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!!!!

[formerly known as Sam]

Toast you are incorrect, taken from the Tigers website " Director of rugby Richard Cockerill rotates his squad following two physical contests with Montpellier in the Heineken Cupandinline withthe England Elite Player Squad agreement." Cockers also revealed that the England management had asked for Cole to be rested over the next three weeks which they are entitled to under the EPS. There's nothing to say he hasn't done the same with other EPS members.

[Toast]

Tigers have got it wrong.

[Poorfour]

So, Quins fans, who do we trust more - serial whiner and dissembler Richard Cockerill or Toast?

[Toast]

The EPS agreement that only effects Tigers? Just gives that serial whinger COCKerill something to blame when his team go smashed by Sarries.

[Poorfour]

The EPS agreement that only effects Tigers? Just gives that serial whinger COCKerill something to blame when his team go smashed by Sarries.

For the hard of thinking:, or at least fact checking:
The EPS agreement affects all AP teams and allows the England Head Coach to request that specific players are rested for up to a certain number of games in a season. It applies at the level of individual players. There is no requirement for all teams to rest their EPS players at the same time. Or even at all. They only have to rest them if Lancaster asks.

[Toast]

Wrong.

[ChequeredJersey]

Anyone else going to the ASM game?

[Poorfour]

Wrong.

Your prediction certainly was. Please could you predict drubbings at Franklin's Gardens and from Clermont for us?

[yappysnap]

Really good win by the team. Just a shame we couldn't pick up that bp try, I think that's the third time this year we've raced away to three tries early in a game and then just lost our way a little trying too hard to get the fourth.

[doctor_grey]

Wrong.

Your prediction certainly was. Please could you predict drubbings at Franklin's Gardens and from Clermont for us?

Predicting a drubbing at Clermont is OK with me.  Would really like to see you snag that one.  However, please do not predict a drubbing at the Gardens.  Saints came back after a flat match against Wasps and played one of their best Premiership games in recent memory over the last 65 minutes against Bath.  No matter how good their win-loss record, it all seems somehow fragile to me.  Saints still need a lot of good luck, it seems to me. Especially against teams like Harlequins, Sarries, Tigers, et al.

[sad_gimp]

Bit worried about losing players to England! Wallace, Ward, Walker are all going to be in the frame for internationals soon the way they are going....

[yappysnap]

I don't think Ward will be called up, there are plenty of other quality hookers out there and Ward's probably too small for Int duty. He's an English S. Brits!

We'll probably lose Marler, Robshaw, Care and Brown to the full Eng EPS. So just the usual 4.

With Saxons potentially being PDJ, Robson, Matthews, Wallace, Casson and Walker. At most another 6 but just for a couple of weekends.

[Toast]

PDJ in the Saxons?! What an utterly clueless comment.

[HammerofThunor]

PDJ IS in the Saxons.

[yappysnap]

PDJ in the Saxons?! What an utterly clueless comment.

  

[Toast]

He won't be revised squads are named! Crappysnap was talking about players that would be missing.

[HammerofThunor]

Surely he won't be called up into the EPS   

[lostinwales]

There is glass half full
and glass half empty
and then there is I hope they dont fill the glass because its going to break, and what the hell is this useless place that they dont give you a glass full in the first place

[yappysnap]

He won't be revised squads are named! Crappysnap was talking about players that would be missing.

The word you're looking for there is could, don't start telling fibs now Toasty. Or you'll be as bad as those horrible Quins people you despise   

[kingelderfield]

Have to say well done Quins - well done for BIG GAME 6 and well done for the style of your play. Honestly I cannot remember another prem team ever playing with the verve and ambition of the current Quins team.
In a NH rugby world plagued by the ignorant seeking contact, the sophistication to play in space is truely.......(thats enough gush....Ed.)

well done and thank you

[yappysnap]

Have to say well done Quins - well done for BIG GAME 6 and well done for the style of your play. Honestly I cannot remember another prem team ever playing with the verve and ambition of the current Quins team.
In a NH rugby world plagued by the ignorant seeking contact, the sophistication to play in space is truely.......(thats enough gush....Ed.)

well done and thank you

Possibly a little OTT there but i'm glad you enjoy what CoS and the boys try to create. It's always meant to have been about the performance not the results, perhaps if more teams took that ethos then we'd see a change in NH rugby.

Certainly I'd love it if all 6N's teams took that view!

[Luck of the Irish]

Harlequins team
15. Mike Brown
14. Charlie Walker
13. Matt Hopper
12. Tim Molenaar
11. Sam Smith
10. Nick Evans
9. Karl Dickson

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

16. Max Crumpton
17. Mark Lambert
18. Paul Doran Jones
19. Nick Kennedy
20. Joe Trayfoot
21. Sam Stuart
22. Ben Botica
23. Ollie Lindsay-Hague

[yappysnap]

What's happened to Marfo? Is he injured?

[Luck of the Irish]

He's currently third choice so not surprised. Wouuld rather have Sinkler on the bench than PDJ. Hope Trayfoot gets on - he's been very good so far this season.

[ChequeredJersey]

Shame Danny is out

[yappysnap]

Who is Max Crumpton? Is he now second choice? Sinkler would be my choice too but I guess PDJ has exp and should be made to earn his keep at least.

Trayfoot has looked quality so far. Is be happy with him starting but then the others all deserve to as well.

Is Wallace injured too?

[Luck of the Irish]

We only have Ward fit so Crumpton was signed until the end of the season from Bristol. He was on loan there from Sarries and has played for England at U20 level. Cowan-Dickie kept him off the starting 15 but he is promising. Buchanan should be back at the end of the month/early Feb but I think Gray and Allen are now out for the season.

[yappysnap]

Of course! I remember now, just being a little thick.

[ChequeredJersey]

Think Saints will win this but by a lot less than their recent home wins. If the scrum survives, we could easily upset them though

[ChequeredJersey]

So I was right-ish. Disappointing but still think we can beat Saints if we play them again in May. Bring on ASM, I'll be there shouting for our team. Underdogs vs the French after a disappointing game with lots to prove- sounds ideal for an upset

[Luck of the Irish]

No Nev for CA

[ChequeredJersey]

Confirmed or not?

[propdavid_london]

That is a shame if true.
Still, it gives Botica a chance to try and run the show in a big high profile game.
As long as we have Danny Care and perhaps even Wallace back that might make a difference.

[ChequeredJersey]

I'm getting mixed info from different places

[ChequeredJersey]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9108187,00.html?

[yappysnap]

Hhmmm I guess we'll see on the weekend just how fit he is. But returning from a 10 week lay off after 7 weeks sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

How much training could he have done before this? Can't imagine more then a few sessions this week.

[propdavid_london]

Any news on what kind of team we are going to be able to put out? Is NEv starting?
Looks much like its going to be a sell out - only really single seats dotted around here and there are available on website.

[ChequeredJersey]

We'll know soon. If Danny and Nev start, I actually think we'll win, should be able to raise our level, weather looks good, we're at home and ASM have been mediocre away in the T14

[ChequeredJersey]

Clermont team:

15- Buttin
14- Nalaga
13- Rougerie
12- Fofana
11- Sivivatu
10- James
9- Parra
8- Lee
7- Lapandry
6- Bardy
5- Hines
4- Cudmore
3- Zirakashvili
2- Kayser
1- Domingo


IMO, very nearly the best team they have on their books

[ChequeredJersey]

Quins Team new
Posted by: Quins4life (IP Logged)
Date: 10 January, 2014 11:57

Harlequins team to play ASM Clermont AuvergneHarlequins have announced the team to play ASM Clermont Auvergne in Round 5 of the Heineken Cup tomorrow at The Twickenham Stoop, kick-off 1.35pm (live on Sky Sports 1).Nick Kennedy will make his senior starting debut for the club and partners George Robson in the second row.

Ugo Monye and Danny Care return to the back line, while Luke Wallace is named at blindside flanker.

Among the replacements, Joe Gray returns from injury to provide cover for Dave Ward, while Karl Dickson will look to make his 100th appearance for the club.

Tickets are still available for this fixture and can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling 0208 410 6000.

The ticket office will be open until 6:00pm tonight and will take telephone calls from 9:00am tomorrow morning. The ticket office located by gate 3 will be open tomorrow for walk ups from 11:35am

Harlequins team

15. Mike Brown
14. Charlie Walker
13. Matt Hopper
12. Tim Molenaar
11. Ugo Monye
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care

1. Joe Marler
2. Dave Ward
3. Will Collier
4. Nick Kennedy
5. George Robson
6. Luke Wallace
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Nick Easter

16. Joe Gray
17. Mark Lambert
18. Paul Doran Jones
19. Charlie Matthews
20. Tom Guest
21. Karl Dickson
22. Ben Botica
23. Ollie Lindsay-Hague

[ChequeredJersey]

Only worried about the lock balance. Nice to have Ugo back too

[Luck of the Irish]

Not sure about Goat and Kendo but about the best side Quins have put out this season

[ChequeredJersey]

Gonna be Collier's toughest challenge yet though. IMO, the best scrummaging LH in the world

[beshocked]

Good luck Quins.  

[BamBam]

I worry about the Quins front 5, do you think Matthews might have added a bit of ballast in there ahead of Kennedy or Robson?

Conversely, I think your back row has the beating of Clermont. I'm somewhat surprised given their riches that they haven't attracted many absolute world class back row players.

Will be a good game for sure

[thomh]

Whatever happens in the second half vs Clermont, that try was one of the best things I've ever seen.

[thebandwagonsociety]

would anyone have a feed to the quins match that they could pass on? would be much appreciated

[wolfball]

unreal end to Quins match... Hardluck quins

[yappysnap]

Gutted by that. Utterly gutted by the way that game ended.

Can't help but think Clermont have a lot to be grateful for with the odd shape of a rugby ball. How one moment of bad luck can change a whole game.

[ChequeredJersey]

So close if only Danny hadn't gone off. Or Nev had got that sitter

If we play like that in the AP though I'll be happy. And that try was glorious

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