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!!!!

[The Great Aukster]

BT must be thinking they dodged a bullet with not having to sponsor a Franglo competition including the lower level teams judging by the quality of the rugby on show.

The difference between the teams was determined by which ageing SH flyhalf could still play - Evans could, Steyn couldn't.

[ChequeredJersey]

Think the quality was down to the truly dire refereeinh

[Bristolian]

Gouging? Crikey that is serious. As I say though, replays showed nowt so I can't really see the point of stopping the game for ages. I honestly saw nothing (and as I say I watch AP, HK and Amlin games as a pure neutral, not having a dog in those particular fights so to speak) but if the accusation is genuine and not baseless I can only assume there will be a citing - if a different camera angle shows Marler gouging then, well lets just say my thoughts on that are not suitable for public forums, or at least I don't know how to express them in such a way.

Aukster, you say Brown should've seen yellow, are you referring to the same incident that I was when I referred to the ref going back 5 minutes? If so, good lord you're a harsh judge! That wasn't even a penalty. Wasn't late, used his arms (well, about as much as any player does these days!) and wasn't a tip. I've seen the youngsters in the field across from my gaff do the same! Do agree with you though the ref was gash for both sides, Quins did get away with a fair few knock ins in the first half.

[ChequeredJersey]

Brown's tackle wasn't a yellow in a million years, harsh to be even a penalty and a truly ridiculous call back. Marler should be investigated, but from what I saw, there was nothing, and I don't rate the Stade sportsmanship very highly at all- Parisse, Attoub, Dupuy, need I go on?

[whocares]

Jeez CJ if you want to mention attoub and dupuy gouging from afew years back, I could mention bloodgate as an example of good sportmanship ! Also the guys in question more than paid for their mistake. Marler like Brown is a bit of a hot head and tends to get involved in more than a few incidents. Regardless of what happened today (if anything), he should be careful.

There was only going to be one winner today when you look at stade francais line up so glad I only watched the highlights.

[ChequeredJersey]

Sorry, whocares, it's not meant to be a slight on you, but I am not a Stade fan, and it is a bit erksome to have Marler accused like this. Of course if he is guilty I will take it all back but I'm backing our player 100% here

[ChequeredJersey]

Also, Marler may be a hot head, and if he'd thrown a punch I'd be disappointed but not surprised. Brown hasn't been for years, at least 4 in fact

[ChequeredJersey]

Anyway, Stade clearly focussing on league. Big point there was Nev's return to form

[whocares]

No worries CJ am not even remotely a stade francais fan although I like what they have done recently by giving a fair chance to a few young french players (bonneval, flanquart, plisson, burban, slimani). Too bad it will not pay off again this year.

[ChequeredJersey]

I'm still rather scared as to what will happen when the French National team clicks. Some insane talent there

[yappysnap]

Really pleased for the boys and getting the win. Little frustrated with the early tactics of throw it wide at all costs, but once we reverted to type and started playing up the middle the game was ours.

Question is why do we keep insisting on the new tactic of spread it wide off every play? It never works and just causes us so many problems. When we play the Quins way with the forwards and backs combining in the middle of the park we're so much harder to stop!

Synckler is just getting better and better. Marler can feel hard done by in that game, Stade were out to get to him the whole match and even after the ref warned them twice they carried on.

[ChequeredJersey]

Even with false accusations it still didn't get to him which bodes well

[yappysnap]

Yea definitely, he's come a long way from the mohawks and jolly hog adverts. Probably our and Englands most improved player over the last 18 months.

[Poorfour]

Agreed. Becoming a real force in the loose and scrummaging is solid under the new engagement. I miss the Jolly Hog adverts, though.

[yappysnap]

Yea they were something weren't they.

Am I right in thinking Mo has re-signed too?

[ChequeredJersey]

No he's heading to Oyyonaux

[yappysnap]

Ah fair doos. Can't fault him on that really and Trayfoot looks a quality prospect, we have Clifford and Chis as well but it'd be nice to get a replacement with some experience signed up especially as we're losing Guest too.

[yappysnap]

So off the top of my head at the end of the season we're losing:

Sam Smith (wing) - Worcester
Paul Sackey (wing cover) - Retirement
Tim Molenaar (cenre) - Back to Glos?
Tom Guest (Backrow) - London Irish
Mo Fa'Asavalu (Backrow) - T14 club
A Hooker (academy hooker lad, forgotten his name)

And we're gaining:
Marlande Yarde (wing)
Tikorotuma (wing/centre)

[ChequeredJersey]

Molenaar not confirmed either way otherwise that looks right

[Poorfour]

Tikorotuma I don't think has been confirmed either.

I would be happy if we offered Molenaar an extension, but I wonder if with JTH, Lowe, Hopper, Casson and Walker expected to be fit for next year there isn't room for him under the cap. He was brought in as injury cover, IIRC.

Also, don't forget that there should be some academy players being promoted into the senior squad. Twomey and Merrick, perhaps?

However, the lack of announcements about signings (though not at all uncommon at Quins) makes me wonder what's going on. IIRC when NEv was first signed there was a huge radio silence while they negotiated that and then everything else followed very quickly, so maybe Tikorotuma is the missing piece.

[ChequeredJersey]

Molenaar wants a contract apparently though

[yappysnap]

I think we need to keep Molenaar, as good as Lowe, Casson and Hopper are none of them fulfill that power role needed for us to get some go forward. I'd start Molenaar over any of them.

Bringing through academy boys is all well and good but we need the balance of quality experienced players as well. At the moment I don't think we have that balance.

[propdavid_london]

If this Tikorotuma comes in then what kind of player is he? People say he is a Wing/Centre - Is he a bit of a bosh merchant?
Or is there another level to his game?

[ChequeredJersey]

He's in great form scoring lots of tries for the chiefs. Definitely more a winger, has serious pace to burn

[propdavid_london]

Thanks CJ - that sounds hopefull.
We could have 2 real finishers on either wing with real pace. But not only that - guys with a bit of size behind them.

That is not a poor comment on our wingers play however - just in some games they have been a bit overpowered.
Ugo, for some time now hasnt really been a finisher (although is excellent in other aspects).
Tom Williams is an excellent club player too.
Sam Smith is in a rich vein of form but leaving to Worcester.
Charlie Walker has real potential but still needs time.
OLH - is a 7's player.

[yappysnap]

He's a power winger but not built like Banahan, typical fijian winger really, deceptively fast with lots of bosh.

I agree we need the change. Williams and Ugo are either past it or as good as. Smith is off and while a good club man I think he's at his peak right now with nothing to play for.

Walker and Chis are the future but it's good to have experienced depth infront of them. Especially as Walker covers 13 and Chis covers 15.

OLH is definitely a 7's player, if he is sticking with 15's then I think it'll be a few more years before we see the best from him, but I can see him leaving before that.

[Sam]

Harlequins Team vs Leicester Tigers

15. Mike Brown
14. Ollie Lindsay-Hague
13. Tim Molenaar
12. Jordan Turner-Hall
11. Sam Smith
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care

1. Joe Marler
2. Dave Ward
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Charlie Matthews
5. George Robson
6. Luke Wallace
7. Chris Robshaw (C)
8. Nick Easter

16. Rob Buchanan
17. Mark Lambert
18. Paul Doran Jones
19. Tom Guest
20. Maurie Fa'asavalu
21. Karl Dickson
22. Ben Botica
23. Ross Chisholm

[ChequeredJersey]

Ah bugger, would have rather have seen one of the specialist wingers over OLH

[Sam]

Ah bugger, would have rather have seen one of the specialist wingers over OLH

Same, I just find him a bit light weight for 15s. Would have preferred to have kept hold of Smith and let OLH go if I'm honest.

[Sam]

Tigers:

15 Mathew Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Neil Briggs
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Ed Slater (c)
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Geoff Parling
20 Pablo Matera
21 David Mele
22 Owen Williams
23 Niall Morris

I'm hopeful we can turn them over at home. Quins win by 3   

[ChequeredJersey]

We can. Especially with Flood starting

[yappysnap]

Flood starting is the only weak link in that side, scarily good looking side.

[ChequeredJersey]

The hookwr a weak link too

[yappysnap]

Oh yea missed Briggs, what's he like? I don't really recognise him.

[ChequeredJersey]

Don't know a lot but Tigers fans not that happy with him starting I think

[yappysnap]

Brilliant win for Quins, this is the Quins team we've missed for 3/4's of the season. Ward and Synckler were stand outs for us. Ward in particular, he should definately have got the MoM!

[propdavid_london]

Hi Yappy,
Yes I agree - Ward should definately have gotten MoM. Although no one had a bad game and all really fronted up in what I thought was a pretty poorly managed game from Wigglesworth.
The crowd were outstanding and the best I've heard the Stoop for a long time.
Really nail biting match and very enjoyable to watch, even if the result hadnt gone Quins way - I certainly had a sore throat for most of saturday from all that shouting!

[Sam]

Brilliant game to watch, great result. Is Flood really a weak link in that Tigers side?

Ward has been brilliant this season, so quick and constantly breaking tackles.

[LondonTiger]

Brilliant game to watch, great result. Is Flood really a weak link in that Tigers side?

Ward has been brilliant this season, so quick and constantly breaking tackles.

I thought flood did well, Briggs was what we expected.

Right side won, but MB needs to calm down a little. Wigglesworth was terrible - but his decisions probably balanced out.

[Welly]

Brilliant game to watch, great result. Is Flood really a weak link in that Tigers side?

Ward has been brilliant this season, so quick and constantly breaking tackles.

I thought flood did well, Briggs was what we expected.

 Briggs played a lot better than I thought considering he hasn't played with most of that pack this season.

 Flood did well, was prob just trying to hard to create something.

 Williams is looking the better 10 which is comforting.

[yappysnap]

Before we all get too ott lets just remember that this was the first instance of Mr Angry in about two seasons. Mike Brown has done really well to curb that side of his game and even on Friday night he was only really a bit annoying it's not like he punched someone in the face repeatedly, or went in for a late or high tackle.

[ChequeredJersey]

Brown was fine, absolutely blown out of proportion

[Sam]

Brown was fine, absolutely blown out of proportion

So true...

[yappysnap]

So all eyes on the Prem for us now!

I guess after three very good games, playing a side like Saints in a storm was always going to be a come down. Shame about the loss but it's not the end of the world.

Biggest thing to take from that game is that Botica needs more rugby, he must start more games next season (dejavu?). He's a real talent but it's unfair that his first start in 3 months is in a semi final in terrible conditions. Especially as he's only been getting 5 minutes every week before that.

[Sam]

Away to Saints was always going to be hard, didn't see the game. Focus is all on the prem now and if we can get a top 4 spot.

[yappysnap]

What an awesome game!!

I wasn't there but have to say the crowd come across as being fantastic yesterday, so much noise! Must have helped in that final quarter for the boys to hear the support echoing around the stadium.

Still slightly stunned that we've managed to sneak in after the season we've had. Sarries away will be ultra tough, especially as they'll be certain to not want to come undone like they did last year. I think we're going to be in for the roughest game of our season so far.

It's going to all be about the PHYSICALITY.

COYQ's!!!!!!!!

[formerly known as Sam]

I have a recurring nightmare we meet you in the final with Barnes as referee...

Good win yesterday and good luck at the Allianz. Well sort of.

[yappysnap]

I would take that Sam   

Good luck to you boys too against Saints, although I think you'll have it in the bag anyways.

[doctor_grey]

I would take that Sam   

Good luck to you boys too against Saints, although I think you'll have it in the bag anyways.

What?????  In the baggie?  That's a shot right to my heart, Yappy.  I am well and truly hurt.
Good thing we only put up 74 yesterday.  Saved the other 74 for Friday night................

[yappysnap]

Sorry Doc! Tigers are a bunch of A-holes like that and I just don't think they'll do the gentlemanly thing and let you win.

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