Harlequins 15/16 Thread

[yappysnap]

First topic message reminder :

Our squad (pinched from CAW):

HARLEQUINS Senior Squad

Name                DoB             Position        Contract
Rob Buchanan        (13/05/91)      Hooker          2015/16  
Joe Gray            (05/08/88)      Hooker          2015/16  
Dave Ward           (21/05/85)      Hooker          2015/16  

Will Collier        (05/05/91)      TH Prop         2017/18  
Adam Jones          (08/03/81)      TH prop         2015/16  
Matt Shields        (12/02/91)      TH Prop         2015/16    
Kyle Sinckler       (30/03/93)      TH Prop         2016/17    

Owen Evans          (19/02/89)      LH Prop      
Mark Lambert        (19/02/85)      LH Prop         2016/17    
Joe Marler          (07/07/90)      LH Prop         2015/16  

James Horwill       (29/05/85)      Lock            2017/18    
Charlie Matthews    (23/07/91)      Lock            2015/16    
George Merrick      (04/10/92)      Lock            2016/17    
Sam Twomey          (09/05/92)      Lock            2015/16  

Jack Clifford       (12/02/93)      Flanker/No. 8   2015/16    
Chris Robshaw       (04/06/86)      Flanker         2015/16    
Luke Wallace        (02/10/90)      Flanker         2016/17    

Nick Easter         (15/08/78)      Number 8        2016/17    
Mathew Luamanu     (04/03/88)      Number 8        ?          
Netani Talei        (19/03/83)      Number 8        ?          

Danny Care          (02/01/87)      Scrum-half      2015/16    
Karl Dickson        (02/08/82)      Scrum-half      2016/17    
Tito Tebaldi        (23/09/87)      Scrum-half      ?        

Ben Botica          (07/10/89)      Fly-half        2016/17    
Nick Evans          (14/08/80)      Fly-half        2015/16    
Tim Swiel           (04/06/93)      Fly-half        ?    

Matt Hopper         (29/01/85)      Centre          2016/17    
George Lowe         (22/10/89)      Centre          2015/16  
Jamie Roberts       (08/11/86)      Centre          ?        
Harry Sloan         (16/06/94)      Centre          2015/16  
Winston Stanley     (11/02/89)      Centre          ?      

Ollie Lindsay-Hague (08/10/90)      Wing/Fullback   ?          
Tim Visser          (29/05/87)      Winger          ?          
harlie Walker      (23/12/92)      Winger          2016/17    
Marland Yarde       (20/04/92)      Winger          2015/16    

Mike Brown          (04/09/85)      Fullback        2015/16  
Ross Chisholm       (19/10/90)      Fullback        2016/17    


A very strong looking squad, with a lot of internationals and experience to help the youngsters coming in. Fingers crossed but this season may be a good one for the men in quarters.

COYQ's!

[BamBam]

Not quite sure where to post this, but this seems as good a place as any

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36266820

Terrible news, RIP

Harlequins prop Seb Adeniran-Olule has died at the age of 20 in a road traffic collision.

The club say they are "deeply saddened" by the death of the England youth international, who had been at the club since the age of 13.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Seb's family and friends at this difficult time," Quins director of rugby Conor O'Shea said.

"He will be sorely missed by the whole squad as well as by the wider club."

[ChequeredJersey]

Really sad. Horrible to lose any person that young to cruel misfortune

[propdavid_london]

Very sad and looked to be a real talent coming through.

[Notch]

Just saw this news, my thoughts are with his team mates and family.

[Rugby Fan]

That's terribly sad to hear.

[No 7&1/2]

Really sad news. Shocking.

[Don Alfonso]

Awful news. Heart goes out to his family, friends and Quins.

[yappysnap]

Shocking news.

My thoughts are with the family and his friends

[LondonTiger]

Quins have signed the Sarries/Bedford Full Back Aaron Morris. A member of the victorious 2014 RWC squad he has often been ignored as people looked to heep plaudits on Nathan Earle - but for me the more skilfull and rounded player. Could be a relly good signing for Quins especially as he can cover wing quite easily. Only cover during int. windows next season probably, but could be a real gem.

[propdavid_london]

Hi LT, fingers crossed - I was surprised as back 3 wasn't somewhere that I thought we needed fleshing out.
However, I guess with OLH possibly involved with team GB and a utility back 3 that we might have space for 1 more.

[propdavid_london]

http://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-sign-former-connacht-number-8-george-naoupu/
Quins sign another back row! Does this mean that Nantai Talei still isn't fit - or has left? I had thought that we were pretty well stocked in the back row with Loumanu, Easter, Clifford, Robshaw, Wallace, James Chisholm etc.

[ChequeredJersey]

Doesn't look a bad back up player.

[brennomac]

Yep he'd be a decent back-up player for Quins but no more than that, was really only a back-up for Connacht in the past season and didn't feature that often in any of their big Pro12 games. Muldoon was always the starting 8 for Connacht

[propdavid_london]

Now this makes more sense - http://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-number-8-nick-easter-announces-his-retirement/
Shame that he wont be playing again - but at least we have managed to keep him in the setup.

[Rugby Fan]

Slightly surprised Nick Easter is trending on twitter on the back of his announcement.

[ChequeredJersey]

Thanks for all the play Nick, you'll be missed. One of the club's greatest ever servants and will be a good coach I think 

Clifford mostly an 8 now then. Luamanu an option there too and the new guy adding heft as a third option, +/- Talei if he's still on our books?. We are still fine at 8

[formerly known as Sam]

You've got a unit of a winger coming soon as well based on the Lithuanian's performances tonight.

[propdavid_london]

I was very surprised by that 7's performance - squad looked well drilled and generally quite large.
Lames Lang stood out, and that Lithuanian I think was Jonas Mikalcius - looked to be very useful. I presume that they are both in the EPDG for Quins. I think the commentators said something about Lang having dual nationality and wanting to represent Wales.
They both looked promising at a young age and very confident.

[propdavid_london]

Great to see Charlie Walker re-sign. I am sure that I had read somewhere that he was looking to move to a Scots team in order to try and push for international honours.

Winston Stanley - has seemed like a good solid centre. Limited number of games but will hopefully get more time on the pitch.

[ChequeredJersey]

I'm very happy indeed to see Walker sign, even in Int window we should have a good back line. Then again, in theory same was true last year. Was actually true for first half of season

[ChequeredJersey]

Lang has represented Scotland and Wales at different levels (but neither U20) I think

[propdavid_london]

That was a disappointing end to the Singa 7s for Quins - I noticed that Lang wasn't available!

Pipped in the last minutes for the Wasps and Plate final.......very disappointing.

[Majestic83]

Have Quins signed alofa alofa?

[ChequeredJersey]

Probably yes, but as they haven't announced it yet, possibly visa issues?

[sad_gimp]

OLH off, not saying where yet, taking some time out.

Always been a better sevens player than 15s though, not a big loss. Chisholm has been getting back to form at 15 to cover Brown's international duties.

Expecting a big year from Walker this year, glad we kept him.

[ChequeredJersey]

Morris also looks a talent

[propdavid_london]

Did anyone watch the pre-season games? How did Quins get on?
I was pleased to see Jonas Mikalcius on the team sheet for the 1st few pre seasons.

[propdavid_london]

http://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-sign-samoan-international-alofa-alofa/

[propdavid_london]

Marler injured after 20mins against Sale!
Does anyone know if its a serious one?

[ChequeredJersey]

Dunno yet. Hope not :/

[yappysnap]

Twitter said shoulder, hopefully it was just a stinger and he'll be alright after a week or two.

He's been one of the only positives so far.

[propdavid_london]

As he hasn't said anything stupid yet!

[yappysnap]

The season is still young mate

[propdavid_london]

Cant help feeling that the team selected for this weekend is one that might struggle to compete against the Chiefs.
Good to give Sweil a run out, but to only have an academy kid as backup is a big ask. And we know Tim isn't consistent place kicking.
If the ground is wet then we could be in a bit of trouble.

[yappysnap]

Agree but glad that the coaches are changing things.

Unfortunately the problem may not be the players selected. I worry it's the coaches/tactics and mood in the squad. Changing the team may be shuffling deck chairs at this point in time.

[sad_gimp]

Can anyone confirm the kick off time for the TBG? Managing to combine catch up with friends in the UK with a quins game is grand but I'm trying to plan my travel.

Think it was 1500 last time I went?

[propdavid_london]

Not sure - I am sure it will be similar time, fitting in with TV schedule as its normally on the box.

[LondonTiger]

Tuesday 27th December 16:00 (according to both Premiership and Quins websites)

[yappysnap]

Win for the A team last night, things are looking up!


Apparently the new academy 10 James Lang looked good, the rest of the 1st teamers, not so much.

[propdavid_london]

So our run of upcoming games -
Sarries, Saints, Wasps, Edinburgh and Stade Francais - up to 22nd Oct.

Current form we might be looking at quite a drought of results! Sorry, all a bit doom and gloom on a Tuesday morning.

[Dan222]

Win for the A team last night, things are looking up!


Apparently the new academy 10 James Lang looked good, the rest of the 1st teamers, not so much.

Very good player young Lang

[yappysnap]

Win for the A team last night, things are looking up!


Apparently the new academy 10 James Lang looked good, the rest of the 1st teamers, not so much.

Very good player young Lang

Yes apparently his kicking out of hand in particular was better then our other 10's.

[yappysnap]

So our run of upcoming games -
Sarries, Saints, Wasps, Edinburgh and Stade Francais - up to 22nd Oct.  

Current form we might be looking at quite a drought of results!  Sorry, all a bit doom and gloom on a Tuesday morning.

Optimistically we could beat Saints, Wasps and Edinburgh. All three have their own faults and often slip up at times, wasps and Edinburgh both have packs that we could gain parity with too, Saints probably have a better pack and set pieces but are one of the only teams with a worse backline.

Could easily go the other way and lose all of them though!

[propdavid_london]

Thanks Yappy - I am marginally more optimistic.

[propdavid_london]

I feel a lot better now.

[propdavid_london]

Consistently play with that desire and intensity and they should be ok. Let hope they can maintain.
It does look like the game took its toll though - Care, Marler and Hopper all coming off with injuries.

[TheMildlyFranticLlama]

Optimistically we could beat Saints, Wasps and Edinburgh. All three have their own faults and often slip up at times, wasps and Edinburgh both have packs that we could gain parity with too, Saints probably have a better pack and set pieces but are one of the only teams with a worse backline.

Could easily go the other way and lose all of them though!

I wouldn't lose any sleep over the Edinburgh match with the way our season is going!

[propdavid_london]

It never used to be the case but I am quite concerned about the international window matches that are upcoming.

This season more than ever there are a number of players we will be loosing - either to callup or injury
Marler, Robshaw, Clifford, Care, Brown, R.Jackson, Roberts, Visser and possibly Yarde and or Sinkler.

A team we can field will probably end up being something like this -
Lambert, Buchanan, Collier, Horwell, Merrick, Loumanu, Wallace, Chisholm, Dickson, Nev, C.Walker, Marchant, Hopper, Alofa Alofa, T.Swiel...
Scraping around a bit on the bench.

[sad_gimp]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Marchant and Walker involved in the EPS in the not too distant future.

[propdavid_london]

Do you think Walker has a shot?
Marchant already appears to be in the good books.

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