Heineken Cup P3: Harlequins vs Biarritz Olympique - 13/10/2012

[Feicarsinn]

The Stoop, London - 13/10/2012 (18:00)

TV: Sky Sports/Sport+​

 

[MyPieter007]

Quins should take it by 9?

 

[Tony Manx]

It really depends on what mindset that Biarritz turn up with as to whether it is 9 or 90!!

I would be hard pressed to believe deep down that BO can win given the way their backs are so appalling in attack where there is little confidence and, consequently, there are too many of them trying desperately to win the game on their own and not playing for the team mates. I think that it is time to give Traille and Balshaw rests as they have little to no form and go with a back line of Ngwenya, Gimenz, Barrack and Brew with Dane Haylett-Petty at 15 but having the conservative and over loyal (some would same amateur rather than professional) management that they have I would expect them to be in the side to the detriment of the future!

It also depends upon the selection but believe that BO can edge the scrum, hold Quins in the breakdown and line out but lose badly if Quins let rip and score a couple of tries when BO will have huge difficulty in playing catch up!

However, it is not the Top 14 and Biarritz are not seeded where they are for nothing and BO could do an Exeter......................and that is why we all love rugby....hope!!

 

[Peat]

Quins seem a little jaded at the moment. Hooper for Lowe does little favours for their defence, Stegmann isn't fulfilling his potential but is playing anyway due to back-three injuries and a lot of vital pack members seem a little tired. I think Biarritz have a chance here, while I think Quins need to do a little rotation at some point - but probably post HEC.

 

[Tony Manx]

George bloody Clancy to ref the game................not sure whether to laugh or cry!!

Fitzgibbon was bad enough last week but Clancy.................................?

 

[Tony Manx]

Team for match v Quins

Balshaw, Ngwenya, Haylett-Petty, Burotu, Brew, (o) Berquist, (m) Lesgourgues; Lauret, Gray, M. Lund, Dubarry, E. Lund; Gomez Kodela, Heguy Barcella.
Substitutes : August, Blaauw, Synaeghel, Taele, Guyot, Peyrelongue, Traille Baby

So management have taken the correct decision to drop Traille but have put Burotu in instead of Barraque or Gimenez.................Buruto is a Fijian who is big, and strong but,, like all Fijian backs, one must has doubts about his tackling abilities and he certainly is no more likely than Traille to pass the ball to the wings. Think it is a shame that Balshaw has not been put on the bench also but that may be one step too far........I would have preferred to have Heguy instead of August as reserve hooker for mobility but other than think we have our best scrum out (including whether Harinordouqy been fit or not!!)

Stick by earlier thoughts for the result as nothing has really changed but good to see at least Traille's lack of form has been recognised!

 

[Tony Manx]

Berquist injured again so back to Perylongue...

Just love Harrison and Evans.

Harinordoquy and Traille have not played well for ages and there are better players at the moment,

Yachvilli does not "decide" that the ball has to be played by the forwards (that was the team plan for years under Lagisquet and is now necessary as we do not have a 10, 11 or 12 worth their place).

Yes, we have pace on the wings (exclude Balshaw in that comment please as his immediate thought is aimless kicking) but no means of getting the ball to them!

Harsh yellow card for DHP (but Clancy never does us any favours) and why, why we let Botica go, I will never know!!

Aupa BO......show some spirit!!

EDIT -- Berquist did NOT have a shocker last week.....I was there......he did nothing wrong apart from missed three kicks, His general play for a first game against Toulon was OK.....................

 

[Teh Mite]

Lund had his fingers around Marlers eyes just before that scuffle. Went un-noticed.

 

[Tony Manx]

Lund had his fingers around Marlers eyes just before that scuffle. Went un-noticed.

Deliberate?

A good half time score for BO and affirmation of their old and present away game plan to slow, slow, slow it down and wear, wear, wear them out. I am surprised that Quins are not sending decoys at Lauret, who is doing a great job at protecting him, and have TurnerHall/Brown charge directly at Buruto....or even a few garryowens at Balshaw who has not been too clever there when under pressure. Even if he is, he tends to kick it back striaight up the middle...............

Another 40 minutes of this and not only will the English stop watching due to sleep but BO could walk away with at least a point...............

 

[Teh Mite]

Hard to tell, marler was holding him on the floor by his legs just off the ruck. It may have been an innocent shove off with accidental contact, or could have been more sinister.

understandable reaction either way from marler.

 

[Tony Manx]

Lund is not a dirty player so would be surprised if it was deliberate...............

 

[Teh Mite]

As I say, could well have been accidental. Didn't look nice either way.

 

[Tony Manx]

Out thought, classed and played....let me know what happens.....I am off to Strictly!!!

 

[SelimNiai]

Out thought, classed and played....let me know what happens.....I am off to Strictly!!!

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[Teh Mite]

Scary 2nd half from Quins. Ruthless, and that's without either Evans or Monye

On that note, Evans with a bad ankle in the HEC and no repeat of bloodgate

 

[Feicarsinn]

The result I would have expected. If Quins have serious intentions of having a real go at Europe then a bonus point win against a poor Biarritz shouldn't be out of the expected.

 

[Tony Manx]

The result I would have expected. If Quins have serious intentions of having a real go at Europe then a bonus point win against a poor Biarritz shouldn't be out of the expected.

Poor....POOR.....that was one our better days!!!!!

Like the look of Botica.................maybe a Carlos Spencer with ability to know when to play and when to turn it on......................shame that he like Dusatoir and many, many others slipped through our fingers!

 

[Feicarsinn]

Poor....POOR.....that was one our better days!!!!!

Like the look of Botica.................maybe a Carlos Spencer with ability to know when to play and when to turn it on......................shame that he like Dusatoir and many, many others slipped through our fingers!

No no, I'm not saying Biarritz were particularly poor today, I'm saying they're a poor enough team in general.

 

[Nobblynick]

Enjoyed that one. Botica had a belter. If Evans moves as rumoured, Botica looks a decent replacement.

Scrum looked good from the stands, and Care must be a shoe-in for England.

Finally something to smile about after 3 weeks!

 

[Tribesmen-ce-123]

Im going to the Connacht-Quinns game in the sportsground. Not looking forward to it now at all