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]

Yea I read about that commute!

But surely it's easier to move closer to work then move sideways the length of the whole country.

If he does go i'll be truly gutted, and we would have to replace him with a current top prop which would be very hard.

BUT Exeter aren't even guaranteed top6 at the moment, they're players aren't getting as much exposure as other clubs and while with Quins he has the chance to compete for silverware there he probably won't.

[ChequeredJersey]

I know. But until he signs it's a worry

[thomh]

There aren't any Premiership clubs in Sussex, so if he doesn't like the commute then he has to move either way.

Is there any substance to the Exeter rumours beyond that Flood tweet? Could have just as easily been an in-joke that we don't know about (being the nature of in-jokes).

One thing - if he does move because we can't offer him a market value contract after spending money on signing one or maybe two international winger(s) then that would be a serious c**k-up.

Settled international players don't have a huge incentive to move though. The club got them there and a move could just lead to an unforseen loss of form/selection issues. O'Shea was also on the panel that appointed Lancaster, so Exeter hardly has influence with England as a point of difference to us, and he's starting every game anyway.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

I think that Baxter and Lancaster seemed to click in coaching terms and re vision on the summer tour. But I still can't see Marler moving to Exe - we've got loosehead covered just fine

[propdavid_london]

So, COS has chosen to rest Robshaw/Care/Brown for the Wembley game - but Marler is playing!

Sarries have recalled all their internationals and you get the feeling they may be seriously up for this game.

I'm hoping that the time off has recharged the Quins and allowed them to put past performances behind them - its the business end of the season and time to start firing properly.

Big game from Sinkler against Mako V, and does Marler have the edge over Johnson? They should know eachother pretty well.

[B91212]

So, COS has chosen to rest Robshaw/Care/Brown for the Wembley game - but Marler is playing!

Sarries have recalled all their internationals and you get the feeling they may be seriously up for this game.  

I'm hoping that the time off has recharged the Quins and allowed them to put past performances behind them - its the business end of the season and time to start firing properly.  

Big game from Sinkler against Mako V, and does Marler have the edge over Johnson?  They should know eachother pretty well.

I expect Marler is playing because his didn't play last weekend against Italy.

[LondonTiger]

So, COS has chosen to rest Robshaw/Care/Brown for the Wembley game - but Marler is playing!

Prety sure that the 3 rested are unable, by the EPS agreement, to play every match that Quins have left this season - and in fact may miss other games should they progress in Amlin and AP.

[ChequeredJersey]

Only if Lancaster enforces it which he has only done for British Lions this season.

[propdavid_london]

B912 - quite right, completely forgot he wasnt there!

[LondonTiger]

Only if Lancaster enforces it which he has only done for British Lions this season.

Lancaster can choose when players are rested. However there is an agreed maximum number of games across the entire season.

[formerly known as Sam]

Lancaster can only request a rest game over a certain period, when he asked Tigers to rest Cole Cockers could pick one of three games.

[yappysnap]

Depressingly correct with the out come of that Sarries game. Bulk and Power must be our watch words for the off season! We must get in a new lock and a replacement for Mo if he's off.

Can't wait for Yarde to come in, it's now getting depressing watching how poor Ugo's become. Chisholm needs to come back and stay injury free to replace OLH as well, Ollie just isn't designed for 15's rugby, his mindset is totally wrong.

In the centre's we're utterly screwed if we don't have JTH or Molenaar to bolster our defense and straighten the line. Casson and Hopper together just do too much too frantically and cause us more issues then they cause the opposition.

Nev and Dickson looked good at least which is a real plus.

Wallace struggled with the Sarries physicality but then he wasn't helped too much with only the props seeming to get involved at the breakdown and none of the backs wanted to get anywhere near it! Big issue as the Sarries backs were dominating there in defence.

Front row went well, Synckler is a real talent and Joe carried on strongly across the field. Locks were really poor, lineout and mauling went well but across the pitch Kennedy was weak and Robson anonymous, one or the other but never both.

Bad times.

[yappysnap]

Oh and lastly with the players we have, we can't play the gameplan we're trying. I don't know what we should go for but right now we're the architects of our own downfall.

[ChequeredJersey]

Thought Robson was actually pretty good but otherwise agree with most of that, Yappy

[Scratch]

It's at times like these i really miss quinsforever. blub.

[yappysnap]

Has he gone Scratch?

[yappysnap]

Thought Robson was actually pretty good but otherwise agree with most of that, Yappy

Yea perhaps a little harsh on Robson, just don't want him to be partnered with Kennedy ever again!

Oh and some on CAW mentioned that Kennedy and PDJ have two year contracts, their agents must be Frak jedi.

[propdavid_london]

Morning All,
Well, that was a real tonking as I thought it might have been. Whats worse though were the 2-3 completely unforced soft tries gifted to Sarries!
OLH - is not for 15's. I think we've seen that, Ugo had a bad day, and the Casson/Hopper combination doesnt work that well. As Yappy said, we need JTH or Molenar to straighten the line.

Sinkler coped well - should get more game time till Collier comes back, and is definately a better option than PDJ.
Easter was quiet in a back row that struggled a bit, and agree above with comments on our 2nd row.

Cut out the errors, but if COS picks the same side again then we are going to struggle with LI next week.

I think on performances like that we are not a top4 side, and really should be targeting or hang on to a top 6 spot and qualify from H-Cup next season.

[ChequeredJersey]

We'll at least get the rested 3 back

[yappysnap]

Get those three back and one of Molenaar or JTH back in the centres and we'll look a different side.

I hope they stick Smith and Willams/Monye on the wings as well as Sam has looked our best scorer by a mile so far.

Should we start Botica to give him a chance before play offs and Nev's inevitable injury?

[ChequeredJersey]

Marker is staying

[propdavid_london]

A much better selection this week I think -

Stade Francais: Lydon; Kingi, Williams, Danty, Camara; Steyn, Daguin; Zhvania, Sempere (capt), Kubriashvili; Mostert, Wegner; Garrault, Missoup, Lyons.

Replacements: Van Vuuren, Frou, Slimani, Van Zyl, Rabadan, Mallet, Cocagi, Arias.

Harlequins: Brown; Lindsay-Hague, Molenaar, Turner-Hall, Smith; Evans, Care; Marler, Ward, Sinckler; Matthews, Robson; Wallace, Robshaw (capt), Easter.

Replacements: Buchanan, Lambert, Doran-Jones, Merrick, Guest, Dickson, Botica, Sackey.


Matthews comes in to add much needed ballast, Hopper is out who is below par at the moment.
Concern that we have 2 very direct runners in the centers, so it will be down to Evans and Care to really bring the back 3 into the game.
Nice to see Buchanan back too.

Its a big game as always against Stade - perhaps Quins have a bit of a psycological edge after past results. But Quins havent been playing well recently and Stade are flying high in the French T14.
They must be favourites at home - but I am still hoping for an entertaining game.

[ChequeredJersey]

Stade's form has dropped a bit and their side isn't their best. This is doable. They are only 8th now, I think

[LondonTiger]

Stade have won just one of their last six T14 matches. this run has seen them drop from the top of the table to outside the playoff spots. They have chosen to select what is very much a second string team for this fixture - though of course they may be hungrier.

This match is eminently winnable for Quins, with the only cloud being I have predicted they will win on SB.

[yappysnap]

Depends if Quins come out playing as we know they can or as they have been lately. The teams make it ours to lose now.

[Nachos Jones]

Best of luck to you Quins fans tonight

[ChequeredJersey]

I thought the signs vs Irish were promising

[nathan]

this ref is pants.

Good ol Brown.

[HammerofThunor]

You know I had almost forgotten how bad the Sky commentary was.

[nathan]

You know I had almost forgotten how bad the Sky commentary was.

tell me about it, Barnes always says something and then moments later he's proven wrong - of course we all get it wrong now and again but with him its nearly every bloody time!

[Artful_Dodger]

Nick Evans and Mike Brown are doing real damage with their attacking instinct on the counter.

[HammerofThunor]

You know I had almost forgotten how bad the Sky commentary was.

tell me about it, Barnes always says something and then moments later he's proven wrong - of course we all get it wrong now and again but with him its nearly every bloody time!

And he usually tries to twist it so he was right all along.

[Cumbrian]

I'm hoping that nothing can come of the accusation against Marler, it's a pretty despicable accusation if it isn't true.

[nathan]

I'm hoping that nothing can come of the accusation against Marler, it's a pretty despicable accusation  if it isn't true.

What happened or what was he accused off?

[ChequeredJersey]

Video showed absolutely nothing

[Cumbrian]

He was accused of gouging, but as CJ says nothing came of it. I just remember a couple of years ago Hartley got a ban on the strength of an accusation from Stephen Ferris.

[nathan]

He was accused of gouging, but as CJ says nothing came of it.  I just remember a couple of years ago Hartley got a ban on the strength of an accusation from Stephen Ferris.

was that the bite? as much as Hartley can be a muppet i still can't believe he got banned for that. There was no evidence other than a cut on his finger that could happen anywhere.

[Cumbrian]

Yeah that's the one.

[LeinsterFan4life]

How bad are Stade Francais.

[Cumbrian]

That is a bloody joke, never a penalty.

[nathan]

why are we going back 5 minutes, jeez let the game move on.

[Cumbrian]

Easter has such good hands/ rugby awareness, wish he could be 10 years younger and a bit more explosive.    

Saying that, I'd still have him in a pinch for England even now.

[Nachos Jones]

Excellent win for Quins

[Cumbrian]

Very good win.

I've got a soft spot for Quins, in a way they are the reason I got into Union. Growing up in a tough little Northern RL loving town my science teacher from 'down south' (who was a Quins fan) encouraged me to watch the game and try out for my local Union team. Never looked back since.

[Bristolian]

That referee was dreadful. who was he (owing to soap operas being on I didn't get to have commentary, though given that it was Sky that could've been a blessing, so I missed his name)?

The first half saw Stade either not releasing the tackled player, coming in at the side, or going straight off their feet, yet it was Quins getting penalised at the breakdown?!! Not having sound I really didn't get why he was looking to bin a Quins player in that long stoppage, was it really Marler biting? Because the endless replays showed nothing. And the stoppage for the 'penalty' in the second half.... Once I'd seen the replay I had to incur some wrath by turning up the volume to actually find out what it was for . Really? That was a penalty? No penalty for the Stade player booting the ball into the stands after he'd knocked on? That one actually was a clear technical penalty, nothing given, yet Brown was penalised?

Jeebus, I don't even support Quins (look at my username to see who I support) and nor do I hold with the "support X club because they are from your country" point of view, but that ref was utterly inept.

[ChequeredJersey]

If Danny had been on form imagine how much we could have put on them! Serves them right for picking a shadow team

[The Great Aukster]

Leighton Hodges had a poor game for both sides. Brown should have been carded so should Williams.
The hold up was for gouging which is about as serious as it comes so it was fair enough to see if there was any video evidence against Marler - there wasn't but accusations like that have to be checked.

[LondonTiger]

Grats Quins.

Referee was completely out of his depth. Dreadful decisions both ways and pretty sure he was flirting with the TMO. Only reason I can think of for all the discussions.



Oh and Bristolian - Marler was accused by the stade hooker of gouging.

[ChequeredJersey]

The other hold up was for a tackle 10 mins before it was called...

[ChequeredJersey]

I mean after

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