Heineken Cup Round 1- Harlequins v Biarritz TEAMS UP

So it's nearly the start of the greatest club tournament around and on Sat at the Stoop Harlequins (Prem Champions) will host Biarritz (Amlin Cup Champions).

THE TEAMS ARE NOW UP!


Harlequins Rugby

1.Joe Marler (Eng) 2.Rob Buchanan (Eng) 3.James Johnston (Tonga) 4.George Robson (Eng) 5.Ollie Kohn (Eng) 6.Maurie Fa'Asavalu (Samoa) 7.Chris Robshaw (Eng) 8.Nick Easter (Eng) 9.Danny Care (Eng) 10.Nick Evans (NZ) 11.Ugo Monye (Eng) 12.Jordan Turner-Hall (Eng) 13.James Hopper (Eng) 14.Tom Williams (Eng) 15.Mike Brown (Eng)

Replacements: 16. Dave Ward17. Mark Lambert18. Will Collier19. Charlie Matthews20. Tom Guest21. Karl Dickson22. Ben Botica23. Seb Stegmann

That team will feature 9 internationals, 19 England qualified players and an average age of 25. Currently Harlequins are second in the Premiership with a points difference of +59 they have scored 185 points against their opposition so far and have the most try bonus points (3) in the league along with the most tries scored (20). So as we all know the attack is going well (Saracens game aside).

They have had some collective problems in defence though, namely in organisation, fielding high balls and dealing with teams at the breakdown. Saracens and Exeter have both exploited this, the latter using it to score five tries against them just last week.

Biarritz Olympique

15 Iain Balshaw
14 Taku Ngwenya
13 Dane Haylett-Petty
12 Seremaia Burotu
11 Aled Brew
10 Mat Berquist
9 Yann Lesgourgues
1 Fabien Barcella
2 Arnaud Heguy
3 Francisco Gomez Kodela
4 Erik Lund
5 Thibault Dubarry
6 Magnus Lund
7 Wenceslas Lauret
8 Talalelei Gray
Replacements:16 Benoit August17 Wicus Blaauw18 Thomas Synaeghel19 Pelu Taele-Pavihi20 Benoit Guyot21 Julien Peyrelongue22 Damien Traille23 Benoit Baby

I'm going to be honest and say I know very little about Biarritz. They apparently favor a kicking game ala Saracens and have big ball carriers like Imanol Harinordoquy, Magnus and Erik Lund along with some electric backs in Takudzwa Ngwenya and Benoit Baby. But looking at their current form they're 8th in the T14 with 4 wins and 4 losses and are +11 on points difference. They've scored a total of 10 tries in these 8 game and managed one try bonus point which I guess backs up the Saracens like game plan, they've also only conceded 10 tries so far as well though so their defence is pretty good (Quins have conceded 11).

It should be an interesting and probably very physical game, two very different game plans clashing in hopefully perfect rugby conditions at the Stoop. Harlequins will want to control the set piece and from that build a lot of continuity to strike and get tries. We've then seen that once a lead has been opened Quins are happy to dig in and defend this without going for tbp's etc Biarritz will probably want to control the breakdown and from that the flow of the game, with the priority being stopping Quins getting any kind of phases built.

Basically which ever team manages to impose their gameplan should win as we've seen so far this season neither are too good at dealing with the other's type of game. Biarritz can't score the tries and Quins can't kick realiably enough for a tug of war.

It'll be close but at the moment I'm going with a home win.

It's worth noting that currently the bookies have Quins down as favourites for this game.

Harlequins Rugby by 5

Just found the match officials for the game...


Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Leo Colgan (Ireland), John Carvill (Ireland)

Television match official: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)

Timekeeper: Bob Ockenden (England)

Assessor: Fergus Neil (Scotland)

Citing commissioner: Alberto Recaldini (Ireland)

Oh dear

quins lineout has creaked a bit in recent games and it will have to improve against biaritz. Biaritz will kick frequently both to touch and for the likes of ngewya to chase, the likes of harinordquay will look to put pressure on the quins lineout.

Biarritz are not in great form. They have three defeats in a row. They have just been beaten 9-36 at home.

Really looking forward to this one , love the HC quality throughout.

red_stag wrote:Biarritz are not in great form. They have three defeats in a row. They have just been beaten 9-36 at home.

Yea I watched that game and they did show some very good glimpses of play Stag, Toulon were just much better though and Biarritz couldn't deal with the Toulon forwards. I'm not sure if we can create the same pressure that Toulon can.

HQ matt wrote:quins lineout has creaked a bit in recent games and it will have to improve against biaritz. Biaritz will kick frequently both to touch and for the likes of ngewya to chase, the likes of harinordquay will look to put pressure on the quins lineout.

Our lineout is fine with Gray in there, it's when Buchanan comes in that it falls apart completely. Agree though that with Harry in their for Biarritz they'll target us massively.

Quins team is up and it looks strong:

Harlequins have named the team to face Biarritz Olympique at the Twickenham Stoop in the opening round match in pool 3 of this season's Heineken Cup (please note kick-off is at 6.00pm).
There are five changes to the team that started against Exeter Chiefs last weekend.

Tom Williams has recovered from a hip injury and starts on the right wing, while Danny Care returns at scrum-half. Among the forwards Joe Marler comes in at loose head, with Rob Buchanan making his first start of the season at hooker where he replaces Joe Gray who is having treatment to an injury which will prevent him playing for a number of weeks. Gray's injury status will be updated following a Specialist's opinion.

Maurie Fa'asavalu returns to the starting line up with captain, Chris Robshaw and Nick Easter completing the back row.

Among the replacements, Dave Ward will look to make his first senior appearance, while Ben Botica and Seb Stegmann provide cover for the backs.

Harlequins team

15. Mike Brown
14. Tom Williams
13. Matt Hopper
12. Jordan Turner-Hall
11. Ugo Monye
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care

1. Joe Marler
2. Rob Buchanan
3. James Johnston
4. Olly Kohn
5. George Robson
6. Maurie Fa'asavalu
7. Chris Robshaw ©
8.Nick Easter

Replacements
16. Dave Ward
17. Mark Lambert
18. Will Collier
19. Charlie Matthews
20. Tom Guest
21. Karl Dickson
22. Ben Botica
23. Seb Stegmann

Only question mark is Stegmann in there at 23, but I assume if he's going well Williams will play the whole or nearly all of the game anyway.

Really excited to see Botica get a bit of a run out, hopefully we'll give him a good 10/15 mins to do his thing.

Nearly our strongest team, strongest available squad IMO

Yea happy with that team, shame about Gray though but then looking at some other teams in the Heiny we are pretty light on the injury front.

Brilliant by Care.

lovely try there, think Care will be the starter for England.

Great intensity shown by Quins so far.

Foolish by Evans to continue.

Quins player goes down like a shot duck. Inevitable yellow card for Biarritz player.

Evans off..

Though to be fair Evans was committed, and so was the Biarritz lad who actually looked very sorry for his actions.

That was a yellow card but Williams did milk it a little

That's Evans taken care of. Penalty to Quins.

10-3.

wrfc1980 wrote:That was a yellow card but Williams did milk it a little

He has an Oscar in his cupboard for acting already.

I like the look of Hopper a lot. Great go to player.

Hopper is so good.

Whi is this botica fellow? Is he England qualified?

Magnus Lund would do well as a back up member for ZZ Top.

Pot Hale wrote:

wrfc1980 wrote:That was a yellow card but Williams did milk it a little

He has an Oscar in his cupboard for acting already.

I dunno , winking to your coach after you've pulled a fast one strikes me as terrible acting personally.

Botica is England Qualified, as he has a UK passport. He is the son of Kiwi rugby League Legend, Frano Botica. He has looked good in his A team performances. On my way to Walkaboyt to watch the match

I had a bizarre dream that Quins woukd beat Biarritz with Care ending the ane at 10, btw

wrfc1980 wrote:Whi is this botica fellow? Is he England qualified?

Frano Boticas son.

And Biarritz are in with a fine forward drive.

Followed by a penalty.

Good game.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

wrfc1980 wrote:That was a yellow card but Williams did milk it a little

He has an Oscar in his cupboard for acting already.

I dunno , winking to your coach after you've pulled a fast one strikes me as terrible acting personally.

True. Not sure if anyone has told him that yet though.

Well played aled brew

Good game

Well refereed

BO doing very well to slow the ball Quins ball down so far.

Good play by Quine keeping it close to the ruck, shame Easter dropped the ball.

Care is in very good form

LondonTiger wrote:BO doing very well to slow the ball Quins ball down so far.

They look a bit more lively and positive than previous seasons though. Biarritz have had a habit of sending fans to sleep in the Heinkeen Cup the last couple of seasons. Yachvilli not being able to hang onto the ball for 20 secs behind the ruck has moved things on a bit.

Biarritz feeding all scrums straight to the number eight but winning penalties for binding issues, referees need to work on priorities at the scrum.

that's not looking good for evans.

nathan wrote:that's not looking good for evans.

Nope, you're right. His recent comments about reducing his game time and giving him more rest time in the future echo somewhat.

Quins off-loading game is improving steadily. Getting more and more mobile.

Pot Hale wrote:

nathan wrote:that's not looking good for evans.

Nope, you're right. His recent comments about reducing his game time and giving him more rest time in the future echo somewhat.

Quins off-loading game is improving steadily. Getting more and more mobile.

quins really need to work on a replacement for him.

nathan wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

nathan wrote:that's not looking good for evans.

Nope, you're right. His recent comments about reducing his game time and giving him more rest time in the future echo somewhat.

Quins off-loading game is improving steadily. Getting more and more mobile.

quins really need to work on a replacement for him.

They do. He's flogged as a talent.

I think O'Shea, given his Irish provincial background, recognises this too.

Nicely reffed by Clancy there on that penalty call and playing of advantage.

Try to Quins. And the conversion.

20-13.

Cynical hands in the ruck from Biarrtz.

Quins should get in the ascendancy here.

Great attacking play by Quins, Biarritz defending madly and concede a penalty.

Botica slots it over. 23-13. Well deserved.

Jeez. When Biarritz decide to give the ball some motion, they can be magical. Lovely offloading move by them out of defence.

Great break away but good defence quins

Pot Hale wrote:
I think O'Shea, given his Irish provincial background, recognises this too.

What Irish provincial background? Ever since the game went pro he has been in England. Played for LI, then went into management there before joining RFU and then Quins.

Quins not recycling ball as fast as they like to, so struggling to maintain a high tempo. Biarritz playing in fits and starts is helping Quins though.

LondonTiger wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:
I think O'Shea, given his Irish provincial background, recognises this too.

What Irish provincial background? Ever since the game went pro he has been in England. Played for LI, then went into management there before joining RFU and then Quins.

He is still Irish, he played for Ireland.

Dumb penalty conceded by Magnus there.

If Quins deny them a losing bonus point here they have to be fave's to top the group a they will fancy at least a loosing bonus against them away

[quote="maestegmafia"]

LondonTiger wrote:
He is still Irish, he played for Ireland.

Yes he is. But his experience of Irish provincial system is rather limited - so how that would be a major factor in what he does I am not sure.

What he is, is very good at his job. An ideal candidate for the head coach job of a country.