Harlequins 2013/14 Season Discussion Thread

[yappysnap]

First topic message reminder :

So a few other teams had their own threads last season, it seemed to work well and seeing as it's far easier to steal someone else's idea then think up your own...

WELCOME TO THE HARLEQUINS 2013/14 SEASON DISCUSSION THREAD!

The Squad for 13/14:
Director of Rugby Conor O'Shea
Head Coach John Kingston
First Team Coach Tony Diprose
Assistant First Team Coach Mark Mapletoft
Assistant First Team Coach Collin Osborne

Hooker
Joe Gray
Rob Buchanan
Dave Ward

Loosehead Prop:
Joe Marler
Mark Lambert
Nick Mayhew
Daryl Marfo

Tighthead Prop
Paul Doran Jones
Will Collier
Kyle Sinckler  

Lock
George Robson   
Charlie Matthews
George Merrick
Sam Twomey  

Blindside
Maurie Fa'asavalu
Joe Trayfoot  

Openside
Chris Robshaw
Luke Wallace

Number 8
Nick Easter
Tom Guest
Jack Clifford

Scrum Half
Danny Care
Karl Dickson

Fly Half
Nick Evans  
Ben Botica
Louis Grimoldby

Inside Centre
Jordan Turner-Hall  
Tom Casson  
Harry Sloan

Outside Centre
George Lowe
Matt Hopper
Charlie Walker

Wing
Ugo Monye
Tom Williams
Sam Smith
Miles Mantella


Fullback
Mike Brown
Ross Chisholm
Ollie Lindsay-Hague

Fixtures:

Harlequins are pleased to confirm an exciting and challenging opening for the 2013-14 Aviva Premiership season.
 
The Londoners kick-off the new season against local rivals London Wasps at Twickenham Stadium during the London Double Header on 7th September, kick-off 4.30pm (Live on BT Sport).

2013 Aviva Premiership finalists, Northampton Saints are the visitors for the first home game at The Twickenham Stoop on Friday 13th September, kick-off 7:45pm (Live on BT Sport).

The second home game welcomes Heineken Cup semi-finalists Saracens on 28th September, kick-off 3.15pm (Live on BT Sport).

Exeter Chiefs will be the visitors to Twickenham Stadium for the sixth Big Game on Saturday 28th December. More information about Big Game 6 will be provided in coming months.

The Londoners will open their Heineken Cup campaign over the weekend of the 11th/12th/13th October, while the defence of the LV= Cup will begin during the second weekend of November. Fixture dates and times are expected by ERC and Premiership rugby later this month.

The only way to guarantee your place at all of the regular season home fixtures is by becoming a Member. Information on the innovative Membership scheme and how to become a Member is available by clicking here or by calling 0208 744 4477.

"There is no such thing as an easy match in the Aviva Premiership and there is no doubt that our opening fixtures are very demanding," said Conor O'Shea, Harlequins Director of Rugby.

"Once again we will be competing in three great competitions against top class opposition from this country and Europe. Our Premiership campaign gets underway with the London Double Header against Wasps on 7th September and is followed during that month with tough home matches with Northampton Saints and Saracens as well as a trip to Sixways to play against Dean Ryan's Worcester.

"Given the quality of the opposition, we hope that our supporters will be looking forward to returning to The Stoop to get behind their team as we set out on the marathon that is the Premiership with all its related ups and downs."

Tickets for the new season's home games will go on sale on Monday 15th July. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 0208 410 6000
Harlequins Fixtures
Please note fixtures after Round 8 are subject to change

Round 1
Saturday September 7: London Wasps v Harlequins (4.30pm, Twickenham Stadium, BT Sport)

Round 2
Friday September 13:Harlequins v Northampton Saints (7.45pm BT Sport)

Round3
Friday September 21: Worcester Warriors v Harlequins (7.45pm BT Sport)

Round 4
Saturday September 28: Harlequins v Saracens (3.15pm BT Sport)

Round 5
Saturday October 5: London Irish v Harlequins (3.00pm)

Heineken Cup
Fri/Sat/Sun October 11/12/13 Heineken Cup

Fri/Sat/Sun October 18/19/20 Heineken Cup

Round 6
Saturday October 26: Harlequins v Sale Sharks (3.00pm)

Round 7
Saturday November 2: Leicester Tigers v Harlequins (5.30pm BT Sport)

LV= Cup
Fri/Sat/Sun November 9 LV= Cup

Fri/Sat/Sun November 16 LV= Cup

Round 8
Saturday November 23: Harlequins v Gloucester Rugby (3.00pm)

Round 9
Sunday December 1: Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins (3.00pm)

Heineken Cup
Fri/Sat/Sun Dec 6/7/8 Heineken Cup

Fri/Sat/Sun Dec 13/14/15Heineken Cup

Round 10
Saturday December 21st: Bath Rugby v Harlequins (3.00pm)

Round 11
Sat December 28: BIG GAME 6 Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs (3.00pm)

Round 12
Saturday January 4: Northampton Saints v Harlequins (3.00pm)

Heineken Cup
Fri/Sat/Sun January 10/11/12 Heineken Cup
Fri/Sat/ Sun January 17/18/19 Heineken Cup

LV= Cup
Fri/Sat/Sun Jan 24/25/26 LV= Cup
Fri/Sat/Sun Jan 31 Feb 1 /2 LV= Cup

Round 13
Saturday February 8: Harlequins v London Wasps (3.00pm)

Round 14
Saturday February 15: Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons (3.00pm)

Round 15
Saturday February 22: Gloucester Rugby v Harlequins (3.00pm)

Round 16
Saturday March 1: Harlequins v Worcester Warriors (3.00pm)

Round 17
Saturday March 22: Saracens v Harlequins (3.00pm)

Round 18
Saturday March 29: Harlequins v London Irish (3.00pm)

Round 19
Friday April 11: Sale Sharks v Harlequins (7.45pm)

Round 20
Saturday April 19: Harlequins v Leicester Tigers (3.00pm)

Round 21
Saturday May 3: Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins (3.00pm)

Round 22
Saturday May 10: Harlequins v Bath Rugby (3.00pm)

Whether you're a Quins fan or not please feel free to discuss, argue, banter and bicker below. And  to 2014's Aviva Prem Champs!!    

COYQ's!!!!

[yappysnap]

Aahhh fair enough, not as exciting then. Were the chefs a bit confused at having to cook everything in portions large enough to feed a large family and serving it in troughs? 

[yappysnap]

GOOD NEWS!

Harlequins is pleased to announce today (August 22nd) that Chris Robshaw has signed an extension to his contract which will keep him with the club until the end of the 2015/16 season.
 
Robshaw will also continue as captain for the forthcoming season.
The back row forward has been instrumental in the club's recent success and has also proven himself at international level captaining the national side on 16 occasions since the 2012 Six Nations, including last season's famous win over the All Blacks at Twickenham.

He was named Harlequins captain in 2010 and has since led the club to become Aviva Premiership Champions in 2012 and Amlin Challenge Cup winners in 2011, which he achieved in his first season as captain. He was also named the Aviva Premiership Player of the Year in 2011/12.

The twenty seven year old made his senior debut for the club in 2005, having developed his rugby through the Harlequins Academy, and has since gone on to make 170 appearances for the club, scoring 16 tries.

Harlequins Director of Rugby, Conor O'Shea said: "I think it would be an understatement to say that this is great news for the club and all of its supporters. Chris is not just an incredible rugby player, he is and has proven to be, one of the great leaders of the modern game.

"In appointing him as captain again for the forthcoming season and given his commitment to extending his stay at his club through until the end of the 2015/16 season we know we have a player and person who will do everything he can to lead this club to the success and levels we all crave. Chris leads on and off the pitch in a manner which is beyond question. I know his motivation for success with both Harlequins and England burns greater than ever."

Chris Robshaw added: "I am honoured to have committed to Harlequins to the end of the 2015/16 season. It's a fantastic club with huge aspirations, which I am excited to be a part of.

"I have learnt so much in my time here and continue to do so from all the people around me, including the coaches and players. I am really looking forward to kicking off this season and winning more silverware with this great club."

[ChequeredJersey]

Harlequins have today announced the side that will play Glasgow Warriors in their final pre-season match leading into the 2013-14 season.
Mike Brown starts at full-back and is joined in the back three by Tom Williams and Ugo Monye. George Lowe is named in the centres, alongside Jordan Turner-Hall, while Danny Care and Nick Evans form the half backs.

In the forwards, Joe Marler, Joe Gray and Will Collier make up the front row, with George Merrick and George Robson completing the front five.

The side is captained by openside flanker, Chris Robshaw, who signed a contract extension this week which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2015-16 season. Robshaw is joined in the back row by Tom Guest and Nick Easter.

Among the replacements, Paul Doran-Jones, Sam Twomey, Dave Ward and Paul Sackey are named.


Harlequins Team

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

1. Joe Marler
2. Joe Gray
3. Will Collier
4. George Merrick
5. George Robson
6. Tom Guest
7. Chris Robshaw (C)
8. Nick Easter

Replacements

16. Rob Buchanan
17. Mark Lambert
18. Paul Doran Jones
19. Sam Twomey
20. Luke Wallace
21. Karl Dickson
22. Ben Botica
23. Matt Hopper
24. Maurie Fa'asavalu
25. Dave Ward
26. Charlie Walker
27. Tom Casson
28. Paul Sackey

[ChequeredJersey]

Still no Kennedy, is he OK? Otherwise near full strength

[Ozzy3213]

Still no Kennedy, is he OK? Otherwise near full strength

I think he's having second thought..... https://twitter.com/NickKennedy4/status/370865089190297600

[ChequeredJersey]

He can support you guys as long as it's not against us

[yappysnap]

Rough win against Glasgow. Roll on the start of the season!! (and some sunshine!)

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Some good tries too. Great run out for some of the Warriors' young players. Bodes well for our Rabo season with maybe 2 of that team our 1st choice 15 - Chris Fusaro one of them. He is just back from injury he received in December.

[ChequeredJersey]

http://www.quins.co.uk/news/7293.php


 More good news to go with Robshaw re-signing. Need COS next

[propdavid_london]

That's excellent news CJ - I do honestly believe that Brown is a better 15 for England than Goode. Likely we will be missing him for international duty even if he is bench warming so lets hope that Charlie Walker can step up to fill in.

OLH and Chisholm are both out for start of season - does anyone know how long for?
There are other options -

Tom Williams can cover.
NEV at 15 with Botica at 10.
Chalie Walker
Monye can also do a job there for club.

[Sam]

That's excellent news CJ - I do honestly believe that Brown is a better 15 for England than Goode.  Likely we will be missing him for international duty even if he is bench warming so lets hope that Charlie Walker can step up to fill in.  

OLH and Chisholm are both out for start of season - does anyone know how long for?
There are other options -

Tom Williams can cover.
NEV at 15 with Botica at 10.
Chalie Walker
Monye can also do a job there for club.

OLH out till November, Chisholm out for the season apparently.

Would like to see Walker getting some game time, maybe on the wing with Williams at fullback.

[ChequeredJersey]

I would love to see Walker (got it right that time) play FB while Brown is away, he started there in preseason and did well and I think Conor has similar thoughts to me on this one

[Sam]

I would love to see Walker (got it right that time) play FB while Brown is away, he started there in preseason and did well and I think Conor has similar thoughts to me on this one

I wouldn't mind him playing FB while Brown is away, my thought's around him playing wing were to ease him into the prem as such.

[Poorfour]

Walker played FB for Esher last season, so with OLH and Chis both out he has more recent experience at FB than anyone else in the squad. I think he'd probably find it easier to slot in there than at wing - especially if he has Ugo, Williams or Sackey around to help with the defence.

[Sam]

Walker played FB for Esher last season, so with OLH and Chis both out he has more recent experience at FB than anyone else in the squad. I think he'd probably find it easier to slot in there than at wing - especially if he has Ugo, Williams or Sackey around to help with the defence.

I did not realise that. In which case I am all for it. I always thought he was a 13, so thought slotting onto the wing would have been easier.

[LondonTiger]

Quins will get relegated.

Quins will lose every European match.

The coaches are clueless.

The recruitment has been clueless.

I will never buy another season ticket.

Nah nah, na, nah nah

[ChequeredJersey]

Oh, hi logan

[LondonTiger]

Damn, outed again.


sorry just bored and playful at the same time

[Sam]

Quins will get relegated.

Quins will lose every European match.

The coaches are clueless.

The recruitment has been clueless.

I will never buy another season ticket.

Nah nah, na, nah nah

and now for your real opinion on all of those?  

[LondonTiger]

It was an in-joke Sam.


I do not know about Quins this season. Last year I felt they were perhaps over-relianty on attacking inspiration from Danny Care. Recruitment has been low key, but I suspect that partly that is to cover increased wages to the guys they have developed. I am a big fan of the Quins business model, largely self-reliant, developing players - but gut feel is they do not look strong enough to secure a top 2 spot.

[yappysnap]

Think you're right their Tiger.

I also worry slightly that we could drop out of top four.

I see it as this: Tigers and Sarries are pretty much dead certanties for a top four place. Saints know exactly what to do to get there and with their signings shouldn't be weaker then last season. Bath on paper look a top four team, can they click consistently? Who knows.

Quins had a slightly ropey season last year, we struggled in attack and that exposed our poor defence and lack of other options. We haven't signed anyone to change this so either the coaches have a plan to bipass these weaknesses ( which'd probably be attack from everywhere even more) or they've worked their nuts off to minimise them. We just don't know what Quins team will come out, and even if it is the all singing all dancing team that we love to watch, it's a long season, will they manage to be like that by the end of it?

So I'm not making any assumptions. This will be a very tough season and we could in all honesty finish it without any silverware, without any play off chances, and fighting to stay in the HC next season. But we could just as easily finish lifting the AP trophy again.

[yappysnap]

Time to be positive, I'm going for Quins by 5 against Wasps this weekend. Hopefully it'll be another tryfest like last season as well!

The team I expect Quins to play:

Marler, Gray, PDJ
Robson, Mathews
Fa'Asavalu, Robshaw
Easter
Care
Monye, Evans, JTH, Lowe, Williams
Brown

Only real question marks for me are at 3, 6 and 12. I'm assuming COS will want to see just what he's bought and play PDJ early. Fa'Asavalu will sneak ahead of Guest or Wallace for the 6 shirt but hopefully will be under orders to become the wrecking ball he has to be or he's benched. JTH will probably beat Casson beat Casson on reliability and experience, much like with Big Mo though I think he needs to start with a bang or he's out.

Also I imagine this is the season that we'll start to see less of the Williams/Monye axis, to be honest while they're both honest hard working players this needs to come along sooner rather then later (made difficult by injuries) as we are missing that stardust in the backs now. From Nev backwards they're all hard workers with good skills, but none of them are likely to tear a game apart.

[yappysnap]

Oh and COYQ's!!!!!!!!

[yappysnap]

So a very tough first win but as the players said afterwards, job done and the cobwebs should all be blown out now at least.

Roll on Saints and an even tougher challenge.

Team I'd like:

Marler, Buchanan, PDJ
Easter,Robson
Mo,Robshaw
Guest
Care
Sackey,Nev,Casson,Lowe,Monye
Brown

Buchanan in for Gray to add a bit more beef in the scrum, same goes for PDJ coming in as well. Easter at lock again just adds a bit more weight and fight up front where we struggled against Wasps. Mo takes Wallaces spot for the moment too and Guest starts at 8.

In the backs Casson needs to be coming in for JTH who was well off the pace against Wasps, Casson adds a lot more to our game and takes some pressure off Nev. Wasn't happy with the wings against Wasps either but due to injuries we can't really change that.

[ChequeredJersey]

When is Matthews back?

[yappysnap]

Honestly didn't know Matthews was out until I saw Merrick in the team. Guess it'll be for more then a week though, Merrick seemed pretty out of his depth to be honest and I'd trust Easter to at least do a job there against the big Saints pack.

[ChequeredJersey]

Kennedy is out too. And Williams, hopefully back next week.

[yappysnap]

Blimey what happened to Kennedy? Did he even play a preseason game?

[ChequeredJersey]

He's injured till November not sure how

[yappysnap]

Also not sure about our tactics yesterday. We seemed to completely for go CoS's old tactics of tempo and offloading for contact and taking the ball to the deck to be recycled. This really didn't help against Wasps and I can see it going badly this season if that's what we are going to try.

Also we tried to get the ball wide very quickly but were hampered by poor (sometimes shockingly poor) skills and no one straightening the line. Add to that our wingers are pretty slow and without steps and that a fair few times Wallace was the winger.

Really baffling game to rewatch, hopefully we're keeping a lot more up our sleeves for Saints.

[ChequeredJersey]

I think we will and should return to te 2012 gameplan. If we spin it wide fast we need to play more outright pacy wingers like Walker. Though having multiple options for gameplan is pretty good

[logansrun38]

You two are clueless!

[LondonTiger]

an erudite, reasoned and logical rebuttal to those fans who have a certain degree of faith.

At least that is what I believe must have been written. Who knows though?

[ChequeredJersey]

Who cares?

[formerly known as Sam]

Wasps were looking to gang tackle and stop the offload at every opportunity which seemed to hamper Quins. There seemed to be little direction from Evans and that added to the lack of a plan B.

[Poorfour]

That's about the size of it, Sam, except that I am not sure it's so much the lack of a plan B as errors in execution that cost us.

Even with the offloading game nullified, Quins camped in Wasps 22 for a decent chunk of the second half and were making ground regularly - albeit slowly. What cost us repeatedly was the number of times the ball was lost in contact or turned over. Had we been able to protect the ball a little better (and we weren't helped in that department by Wigglesworth's leniency towards Wasps flopping over the ruck), there could have been a couple more tries.

Evans is not the attacking force he once was and we need the players around him to step up a bit. If we can keep Casson fit, he can play that role and if he can unleash Lowe a little more often then we should get the attack moving. It also looks to me as if we need a slightly different back row balance. Lots of effort from both Robshaw and Wallace but they weren't in the right place in support all the time.

On the positive side, it looks like we now have two complete competitive front row combinations, and Merrick, while raw, seemed to be able to hold his own in the setpiece and wasn't overawed in defence. The new scrum engagement seems to have tipped the balance in favour of looseheads, and I think that Lambert may well be the surprise package of the season. He looks in very good shape and as a former tighthead will have a very good sense of how to make his oppo deeply uncomfortable.

[beshocked]

I think getting 4 points in effectively an away game is very good. Sounds like again poor ball retention was Quin's weakness.

It's obvious - a more risky offloading style generally leads to more errors. If Quins can find some fluency with it though......

If Evans is playing poorly surely Botica should be brought in to start?

[LondonTiger]

Quins won. In the end that is the important thing. And because of the rules around the double header Quins are always "away" so a nice bonus. Certainly I would feel happier as a Quins fan this morning than I would as a Glaws fan.

Evans was poor though.

[ChequeredJersey]

I heard there is a return LDH on the cards?

[ChequeredJersey]

Seven try Harlequins beat London Irish in thrilling 'A' league opener
9 September 2013 23:07pm

Harlequins opened the defence of their Aviva 'A' league title with an impressive 51-17 victory over London Irish 'A' at the Twickenham Stoop.
 
It was, as the expression goes, a game of two halves. London Irish produced a strong first half performance matching Harlequins in all areas after taking a lead in the first minute.

The half ended with the sides tied at 17 apiece, but Harlequins upped their game in the second 40 minutes, scoring five unanswered tries to claim the bonus point victory.

This match provided strong game time for a number of senior players, while also giving opportunities to three current Elite Player Development Group members in second-rows, Dom McGeekie and Kieran Treadwell and utility back Joe Marchant.

Harlequins won the Aviva 'A' League title last season by playing fast and open rugby and the strong crowd at the The Stoop was treated once again to such a spectacle as both sides played attacking and free flowing rugby, despite the slippery and wet conditions.

It was Irish that scored first, capitalising on a handling error in the Harlequins centres following the kick-off. After working many phases inside the Harlequins 22, Ben Lonergan scored under the posts, making Myles Dorrian's conversion simple.

Following an early dominant scrum, it gave Ben Botica the opportunity to kick to touch. An early dart from Jordan Burns, followed by a Jack Clifford break had Harlequins in a strong attacking position.

The Exiles' ill-discipline forced two more penalties in the 22 and after a Harlequins maul was pulled down by Jonny Ellis, the hooker was shown yellow. Opting for a scrum, Burns made a half break down the blindside. Possession was recycled quickly and Maurie Fa'asavalu was helped over the line by McGeekie. Botica's conversion levelled the scores.

Both kickers exchanged a penalty before the half hour mark, but it was Botica's kicking accuracy which lead to a second Harlequins try. In open play, a perfectly weighted cross field kick in to the 22 found Matt Hopper. The centre passed to Harry Sloan whose charge to within five metres set up Burns' blindside break to score. Botica added the conversion with four minutes of the half remaining.

London Irish had the final say of the half with a stunning try from winger Alex Lewington. From a strong scrummage, centre Ian Cross crafted a superb offload to find Lewington. The winger's change of pace beat three Harlequins defenders as he scored after beginning his run 40 yards out. The difficult conversion was made by Dorrian to level the half time scores at 17-17.

Harlequins emerged after the second half with a number of changes, but it didn't take long for them to find their stride. Sam Stuart's quick tap penalty on 42 minutes, followed by a charge by Kyle Sinckler found Harlequins deep in the 22. Recycling quickly, Hopper's miss pass found Sam Smith, who then passed back inside for Charlie Walker to score.

Botica missed the conversion, but added a penalty on 48 minutes.

For Harlequins' next try, there was a sense of déjà vu. Harlequins worked into the 22 and another miss pass from Hopper, this time found Burns who completed his brace. Botica was unable to add the extras as Harlequins lead 30-17 on the hour.

Harlequins worked their way into another strong position and when Sean O'Connell deliberately slowed the ball down, he was shown Irish's second yellow. The home side opted for a scrum, and after two penalties in that set piece, referee Simon Harding awarded a penalty try.

It took just three minutes for Harlequins to score again as Irish's misfortunes continued when Shane Geraghty saw his side's third yellow card, this time for killing the ball. With eight minutes remaining and with only 13 men, the sixth and seventh Harlequins tries were inevitable.

The first came from Marchant whose strong running line from another Hopper pass allowed him to score. Marchant then turned from scorer to provider in the 76th minute helping to set up Smith's score.

Marchant's break down the right wing replicated that of Irish's Lewington at the end of the first half, but his switch with Smith, allowed the left winger the easiest of scores. Louis Grimoldby took the final conversion and made no mistake rounding off a compelling victory for Harlequins.

[yappysnap]

Sounds like Hopper had a really good game. Be interesting to see if he makes the 23 shirt or if he's rotated with Lowe. I still worry about his defence though.

Otherwise I'm not sure how much an A league game tells us though. Good to hear we're still scoring plenty in some matches at least.

Agree with others that Nev doesn't seem to be the force that he once was, perhaps Botica should be played more. There's only one way that he'll learn and we don't want a repeat of Clegg.

[ChequeredJersey]

A league tells us what we already know, the youngsters have lots of potential. That's about it

[ChequeredJersey]

But for this season that's important, ESP if we somehow escape our HEC pool

[yappysnap]

True it's good to know that we have that strength in depth. We just need to make sure that it's used and that the gameplan suits those players.

[Sam]

Anyone going to the Stoop for Northampton this Friday night? If so see you there .

[ChequeredJersey]

Nope but I'll be watching on Freeview which makes it easier for me not having to go to a friend's house or pub to see the match or wait for highlights next Quins match I'm attending is Gloucester unless I can afford HEC match tickets

[yappysnap]

Can I record it on Sky+?

[propdavid_london]

I've given up my season ticket this year! The new 'members' system isn't cost effective for me anymore.
I will still support quins and go to the occasional game, but I am not the only one to have decided against renewing. 5 out of the 7 STH's that I know of have decided not to buy in this year.
I do feel that the whole new system may hinder more than heal any problems for Quins.

I will be watching at home on BT sport, no doubt shouting just as loudly as I would have done in the stands.

[yappysnap]

How does the new members system work Prop? I read a little about it on CAW but to be honest it was difficult to understand amongst all the incensed fans!

[yappysnap]

Oh and are you guys expecting a fairly low turn out this Friday then? Perhaps just about 10,000ish

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