Quins refine selection for final warm up game

By KevT
September 11 2003

NEC Harlequins take on Saracens at The Stoop Memorial Ground on Friday (5th September) kick off 7.45pm in the final pre season friendly for both clubs before hostilities start next weekend in the Zurich Premiership.

Quins’ head coach Mark Evans described his selection of the Quins team in this week’s pre season press conference as a “strong indicator of where my thoughts lie with regard to selection for the first league game against Wasps”.

Mark Evans introduced the new faces in the team. “There are clearly one or two new faces in this side. Gavin Duffy has joined us from Connaught. He is an Ireland ‘A’ player, an extremely exciting prospect and I’m delighted to have attracted him across the Irish Sea. He obviously used to play with John Kingston at Galwegians. Gavin can play anywhere across the back line. This is an opportunity to see Josh Taumalolo, a signing from Bridgend who is a Tongan international. It is also an opportunity to see whether the combination [of Gavin at Full Back and Josh at Centre] is preferable to the other way round which is the way we have been playing them.”

“George Harder joins us from Leeds, he is a Samoan international. Since he joined the Premiership last season, I think he has been the stand out wing in the competition week in, week out and we are delighted to have secured his services. Ben Willis, former Auckland Blues and Leinster scrum half starts at nine. He is 26 years old, played for New Zealand at various age groups and Ireland ‘A’. Mike Worsley has joined us from London Irish on a three year contract, another 26 year old. I’ve been a big fan of his since he played at Orrell in his teens, then Bristol and London Irish. I think people underestimate what a good player he is in the tight because he is so good in the loose.”

“The pack pretty much stays as it was, we have a few changes in the back line. Obviously with Will Greenwood at the World Cup and Mel Deane and Chris Bell getting injured against the Gwent Dragons ten days ago, maybe we’ve made a few more changes than we would have wanted for the first home warm up game going into our first league game.”

“I’m pretty confident we have a competitive squad this season and we can continue our improvement from positions of 11th, 9th and 7th in the previous seasons. It’ll be interesting to see how we go and I’m looking forward to it.”

I think this an interesting selection and may give us some pointers to Mark’s thoughts for the season ahead. James Hayter starts at hooker, in Tani Fuga’s absence. This may indicate that he and Tani will be the hookers rather than using Ace Tiatia occasionally. I certainly think that we have problems in the scrum when Ace is hooker. He seems to be too big to play there. Pat Sanderson is selected at blind side flanker over Roy Winters and Ace Tiatia. Is Ace’s place on the bench a sign that he may be seen as an “impact player” this season? I think we might miss Ace’s aggression around the tackle area. One conclusion I think we can draw is that Andre Vos will play open side for the season.

Injuries to Mel Deane and Chris Bell mean that Andy Reay starts at centre. Mark had some words to say about Andy and his selection. “We’ve had two injuries. If our youth set up is as good as we think it is then we should be able to cope. Andy is a very fine young player. He made his debut last year and played really well against the Sharks on that Tuesday night. You know he is 20 now. If he is going to make it then this is a huge opportunity for him. He’s not going to be very much better at 23 years old as he is now, so if he is good enough he’ll keep his place.”

Most of the changes are within the backs and I asked Quins’ back coach Paul Turner about the new back line and the match on Friday night. “All the new players have fitted in very well. It’s been interesting seeing them arrive. I think we’ve signed well. We have had a reasonable pre-season and now we have Saturday’s match. It’s a bit unusual playing a team you are going to face in your league, you don’t see it in soccer, but we’re looking forward to it. Sarries are a good side who have recruited heavily in the close season.”

I asked Paul about the selection of Josh Taumalolo at centre and Gavin Duffy at Full Back. “Gavin can play Full Back or Centre and played half of the game at Beziers at Full Back. Josh played half a season at Centre for Bridgend. Josh is really more of a play maker and I can see him playing a similar role to Will Greenwood.”

Saracens have had a pretty disjointed pre season. Australian Rod Kafer came in as backs coach from Leicester and then Head Coach Wayne Shelford was dismissed. A number of coaches were believed to have been approached for the Head Coach role. In particular, Australia Under 21 coach Laurie Fisher was targeted as Shelford’s replacement but those plans fell through. Kafer had been taking pre season training and no one else that Sinderberry saw seemed better suited than Kafer.

Two weeks ago Saracens’ played Agen in France in a pre season “friendly”. Rod Kafer took the players off after 59 minutes because the game developed into a punch up. New signing and All Black international Taine Randell said he had never seen anything like it. Mark Evans was asked whether Sarries would last eighty minutes at The Stoop. “The Stoop is a tough place to come. Who knows?”

There have been quite a few comings and goings at Saracens in the close season. They have strengthened their pack. At prop, Englishman Stephen Sparks has been signed from Castres. At hooker, former French international Raphael Ibanez comes in. The second row has been significantly strengthened with the signing of Simon Raiwalui from Newport and Alex Codling from Quins. In the back row, former All Black Captain Taine Randell has been signed from Otago. On the debit side Saracens have lost some significant strength. Tim Horan, Abdel Benazzi, Christian Califano, David Flatman and Matt Cairns have all gone.

It will be interesting to see how Alex Codling does at Saracens. He may feel less pressure on him with a high profile partner in Simon Raiwalui who was captain of Newport and was known in Wales as a feisty and firey player. I certainly hope that John Kingston, Simon Miall and Roy Winters will have changed some of the line out routines otherwise we may find Alex stealing a bit of line out ball.

In the front row, Sarries look a bit weaker following the departures of Califano and Flatman. Sparks is a bit of an unknown quantity whilst Bergamaschi shouldn’t unduly worry Mike Worsley and James Hayter. Sarries have lost Richard Hill to England duty from the back row. Their back row looks a little less fearsome than Quins but is will be interesting to see old Tri Nations foes Andre Vos and Taine Randell facing each other.

In the backs, Sarries will miss Kyran Bracken who will be away with England. Andy Goode never really convinced at Fly Half last season and more will be expected this term. It’s impossible to replace a player like Tim Horan but Kevin Sorrell and Ben Johnston are good players. In particular, Johnston has impressed me whenever I’ve seen him. On the wing Richard Haughton has loads of pace and it will be more than interesting see him up against Ugo Monye. Castaignede is a wonderful player and Sarries supporters will hope to see better from him this season. According to whispers, the removal of Shelford was very pleasant news for Castaignede. I’m a big fan of Sarries Full Back Adrian Winnan and think he would be better suited there with Castaignede at Fly Half.

It’s difficult to predict these pre season matches. Quins should be able to get the nudge in the scrum. The line out will be really interesting. The Quins defence will need to be strong against Saracens’ strong centres. Quins back line has the potential to be far more dangerous in attack. If Quins can secure decent possession then their ability to turnover ball at the break down through their back row should give them the edge.



NEC Harlequins: 15. Gavin Duffy; 14. George Harder; 13. Josh Taumalolo; 12. Andy Reay; 11. Ugo Monye; 10. Paul Burke; 9. Ben Willis; 1. Mike Worsley; 2. James Hayter; 3. Jon Dawson; 4. Bill Davison; 5. Simon Miall; 6. Pat Sanderson; 7. Andre Vos (Capt.); 8. Tony Diprose

Replacements: 16. Ace Tiatia; 17. Ceri Jones; 18. Jim Evans; 19. Roy Winters; 20. Simon Keogh; 21. Andy Dunne; 22. Matt Moore

Saracens: 15. Castaignede; 14. Haughton; 13. Johnston; 12. Sorrell; 11. McAvoy; 10. Goode; 9. Kirton; 1. Sparks; 2. Ross; 3. Bergamaschi; 4. Raiwalui; 5. Codling; 6. Chesney; 7. Peacey; 8. Randell

Replacements: 16. Kershaw; 17. Croall; 18. Skirving; 19. Roques; 20. Williams; 21. Paul Bailey; 22. O'Mahony