team, and then the away victory earned against a Worcester side who came apart in the last third. The sight of Quins entering a free scoring mode again seemed to lift the shackles from a careworn and fretful team. Towards the end of the game there seemed to be a kindling of the freedom to play that has been such a cornerstone of the last 18 months success. Finally a play off place was confirmed, although the securing of which was done at the possible cost of an injury to our somewhat off colour captain, Mr Robshaw. Care and Evans were fizzing again, we even saw that most rare of things in 2013, a Mike Brown try... too long has he not troubled the scoresheet.

So we approach the last regular game of the long season, poor old London Welsh succumbed, and the loss of that 5 points proved too much to overcome. Sale the fortunate beneficiaries seem to have celebrated with a glamorous @#$%& up in Leeds, Cipriani again showing his excellent tackling technique and being demolished by a double decker bus (annoyingly nursed back to health by Kelly Brook... slightly better than the NHS). London Irish look set for difficulty with an exodus of a lot of their players once again, whilst Bath look to have picked up some useful talent for next season. It’s all over bar the shouting for the rest of the Premiership apart from the top four... the same as last season who look to lock horns again.

That’s not to say it’s all set and done as to who will face who in the semis. Saracens getting turned over up at Kingsholm by Gloucester, opened a gap at the top which would see Leicester take top spot if Sarries lose to Bath (without a bonus point) and Tigers beat Irish with a bonus point. Conversely if Leicester conspire to lose at home to London Irish without obtaining a single point, and Quins beat Northampton whilst scoring 4 tries or more, then Quins would have a home semi final in the play offs, sneaking into second spot.

With all that being said the most likely outcome is that Sarries and Leicester remain in first and second and Quins and Saints battle it out to see who plays who in third and fourth. If you asked most Quins fans I think they would state a preference for Leicester away, whilst Saints fans prefer to travel to Allianz Park to face Sarries.

Whatever the ups and downs of the last day of the regular season, Quins fans will be hoping for a repeat of the sensational play-off semi final last year that finished with Saints going down to a powerhouse 13 man maul securing a try at the death. It could be argued Northampton come into this game in a slightly better state, their form has picked up significantly in the final third of the season, and there is evidence that they are expanding their attacking repertoire. Significantly they have no injury worries and may be able to field the combination of Callum Clark and Tom Wood in the back row. Quins on the other hand are just back on the road to recovery after an awful sequence which saw them plummet from top spot.

Up front Saints duo, Brian Mujati and Soane Tonga’uiha are on their farewell tour, and will be looking to put the hurt on familiar opponents Joe Marler and James Johnston. Once again, when it comes to scrum time it will be the usual lottery, however with Wigglesworth named as referee there is a hope that he will use the common sense he used in the recent Bath vs Tigers game. Supplying the power behind the Saints front row will be Courtney Lawes and Christian Day, who have both been ticking along nicely. Of vital importance for Quins is that Ollie Kohn makes the first XV, without his grunt Quins seem to falter, and he will be needed against a traditionally powerful Saints pack. George Robson has been eager to play himself into form, by the end of the Worcester game his broken nose had been reset so many times, Joe Bugner would have been impressed. However when Matthews has come on for him in recent games there has been hardly any drop in performance levels. Robson needs a big dominant game, particularly in the line out where Saints are no slouches in disrupting other teams.

Moving to the back rows, the aforementioned Callum Clark, Tom Wood and one of Manu Samoa or Phil Dowson will take their places. Up against them, dependent on Robshaws injury will be Robshaw/Wallace, a revitalised Big Mo and Nick Easter. That has all the hallmarks of an epic bruising tussle. Let’s hope both sets of players make it out of the cauldron with no injuries. Manu Samoa in particular has been garnering serious amounts of plaudits for his development at Northampton, he’s become a significant danger at line out time and is a presence in the loose. Callum Clark will add more devil and no little impact to that back line, and to have someone of the calibre of Dowson to come on from the bench shows their strength in depth. If Robshaw doesn’t make it for Quins, then Wallace will take his place – when he’s been given the chance in the 2nd half of the season he has been excellent. What you lose in bulk and power with Robshaw, Wallace replaces with mobility, a fetcher style of 7 play and equally excellent hands. If Quins win the battle up front and Wallace is on the pitch he can make things happen when he crops up in the line, he has also developed quite a habit of popping up on the wing, who does he think he is? Tom Croft!? Additionally if Fa’asavalu is on anywhere like the form he showed against Worcester then Quins fans will have a happy day, a rejuvenated Big Mo cut through Wuss like butter, his last run busting through 3 players, can he pay back the fans for a rather subdued season by his standards?

The Stoop will welcome back little Dickson once again, however his brother Karl is likely to be waiting for his moment from the bench as the half back combination of Danny Care and Nick Evans has started to flicker into life, both scoring twice last week. Up against them will be Karl’s little brother, sometime England player, Lee and Stephen Myler, so often unpredictable, has added consistency to his game this latter half of the season. What with Lee Dickson playing for his starting No9 jersey for next season, as Saints have Kahn Fotual’i from Ospreys coming in who looks the mustard. Nick Evans has started to look a little more like his old self since the Gloucester game, he was looking for openings against Worcester and his speed has not diminished yet... neither has his forearm smash as the Goat can testify...

Moving to the backs and expect Conor to pick his strongest line up as Quins make sure there is nothing left in the shed for this game. This should mean an unchanged line up from the Worcester game. Turner-Hall and Lowe in the centres, Ugo and Tom Williams on the wing and Mike Brown at full back. What more to say about these five players? Jordan Turner-Hall still has yet to hit his straps, George Lowe looks to be back on form and he has started buzzing, Brown will be all the better for getting back on the scoresheet last week. Ugo and Williams remain stalwarts on the wings and will provide experienced sensible defensive play and a good kick off chase.

Northampton have started getting their backs in the game a little more of late, look for the return of George Pisi in the centres and one of Burrell, Waldouck or evergreen Tom May to join him. On the wings they will likely go with young Jamie Elliott and other Pisi brother, Ken. Elliott in particular has brought good returns to Northamptons patience in his development, crossing for 7 tries in his last 6 games. Add to that the fit again Ben Foden and these are two well matched teams. The clash between the two full backs will be worth the entrance fee on its own. Foden has been accused of being out of form, and certainly there have been occasions of him dropping off tackles in recent games. Brown has started to find his rhythm after being mucked about by England, their contest to prove who should be competing that England 15 jersey will be enthralling, particularly as this humble fan believes they’re better than the current incumbent.

Once again it will be decided on who wants it more... can Conor continue to turn around the mini slump? Will Big Mo come in the same frame of mind he left Worcester, a raring to go Mo would be just the fillip required in the final few games of the season.

It’s cup final time now. Every game from here on in, anyone can beat anyone. It’s about who turns up on the day, who hits holding nothing back, who puts their body on the line for the team and the jersey.

This is going to be tight, if Quins are ahead come the 60 minute mark, I can’t see Northampton having enough to turn it round.

Quins by 7pts.

*** Just had the Lions squad through. Let’s let our Lions know how much they mean to us on Saturday, Chris and Danny in particular are incredibly unlucky, let’s show them they’re appreciated at home.

COYQ!!!

Preview: Harlequins vs Northampton

Posted by: ComeAllWithin.co.uk (IP Logged)

Date: 30/04/2013 16:43

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