Alex Dombrandt at the double as Harlequins see off gutsy Cardiff
Alex Dombrandt scored two tries as Harlequins made it two wins from two in the Heineken Champions Cup with a 43-17 victory over a depleted, yet gutsy Cardiff Rugby.
The scoreline at the Twickenham Stoop does not tell the full story, however, as the Welsh region produced a spirited performance that caused the Premiership champions to sweat for long periods of what was an absorbing encounter.
They were level at 17-17 at half-time, with youngsters Cameron Winnett and Theo Cabango both scoring, but Quins’ superior bench helped them eventually pull clear in the final 20 minutes.
Cardiff were still without 42 players due to Covid-19 isolation and injury and were forced into giving Winnett a debut at full-back.
He got his side, and his big day, off to the perfect start when he dived over in the right-hand corner after being picked out by Dan Fish in the fifth minute, with Tomos Williams converting from out wide.
It did not take long for Harlequins to hit back, however, as the ball quickly went through the hands of Marcus Smith and Jack Kenningham before Danny Care scampered through a gap to score.
Smith converted to level at 7-7 and the Blue and Blacks were also reduced to 14 men as Josh Adams was sin-binned for a dangerous tip-tackle on Tyrone Green in the build-up.
The depleted visitors were soon ahead again when James Botham plunged over, but this was quickly cancelled out by a brilliant score by Smith.
The England fly-half broke down the middle from 70 metres out and passed to Dombrandt before gathering the return ball to go clear. He converted for good measure.
Smith then slotted a penalty in front of the posts, but the match was level again when a turnover led to Seb Davies unleashing 19-year-old Cabango down the left wing for Cardiff’s third try.
There was still nothing to separate the teams at half-time and it just about remained that way nine minutes after the restart when Adams was held up over the line by some desperate Quins defence.
The hosts struggled to get out of their own half for some time, but they eventually hit the front for a second time after 58 minutes when Dombrandt was able to power himself over from Care’s pass.
Quins then sealed the try bonus point when a pinpoint chip to the left wing by Smith was gathered by Joe Marchant, who sped over to score in the corner, with Smith’s conversion opening up a 14-point gap.
Harlequins continued to pull away when Dombrandt grabbed his second, off a driving maul, before the scoring was rounded off by Andre Esterhuizen crashing over near the posts with two minutes to go.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments