Amlin Challenge Cup - First Semi-Final

First topic message reminder :

Friday 25th April, 20:00 Franklin's Gardens


Northampton Saints V Harlequins


Team News:

Saints look to rest a handfull of players with the Premiership Run-in and play-offs in mind. Quins bring back Charlie Walker and Joe Marler following injury but lose Nick Evans to a knee knock.

Saints:

15 James WILSON
14 Jamie ELLIOTT
13 George PISI
12 Tom STEPHENSON
11 George NORTH
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Kahn FOTUALI'I
1 Alex WALLER
2 Ross MCMILLAN
3 Salesi MA’AFU
4 Samu MANOA
5 James CRAIG
6 Calum CLARK
7 Phil DOWSON (capt)
8 Sam DICKINSON

Replacements
16 Mike HAYWOOD
17 Gareth DENMAN
18 Tom MERCEY
19 Courtney LAWES
20 Tom WOOD
21 Ryan GLYNN
22 Luther BURRELL
23 Tom COLLINS


Quins:

15. Mike Brown
14. Charlie Walker
13. Tim Molenaar
12. Jordan Turner-Hall
11. Sam Smith
10. Ben Botica
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. Louis Grimoldby
23. Ollie Lindsay-Hague


Officials:


Referee George Clancy (Ireland)
Touch Judge 1 John Lacey (Ireland)
Touch Judge 2 Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Fourth Official David Wilkinson (Ireland)
TMO Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Citing Commissioner Eugene Ryan (Ireland)

That was a rubbish match, from a neutral perspective.  I realise the conditions were not in favour of running rugby, but Quins did not turn up.

ME-109 wrote:Serious question QF...do you think COS can bring Quins any further....they seem to have slipped a little this year.

We lacked a bit of intensity at thestart of the season, but the main issue has been that we've had a truly awful injury list this year. We lost three players (one permanently) before the season even started, our first choice 13 about 3 games in (and he's still not back), and for most of the season we've had one fit specialist lock and no settled centre partnership. We're currently starting with players who at the start of the season would have been our 3rd choice hooker and tighthead, an inside centre playing outside centre who was hired as last minute injury cover, and neither of our first choice wingers.

It can'r be as bad next season, right?

The Great Aukster wrote:How can the TMO not see the obvious contact with the ball - Fotualii's fingers were clearly moved by the ball, so knock-on and no try. The IRB need to start training TMOs who can make better decisions rather than just employ former referees too old to run.

I am glad that a neutral thought so. His outside fingers clearly moved, and in a way that just doesn't happen without contact with something

Poorfour wrote:

ME-109 wrote:Serious question QF...do you think COS can bring Quins any further....they seem to have slipped a little this year.

We lacked a bit of intensity at thestart of the season, but the main issue has been that we've had a truly awful injury list this year. We lost three players (one permanently) before the season even started, our first choice 13 about 3 games in (and he's still not back), and for most of the season we've had one fit specialist lock and no settled centre partnership. We're currently starting with players who at the start of the season would have been our 3rd choice hooker and tighthead, an inside centre playing outside centre who was hired as last minute injury cover, and neither of our first choice wingers.

It can'r be as bad next season, right?

Fair enough I havent seen much of you this season...just the odd game. Just surprised you are struggling to make the top 4.

Poorfour wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:How can the TMO not see the obvious contact with the ball - Fotualii's fingers were clearly moved by the ball, so knock-on and no try. The IRB need to start training TMOs who can make better decisions rather than just employ former referees too old to run.

I am glad that a neutral thought so. His outside fingers clearly moved, and in a way that just doesn't happen without contact with something

I thought so too ...

I notice that there was yet another YC for taking a player out in the air.

But don't tell Notch or you'll set him off on another moderate tantrum.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:I notice that there was yet another YC for taking a player out in the air.

But don't tell Notch or you'll set him off on another moderate tantrum.

Guessing you didn't read page 1 of this thread?