Connacht v Harlequins, Discussions, Banter and teams.

First topic message reminder :

The final match of pool 6 see's Irish newboys Connacht host English pace setters Harlequins at the Sportsground.

If Quins win this game then with a little luck they could get one of the runner up spots with a haul of 20 points. If they getting a winning bp then that's almost assured, although the men in quarters will have a little bit of hope riding on their fellow Englishmen of Gloucest that they can get one over heavy weights Toulouse and so potentially gift Quins the top spot in the pool.

Of course this is all assuming they get that win in Galway; Connacht have been tough opposition so far in this comp and don't let the lack of W's fool you, they've scared both the English clubs in their pool for long periods. Gloucester and Quins both had to come back from behind at home to them to manage wins in bitterly contested games Gloucester only managing to get ahead on the 74th minute. So even if the Irish team does lose on Fri I think they can be pleased with their showing in Europe this season.

Anyway on to my prediction, I can see this game being again very close and contested mostly through the physicality of the packs in what I assume will be mucky conditions. But with Harlequins extra experience in this comp and their place in the knock outs at stake I expect Robshaw and Evans to steer them to victory.

I'm going for Quins by 10 no try bp.

mckay1402 wrote:any links anyone?

+ 1 Whats happening folks??

Mon Connacht, frustrate them!

Kidding.

Connacht have all the ball at the moment. And running it in the backs. But there's a knock on and Quins get to put in.

ah too many knock ons in key areas! (not surprising given the conditions). High pace and intensity stuff, loving it.

Rodders and McKay sent check your mail

Scrum to Quins on their 22. They win it and Evans kicks up field. Connacht get the ball and from a tackle Quins get it back but knock on on the halfway line. Scrum green over at the touchline. Quins win it though but Connacht hit them hard int he tackle and Care is crumpled. O'Donohue gets the ball and lards the leather down to the Quins 5m line. Brilliant.

McKay and Rodders. Check yer INBOXes.

Clinical spoiling there by quins.

Link anyone?

can i get a link for that as well please

Connacht win the line out and drive forward. MCCarthy and Swift make great drives to the line. Quins defend desperately. And penalty to Connacht. Will they take the kick? Will they heck! O'Connor has one practically in front of the posts. And unbelievably misses it. Quins had a lucky escape.

Bollix come on Connacht!!!

2 minutes to halftime and a scrum for Connacht on Quins 40m line. Play stops for a bootlaces or something.

well connacht have been doing it all night so far, so might as well join them if Nigel Owens aint bothering to pick it up

Scrum collapses for the first time. Methinks Quins want to get off the pitch into the dressing room. One minute left.

Connacht win it this time. They take it forward and keep it close. Time up. And penalty to Quins at a ruck, so they kick to touch. 9-5 to Connacht at half time.

Connacht ahead at half time, helping their Celtic cousins out with a win be good

Pity O'Connor couldn't nail that last kick....useless bollix.... not a big enough lead at the minute.

Munster23 & UlstermaninGlasgow. Check yer inboxes.

And Gloucester 14-17 Toulouse in France.

Toulouse on 22 points, Quins on 17 points As It Stands (c) Sky Broadcasting 2012.

Links sent to those who need it. If it's a long list, I'm the one who created it so save it for the future so you know where to go!!

P.S. All those links were assembled by our man Thomond.

Connacht needed more pts in the 1st half. They will rue it against the wind.

Thomond is a legend! ....quinny is a great pundit.

Connacht ain't got a big enough lead. They have also really struggled with phase ball and failed to put points on the board when they were in the 22. I hope in the 2nd half they will come out, hold on to the ball and play more phase rugby. Have they got the pack to do so??

And the fans are hurriedly shifting the windmaking machines to the other end of the pitch for the second half.

Yah, Quinny is really good. Talks so much sense and is so unbiased too. Even when Munster play. Refreshing.

Lads, be heroes and link me please?

Cheers lads! Now come on your westies!!! Papa needs a win!

You know where to go Super, save them!

Pot Hale,

No machines that's just the Galway men blowing at one end of the ground and sucking at the other!

thanks a million gibson and thomond

Second half starting

Thomond wrote:You know where to go Super, save them!

Cheers Thomond!!

I'll take your word for it Mrs P.

It's gonna be all guts in this second if Connacht want to hold Quins off. Wait for the onslaught.

Here we go.

MON Connacht!

Believe.

Quins immediately kick forward and force a short touch kick from Connacht. Line out throws and they take.

Quins have it but it's slow. Easter grinds it forward. Robshaw takes it up next, and Connacht repel. Care takes a pass but it's forward.

And Gloucester take the lead in Kingsholm! Breathe easier Quins fans.

21-17 after Sharples touches down and Burns converts for Gloucester.

Quins not making headway at the moment, getting knocked back int he tackle. But they do enough to get into the 22. And out the back line and a grubbed kick forward has Monye reaching for the ball and misses Evans kick. Close. But no cigar.

But Quins need to get on top of Connacht. if they can't beat Connacht, they don't deserve to win the pool or at least make it as the runner up. I am not taking a shot at Connacht here. Just the opposite. If Harlequins have pretensions to win the HEC, then they must beat the bottom teams. I know it was close last time, but when all on the line to potentially come up short is unacceptable.

Connacht defending madly and they've wont he ball back in their 22. O' Connor gets the ball and kicks for touch. But not far. Quins have the pressure on. Quins change. Vallejos off and Kohn on.

Immediately Quins get a driving mail going and they're getting closer and Nigel blows it up. Quins scrum! A try and Quins go top of the pool.

One reset so far. And the scrum wheels and Nige blows a penalty to Quins. Kick or touch? Or scrum?

Scrum. 7 points coming up. Hopefully.

Connacht getting mangled in the scrum...

Easter blew it! Go on Connacht!

Quins if you don't score soon I am going to genuinely cry

nope

Westies are hitting hard ...come on Connacht!

And another penalty as Quins murder the men in green. Lost bind by Wilkinson.

Care readies himself for another one. And amazingly Connacht win against the head!

Close pick and goes as Comnacht look to take it out of danger. Slowly.

Meanwhile Gloucester get a penalty to make it 24-17.

Back here, Quins win the ball back and try to get through the backs. Tackle by Muldoon and he wins the ball. But they lose it again. Quins attack again. Slow, slow ball. Looking to grind Connacht down here.

Drop goal maybe? Nope Evans runs. Into traffic. More breakdowns. Evans tries a grabber but Duffy collects. And the next breakdown Connacht win the ball and Duffy clears for a line out on 22.

This is relentless!

brilliant!

Come on! Amazing defence!

god i hope connacht can keep this up